My unique contribution would be creating an accessible mental health navigation network that connects people with affordable support before they reach a crisis. Through my experience volunteering with a crisis hotline, studying biology, advocating for the Deaf community, and exploring technology, I have learned that help may exist, but many people cannot find, understand, or afford it. I envision a free platform available through an app, website, and text messaging that helps users locate sliding-scale therapists, community clinics, support groups, crisis services, and financial assistance. To serve people who are often excluded, it would provide multilingual resources, American Sign Language options, disability-friendly features, and low-bandwidth access. Trained community navigators could also guide users through insurance, appointments, transportation, and follow-up care. Technology should never replace compassionate professionals, but it can remove the barriers separating people from them. As a future physician, I want to combine medicine, advocacy, and innovation to build a system in which asking for help does not depend on income, location, language, or ability. Everyone deserves to feel heard and supported, and my goal is to make mental healthcare easier to reach, understand, and afford.

I am pursuing nursing because of my own personal library of significant events. Six years ago, at the age of twelve, I had a terrifying experience on a cruise with my family that resulted in me having symptoms of PTSD. Our seemingly, fantastic vacation getaway on an island in Mexico turned into a day of terror after I witnessed another passenger drowning. Still, at this very moment, I remember every detail of that day. I remember his blue face, the cries of his fiancé, and the shock I felt throughout my body when he washed up on shore. I remember screaming for help and then trying to give him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, and I remember the three women who ran to him, proclaiming they were nurses and gently pushing me aside. I was amazed that without a second of hesitation, they were on the ground doing everything they could to save his life. Before this experience, I had never seen such a heroic, fearless act. My terror turned into admiration as I watched them relentlessly try to save him. I was overwhelmed by the entire experience, but I learned from it. Today I am a resilient, positive, and self-assured individual who overcame this long and dark process. Because of my perseverance from this experience, I became interested in saving lives and helping others overcome adversity. Additionally, throughout high school, I was afforded the opportunity to assist my grandmother and uncle, who has an Intellectual Disability, with ADLs (bathing, grocery shopping, etc.) and with other healthcare needs (e.g., taking them to doctor appointments, assisting with coordinating PT services, and participation in medication management discussions with their doctors). Some adolescents and young adults may view spending spare time helping the elderly and disabled as a burden, but not me. I felt satisfaction. This experience also helped me to become more passionate and committed to helping others. It guided me to pursue a career as a registered nurse and eventually as a psychiatric nurse practitioner. I strongly believe nursing will offer me countless opportunities to experience that same satisfaction and gratification. Don’t get me wrong, I know the nursing field is demanding (e.g., it involves critical thinking, patience, long hours, direct patient care, case management, ethical standards, etc.), but it’s a challenge I can’t wait to embrace. I view psychiatric nursing as a field that takes a holistic approach to the care of patients. Not only will I treat patients’ biological and physical needs, but I also will assist them with their psychological, emotional, and behavioral needs. My commitment to this journey and profession lies in my belief that our physical and mental health needs are interdependent. Both should be addressed in helping individuals stay healthy and lead positive and productive lives. I believe having good psychological and physical health enables us to reach our fullest potential. I am incredibly eager about what lies ahead of me, and I look forward to a career in a field that supports my beliefs and aligns with my personal goals. Thank you for helping me reach my fullest potential.

Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” And while I don’t plan on changing the world in its entirety, education is my most powerful weapon. As a young girl, I was even shyer than I am now. Growing up with a twin sheltered me from the world of being on my own. Instead of building relationships by myself, I had a built-in best friend by my side, and although it was a convenient advantage, it was also a hindrance. My sister is an extroverted version of myself. She never had a problem initiating conversations with strangers, so I had a hard time talking with others on my own. I made myself believe it was inconsequential to make connections with other people because all I had ever known was, she and I; me and her. This all changed after my desire to become independent outweighed my inclination to be in my sister's shadow and I began my individualistic voyage into self-reliance. My journey led me into becoming a cheerleader. Cheerleading changed my life. I became interested in cheerleading when I was eight years old, but I didn’t attempt the sport until I was eleven. I convinced my sister to join me in trying out for the level one competitive team at Apex Cheer & Athletics since I was too shy to try out by myself. I took tumbling classes before trying out because I wanted to be good enough to make one of the teams. Surprisingly, I found tumbling quite easy and quickly moved from level one to level two. My confidence in myself grew immensely, and I even started helping my sister learn basic skills. We tried out for level one, and both were placed on a level two competitive team. Being on an All-star team was extremely challenging, yet it taught me to grow a backbone. Everyone on the team was intimidating and hard-working, not only because they wanted to be the best, for themselves, but for the team as well. Because All-star cheer was so tedious, I grew up in the gym. My teammates saw me at my best and my worst, and I saw them the same. Our team was a family, and our gym was a community, and together were all passionately in love with the sport. I enjoy my “new” self, and I am more determined than ever to help others be their best. I am determined, focused, and eager to excel in school, my career, relationships, and life. I am shy and soft-spoken but also a “self-starter” and very adept at tracking down information when needed, multi-tasking, making decisions easily, giving good suggestions for solving problems, setting realistic goals, thinking critically, and motivating others to succeed. Evidence of my abilities is seen in my grade point average (3.98), participation in school cheer and American Sign Language Honor Society, volunteer, coaching job at Olympia Gymnastics and Tumbling, and caretaking responsibilities (I assist my grandmother (81 years old) and uncle (60-years old with an Intellectual Disability) (grocery shopping, getting meals, and taking them to doctor/dentist appointments)). I am compassionate about helping others, and I believe having good mental and physical health enables us to reach our fullest potential. I know my goal to become a registered nurse and eventually, a psychiatric nurse practitioner or Nurse Anesthetist will provide me the opportunity to give back to others while assisting them with their mental and physical health needs. I deserve this scholarship because I have the passion and determination to become a trusted member of the nursing community. I deserve this scholarship because I will continue to uphold Black excellence and will continue to contribute to the rise of Black nurses, doctors, and psychiatrists in the medical field. With my education, I can help children and adults get the treatment they need, giving them the best chance at finding their success. You’re not just helping me get through college at Prairie View A&M University. You’re improving the quality of life for countless families to come. I appreciate your consideration. Thank you for helping me reach my goals.