They say nursing is a calling, a lifestyle, and a passion. I didn’t understand what that meant until I first entered the field as a Certified Nursing Assistant 4 years ago. Before becoming a CNA, my first job in the healthcare field was for an optometrist's office. While this was my first job in the healthcare industry, I felt as though I wasn’t doing enough for my patients. I’ve always known I wanted to work in healthcare, but I had some trouble along the way trying to figure out which occupation was right for me. I started looking into careers in healthcare and decided to become a CNA. I left my job at the optometrist's office and began my 3-week CNA program. I must admit the first week I had some doubts. Many questions started to run through my head. “Did I make a mistake?” “Is this really for me?” “What am I doing here?” I was a nervous wreck, and when you’re in that awkward stage in life where you’re trying to figure out which career path you want to take for the rest of your life, things can be challenging. Even though I had these doubts, I still pushed through. I told myself if I could just make it through the first week, I would continue with the course. The first week they told us we were to shadow a CNA at the nursing home, and the last 2 weeks, we did more hands-on work. To my surprise, I completed the 3-week course. A month later, I passed my CNA state exam and began my first CNA job. Here I am 4 years later working as a Certified Medication Aide for an assisted living and memory care community where my job responsibilities consist of checking vitals, administering medications, documenting changes in patient behaviors, and more. I love my residents, and I do what I can to make sure they receive the best care possible. They are the reason I go to work every day. My residents constantly remind me how much they appreciate me, even when I feel like I haven’t done enough. They always ask me if I ever thought about being a nurse, and that it is something that I should consider. Sometimes when they would say this to me, I would have flashbacks to when my father, who passed away a few years ago, was sick and constantly in the hospital. I would sometimes help the nurses and CNAs when I would visit him. They used to ask if I was a nurse, and of course, I would reply, “No. I’m just his loving daughter.” They would say, “You would make a great nurse. You should consider it.” I never thought about it until years later. I decided to take a leap of faith, applied to nursing school, and was accepted into the Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing program at Herzing University. A Master’s in Nursing degree will not only teach me nursing skills, it will also prepare me to become an advocate for healthcare reform in which patient care and satisfaction will improve. In the future, I can take on administrative roles in a healthcare organization to make the needed improvements in a facility. I can also promote health education and address any health needs of my community. Additionally, after I gain some work experience, I would like to go back to school to become a nurse practitioner. If I continue to work hard and believe in myself, there is nothing that can stop me from achieving my goals.

The dream version of my future self is mentally and physically healthy, successful in my career as a nurse and hospital administrator, confident in my abilities, a great role model to the people in my community, comfortable in my skin, and greatly loved by the important people in my life.

They say nursing is a calling, a lifestyle, and a passion. I didn’t understand what that meant until I first entered the field as a Certified Nursing Assistant 4 years ago. Before becoming a CNA, my first job in the healthcare field was for an optometrist's office. While this was my first job in the healthcare industry, I felt as though I wasn’t doing enough for my patients. I’ve always known I wanted to work in healthcare, but I had some trouble along the way trying to figure out which occupation was right for me. I started looking into careers in healthcare and decided to become a CNA. I left my job at the optometrist's office and began my 3-week CNA program. I must admit the first week I had some doubts. Many questions started to run through my head. “Did I make a mistake?” “Is this really for me?” “What am I doing here?” I was a nervous wreck, and when you’re in that awkward stage in life where you’re trying to figure out which career path you want to take for the rest of your life, things can be challenging. Even though I had these doubts, I still pushed through. I told myself if I could just make it through the first week, I would continue with the course. The first week they told us we were to shadow a CNA at the nursing home, and the last 2 weeks, we did more hands-on work. To my surprise, I completed the 3-week course. A month later, I passed my CNA state exam and began my first CNA job. Here I am 4 years later working as a Certified Medication Aide for an assisted living and memory care community where my job responsibilities consist of checking vitals, administering medications, documenting changes in patient behaviors, and more. I love my residents, and I do what I can to make sure they receive the best care possible. They are the reason I go to work every day. My residents constantly remind me how much they appreciate me, even when I feel like I haven’t done enough. They always ask me if I ever thought about being a nurse, and that it is something that I should consider. Sometimes when they would say this to me, I would have flashbacks to when my father, who passed away a few years ago, was sick and constantly in the hospital. I would sometimes help the nurses and CNAs when I would visit him. They used to ask if I was a nurse, and of course, I would reply, “No. I’m just his loving daughter.” They would say, “You would make a great nurse. You should consider it.” I never thought about it until years later. I decided to take a leap of faith, applied to nursing school, and was accepted into the Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing program at Herzing University. To be chosen as a winner of this scholarship would be a great help to me in attaining my goal of becoming a nurse. Nursing school is expensive, and this scholarship will help cover some of my tuition. My goals after graduation are to work in a Veteran Affairs facility to give back to those who have served our country and to become an advocate for healthcare reform to improve patient care and satisfaction. Additionally, after I gain some work experience, I would like to go back to school to become a nurse practitioner to enhance my nursing skills and extend my scope of practice.

“My daughter is in the hospital on suicide watch.” This is not a text message anyone wants to receive when they wake up in the morning. Because of cyberbullying, I almost lost my best friend. My friend was already diagnosed with depression and has had suicidal thoughts before. There are people who don’t understand how words can hurt someone to the point where the person doesn’t want to exist. On the morning my friend was admitted to the hospital on suicide watch, her mother took her phone and sent me a text message asking what was being said on social media. She was aware that the bullying had occurred but was unaware of how far the bullying had gone. I didn’t want her mother to see what was going on because the things being said were so hurtful. However, if she knew what was being said, then it would help her figure out how to help her daughter, and she was completely in shock of what was being said. Her mother told me that my friend called that morning crying for help because she was having suicidal thoughts. Even though it is scary to think of one of my closest friends wanting to end her life, she was still brave enough to ask for help before it was too late, and she’s lucky enough to have family and friends who are quick to come to her rescue. Cyberbullying and mental health have no age limit. Many people think that cyberbullying only happens to children, but it can happen to adults too, whether it’s a college student or a celebrity. As an adult, you’re expected to be able to handle anything life throws at you, but being an adult is not easy. Adults can be just as mean as children. My friend was cyberbullied because someone spread a rumor about her on social media, tagged her in the post, and attached her picture to it. People wrote so many mean and disturbing comments. People began sending her private messages, discovered her other social media pages, and continued to harass her on every social media platform. They also made rude comments about her family. Adults harassing other adults is sad and immature. After this situation, my friend and I try our best to check in with one another even if it’s just a quick text message. She started going back to see a mental health counselor more frequently to help her cope with her depression, and, so far, everything has been great for her. I do my part by educating myself on mental health to have a better understanding of the different signs and characteristics of a person struggling with mental health issues in order to avoid another situation like this happening to a loved one or even myself. Cyberbullying must be put to an end. There are people who really don't understand how words can be hurtful. Words can lead to someone wanting to end their life. We’ve seen it numerous times in the news where either a child or an adult committed suicide due to being cyberbullied. Cyberbullying not only affects the person being bullied, it also affects the ones he or she loves. Imagine losing someone close to you because people wanted to be cruel to them. I’m grateful that my friend was able to be saved from committing suicide. I wish the person who started the rumor and the people who made the rude comments knew what their words did to my friend mentally, and maybe they would think twice before harassing another human being.