what does having a better life mean to me? Well, for me, it's becoming a registered nurse, advocating for women of color just like myself. So, with that goal in mind, three things I promised myself first to be persistent when I applied to my nursing school of choice and later found out I did not get in. Of course, I was heartbroken. Many people tried telling me about having a backup career; I know they were trying to console me, but it was hard to hear or see myself do anything different when the only thing I saw myself doing was nursing. I took the time to reflect and talked to the counselor of the nursing school I wanted to go to to discuss what I could improve on, whether it was retaking classes, doing internships, or more. I took the feedback to retake some classes and am now accepted into nursing school for the spring semester. Being persistent and not easily giving up led me to become a nursing student, one step closer to achieving my dreams. The next thing I promise myself from Dory's wise words is to keep swimming. I don't let any bad grades or even fail an exam tear me down. Life keeps moving on, and so will as long as I can reflect and make sure I learn from my mistakes and improve. The last thing I promise myself is to make time for myself, whether it's doing a face mask or watching one of my favorite movies. I firmly believe in being in tune with one's body, mind, and overall mental health. Even though I haven't started nursing school, it can get pretty tough even when taking my prerequisites like microbiology and anatomy; having so much workload gets tricky, but finding that time to do more things I enjoy makes the semester go by smoothly. All my promises to my future self will lead me to my goal of being a nurse and not letting small things sweat me. This scholarship will help me with my tuition for nursing school, again allowing me in the future to work in labor and delivery to be an advocate for women of color since we have a high mortality rate when giving birth, then later on, hopefully, become a nurse practitioner and work in family medicine. Not only am I going to an out-of-state school, but even though my mom currently works three jobs to pay her bills and support me, it is very memorable. I thank her so much for that, but winning this scholarship would mean a lot to me and my mom to be able to follow my dreams without having to worry about financial burdens.

Why do I want to become a nurse? You can say becoming a nurse is in my DNA, with my dad being a vet tech, my mom working in medical records, and watching every season of Grey's Anatomy. I guess you could say I was born for this. As a black woman entering the medical field, I have seen many instances where our voices have been ignored. For example, I remember suffering from abdominal pain and going to see three different doctors, who all dismissed my pain as menstrual cramps. I had almost given up hope until I met this African American Nurse Practitioner named Kelly Webb. She had taken the time to ask me thorough questions. She ran multiple tests including blood, labs, and ultrasounds. By her taking the time to find the root problem for my pain, it turned out I had ovarian cysts. Nurse practitioner Webb made me feel like a person who deserves the utmost care. I knew at that moment that I wanted to be a nurse. I wanted to be the voice to advocate for my patient’s well-being and at the same time make them feel heard and welcomed. I want them to know that their concerns will not fall on deaf ears and that they can count on me to assist them both mentally and physically. To achieve my professional aspirations, I plan to further my education by pursuing advanced certifications in areas like mental health nursing and community health. This specialized training will equip me with the skills necessary to address both physical and emotional needs. I envision myself working not just in hospitals but also in community health settings where I can make a direct impact on people’s lives. Long-term, I aim to specialize in women’s health, focusing on comprehensive care that addresses both physical and mental well-being. I also hope to mentor young black women interested in healthcare careers, guiding them through the challenges they may face in a predominantly white industry. By sharing my experiences, I want to inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals to use their voices and advocate for change. Nursing is not just a career; it is a lifelong commitment to creating a more inclusive and compassionate healthcare system. Through my journey, I aim to be the advocate, caregiver, and beacon of hope that every patient deserves. I am dedicated to transforming my personal experiences into meaningful action, ensuring that every voice in the healthcare system is heard and valued.

I've always wanted to be a nurse and knew that going into nursing wouldn't be easy, so I prepared by making calendars, having flashcards, and meeting up with professors to dice test scores and homework questions. I felt great. I was getting closer and closer to reaching my goal of becoming a nurse. Then, coming at me like a brick wall was the grade letter F on my first anatomy exam. I was shocked and heartbroken. Was my nursing career over before I knew it? I felt like I wasn't good enough to become a nurse. There I was, drowning, becoming my own worst enemy. I fell Into deep anxiety just constantly being in my head telling myself I don't deserve to be a nurse, nurses don't fail, and if I can't pass a simple anatomy exam, then nursing school will crush me like an ant. Then something happened. I remember I had the support of my family and closest friends, who were also going down the nursing path. With the new support, not only did I have a shoulder to lean on, but being surrounded by family and friends helped me lower my anxiety and give me the positive reinforcement I needed; they constantly told me I would be a perfect nurse and don't let this one slip up drop your dreams of being a nurse. With everyone by mine, I was no longer my worst enemy. With my last semester of prerequisites and just having applied to nursing school for the Spring 2025 semester, I feel confident and prepared for nursing school. As a black woman hearing and experiencing racial bias when visiting the doctor, I knew that I wanted to be the voice to advocate for my patient's well-being and, at the same time, make them feel heard and welcomed. I want them to know that their concerns will not fall on deaf ears and they can count on me to assist them mentally and physically.