My name is Trisha Belen and I am a Pre-Health science major and I am pursuing to become a nurse. The reason why I have chosen this career path of helping people because I noticed that I can save lives and make a difference instead of blinding myself with materialistic things since a lot people would rather pick a career in life that only pays them and nothing else, which is something I don't want to become because life is short, so why not use the life we have to support others in need? But other than that, what influenced me to choose the path helping people with special needs is when my teacher taught biology while taking care of her child with Down Syndrome, and I cannot imagine how challenging it is to balance between teaching and taking care of a child with special needs, and what's even more difficult was that I was in eighth grade during when I witnessed it. I honestly felt bad that I couldn't do much since I have no knowledge taking care of someone with special needs. Even when I had not still decided to become nurse, I knew I wanted to help people, so I joined a military club in my high school back in the Philippines. I helped the faculty, teachers, and other organizations in my community, which was something I would never forget since I knew I did not volunteer to join because I am asking for something in return, but because I wanted to help. When I moved in the United States, I was on my senior year. On my last year of high school, I have decided to become a nurse. I started as a Pre-health science student in Napa Valley College and learned many things such as how we our body works, how we grow, and how our environment influences our well-being. After my first year of college, I went to volunteer in Providence Community Health, so I can learn more about people with special needs. I mostly interact with the patients who are already have dementia and some with Down syndrome. I volunteered there for more than a year and I learned that everyone needed to be treated with empathy and patience. It was hard because sometimes there will be moments where it is difficult to say no to a patient because they wanted to do something that is not permitted by the doctor or supervisor. One time, when I was volunteering at Providence, one of the patients wanted to go out for a walk, and I know that I am not allowed to walk a patient outside, but luckily when I asked my supervisor and he said it was okay, I just had to make sure we would go far. I gave the patient a walk, and we would talk about life, but then I realized this person has dementia since they are repeating the same questions, statements, and even stories about their lives without recognizing or remembering the listener. At that very moment, I wanted to become someone where I can help people with special needs since my heart could not bear the idea of them being left alone and not being taken care of. Right now, I am on my last semester of community college and I apply to a nursing program here in California. With this scholarship, it will help me reach my goal of becoming someone that can take care of people with special needs for the long-term.

My reason for entering the nursing program is that I enjoy helping people, and it feels rewarding to make a positive impact on someone's life. When I was younger, I always thought becoming a civil engineer was my thing because my dad is an engineer, but as I grew, I realized I wanted to do something that could help my community. I was part of a Philippine military club at my high school, where we served the community by assisting other clubs, teachers, faculty, and various organizations outside of school. Therefore, I decided to pursue nursing because I believe that doing good for others is a reward in itself, regardless of whether people agree. I would rather continue serving the community with purpose than dwell on the reasons behind my career choice. I know it is mentally and emotionally demanding, but I believe that suffering alongside other nurses while facing such challenges will motivate me to keep moving forward. My friends and I have dealt with excruciating projects in high school, and it feels good to work with the right people around me. It is okay to cry because I am human, since I heard nursing is really difficult, but it is never easy to live a life without fulfilling something. Currently, I volunteer at Providence, where I help patients accommodate their needs. Although I am not allowed to administer medications or food, I distract them with engaging activities like puzzles and crosswords, so they can feel like someone is emotionally present for them. I'm currently working part-time at a fast food restaurant and helping my brothers with their schoolwork, as my mom has two jobs. I've been looking for ways to support my family as much as possible. I attend Napa Valley College at night because during the day, I am busy with chores that allow my mom to rest, and I also fill in for her. So far, I feel good about being mentally persevered since I never got enough time to spend with my friends, and that is okay because there will be a time for that one day. I do everything I can to gain experience outside of nursing, despite my tight schedule, but I'm motivated by the fact that it's for my family's sake, as they deserve to have a daughter who can support them one day. I've set aside my excuses because I know they won't help my career progress. I was raised with this mentality, and I will continue to carry it with me, no matter what.

As a Filipino who grew up in a society where mental health is not recognized enough, I would contribute to the world by increasing mental health care accessibility by implementing trauma-informed education in various schools, whether public or private, so students can better understand their experiences without feeling ashamed. Many young people nowadays may not have the courage to talk about their thoughts or experiences, as the culture I live in considers mental health unnecessary because older people say that depression is just an excuse or disgrace to the family. I never received the care I needed for my mental health because I thought I would be making an issue about it, but now that I am older, I realize how important it is to take care of and understand my mind's well-being. I want to make this information available to everyone through education, so society will become more open-minded about what mental health is and how it should be addressed early, regardless of age, status, or ethnicity. There should be no boundaries or limits to making mental health accessible to everyone, because focusing on what matters is crucial, and taking action is equally important.

If I were to train an AI system to represent the Filipino-American experience, would our story always come from humble beginnings? The answer is yes. I was born in the small islands of Indonesia, as both of my parents used to work there, and Filipinos are known to work abroad frequently. We lived in poorer areas, but since I grew up in a Filipino family, we were happy and always looked for ways to enjoy life, even in the most challenging times. My parents taught me to speak Tagalog even in a foreign country, as it is deeply ingrained in Filipino culture to learn your native language, as this represents our identity. After a few years, we moved back to the Philippines and attended elementary school. While growing up, my family would always be invited to birthday parties, as Filipinos love to celebrate with family and friends a lot. This is a culture that American culture cannot replicate, as genuine enjoyment of living is something you can only experience elsewhere. Every morning, I would always smell the aroma of pandesal and garlic fried rice while getting ready for school. Going to school is a lot of fun, too, as Filipino friendships can last a lifetime, even into old age. Currently, I remain in close contact with my closest friends, a relationship that has lasted for almost eight years. Even though we are growing, we still update one another. High school is my favorite stage of my life. I recall that we would always have an annual celebration where we danced to various genres of music, including Filipino folk music. After school, there was always dance practice, and we would often have a potluck during practice because why not? Building memories with my classmates is something worth remembering, as we were more focused on surviving the whole school year together until the very end, unlike in American culture, where you go to class and leave, which gives me the "ehh" feeling. My friends and I would always find ways to enjoy high school life. I even remember going to the river with my friends, where we swam and had dinner by the water's edge. Something the algorithm could never capture are the spontaneous adventures, fun celebrations, and blissful memories, and that's something irreplaceable as well. Experiencing Filipino life is something that strengthens my love for my nation.

My experiences that have shaped my pro-life position are that life is never easy to live, and I believe that if we want to build the next generation, we have to prioritize the lives of mere human beings, regardless of background. I was raised to believe that all life is sacred, no matter what. My mother always taught me that feeding a soul is better than letting someone rot and suffer, since she became a mom at 19, and she considers having a child a blessing instead of a burden, because all children are innocent and a gift from God. Despite having a low-income family in the past, since the Philippines wasn't very prosperous during my parents' time, they did everything to have a better life so that future generations would continue to grow normally. Pro-life is not just helping a mother survive pregnancy and do nothing afterward once she has the child in her hands, NO! Pro-life is supposed to help a mother or a human being reach a position of stability and ensure they are independent enough to care for themselves. Sadly, the government would be complaining about why women do not have children anymore, despite not giving the support that mothers need in raising their children, and no child deserves to be alive to survive and suffer from hunger. I even know people who are now homeless, while the rich are too busy enjoying luxurious activities. Therefore, how can there be people who support pro-life but do not understand that lower-income families or people with financial instability can't raise a child? Life is messy, for sure. Back in the Philippines during COVID, my family helped the church deliver food to needy people. I could still remember putting cans of tuna in a box, and my mother's driver would bring them to the families, asking for "Ayuda," which means help. I would also send money to one of my friends who was battling cancer during that time, and unfortunately, she passed away. I was saddened that I didn't see her in person one last time. A lot of the people I knew were affected by COVID. Some survived, some didn't make it. I also did community service during high school and was a military cadet of C.A.T. (Citizenship Advancement Training). I helped the staff clean the school, assisted teachers in events, and collaborated with other school clubs. I'd always wake up at 4 a.m. and head to school at 5 a.m. since we had to raise the Philippine flag on Mondays. I was happy to serve my people and give my time and energy to help without excuse. Life is sacred, and humans are not alive to serve society but to live what God has given them to do. Mothers with their unborn children should be given the needed support instead of saying that a woman should have a child because the population will decline in the future; NO! No woman deserves to have a child, while society forces them to have children and does not do anything about it.

I chose the nursing industry as my career choice because I want to make a difference where I get to help people. I was motivated to pursue this career when one of my old friends passed away. I wasn't there on her last days since I wasn't aware if she was feeling better. Unfortunately, her time was short, but I am grateful that I met people like her. The last thing I could remember about her was when she told me, "You can do it, Trisha." Another reason I want to become one is to care for my mother one day when she becomes old since no one in my family will be willing to take care of her. Still, I will be the one who will care for her because no one else will be supporting me other than my mother. For my goals, I want to maintain a stable life where I get to live life and help my community at the same time because when I started volunteering at Providence Community Health here in my city, it was fulfilling to feel that I get to help someone without asking for anything in return. In the Philippines, I served in C.A.T. (a military club/group in high school). The club aims to help the faculty, teachers, and students with any event on campus. I am most honored that I was able to help my people despite leaving the country before graduation, and one of my favorite accomplishments is that I got to raise the Philippine flag one last time before moving to the United States. Leaving the country you are serving hurts, but moving forward to pursue a better life is what I aim to achieve one day so that my family will not struggle. Having accomplishments that relate to my goals helps me feel confident and learn real-life situations that apply to healthcare, such as pressure. I currently volunteer at Providence Community Health; I learned much about how patient care works in geriatrics since it is similar to a nursing home but with a more vibrant aura. I get to accommodate the participants there and make them feel welcome and have fun. It is rewarding to make someone's day by volunteering, and I don't have any concerns about my experience. I am also earning my CPR certification at Napa Valley College to gain basic health skills and apply those skills in real-life situations. I am still learning other health-related skills such as urinalysis, reading systolic and diastolic pressure, identifying electrocardiogram heart waves, and more. I may be young, but I will never stop learning essential skills that can help me boost my career.

The reason I want to become a nurse is that a close friend of mine passed away from cancer, and I didn't get the chance to see her one last time. My late friend became the reason why I wanted to pursue nursing. Life is painful for someone, knowing they are not being accompanied on their last moments, and I want to become the nurse who will shower the love and care to a patient whose time is not that long. I promised my parents that I would become a nurse so I could one day take care of them. Back in the Philippines, I wasn't sure what I wanted to become after high school since I was still exploring what the world could offer me. I desired a career where my purpose would benefit me and my community. One day, I got a call from one of my closest friends; she told me that Xyla was no longer with us. I was shocked, and I did not know how I would respond. When I went to her funeral, tears came out from my eyes. From that moment, I did not wish for someone to experience the pain of losing someone to cancer, so I chose to become a nurse because I want to accompany someone in their last moments and make them realize that they lived a happy life. Becoming a nurse sparked me because it's not all about knowing how much you will make or what the benefits of becoming a nurse are, but understanding your purpose for becoming one. Right now, I am studying at Napa Valley College to complete my prerequisites. I plan to transfer to different state universities here in California, but my main target is Sacramento State University since they offer an excellent nursing program there. I still want to head home to see my parents. I went to UC Davis for a pre-health conference to expand my choices and opportunities. I learned a lot from the conference about how I can become a nurse or maybe something better since they offer many programs like Radiotechnology, Anesthesiology, Family Medicine, and more. The more I expose myself to healthcare, the more inspired I become. My parents are very supportive of me, which has pushed me to become better, and I want to make them proud that I can do it. I currently volunteer at Providence while going to college and so far I love it! I know it will take a while, but I believe that I can become a nurse since every obstacle needs to be surpassed. I will always remember my late friend, who inspired me me to stay strong despite the hardships she had to go through.

I decided to pursue a career in nursing because all of my family members are associated with healthcare. They inspire me to serve their time to help people, and I want to do the same. My grandmother brought me to one of her facilities at Napa State Hospital. To be honest, it was a big hospital. I was amazed at how many nurses worked there and wanted to do that. My grandmother continually educates me on what she does as a nurse, and it's nice that I learn something from her. After high school, I attended Napa Valley College. I am majoring in pre-health science since I must complete all the requirements to enter the nursing program. I am volunteering at Providence to assist participants with Alzheimer's and dementia because I want to understand what my environment will be like in the future. Becoming a nurse takes a long time since studying and learning the skills requires a lot of dedication. Right now, I am focusing on what I need to know for the nursing program and learning the fundamentals of Physiology, Anatomy, and Microbiology. I know there is so much to discover, but during this time, I also want to research what kind of nurse I want to become since there are many options. I have come to the conclusion of becoming a pediatric nurse since I like taking care of kids, and I babysit my cousins every Saturday, so I like the routine of letting kids know that they will feel better and make them not scared since kids don't understand what is happening around them. I used to have a friend who wanted to become a lawyer, and I told her that she could do it because she had what it takes to become a lawyer, but one day, my friends and I discovered that she had cancer. We were devastated by the news and wanted to help her recover. My friends and I earned some money because her chemotherapy was expensive. What even terrifies them is that her cancer was in the blood so that she couldn't live long... I wanted to stay by her side and let her know she was not alone. I didn't hear her last words, but her mother said she was blessed to have great friends. That day, I was motivated to become a nurse who ensures children won't be alone in their recovery or last days.

\My experience with mental health has profoundly changed my perception of life and has significantly influenced my growth as a person. There have been moments in my life where I had to face challenges alone, as sometimes it is up to you to take action and create change. Back in elementary school, I was bullied for being called a tomboy since I didn't conform to traditional female behavior. However, I still enjoyed my childhood, playing in the rain, playing tag with my friends, and making the most of my life. Unfortunately, people will always judge you for being yourself, even when you are doing nothing wrong. I often faced harassment from boys for simply minding my own business. I still remember one boy who used to beat me up for no reason. Eventually, I got so angry that I fought back because I refused to let someone mistreat me. Unfortunately, someone reported my behavior, and I ended up in the principal's office. I realized I had acted wrongly, especially when I saw the disappointment in my teachers' eyes, who had never witnessed such violent behavior from me. I was sent home, and my parents were informed about the incident. I cried, feeling alone and defending myself when no one else would. My mother talked to me and advised me to let it go, but after being a good daughter all my life, I felt worthless for reacting in a way that didn’t reflect how she raised me. I couldn’t comprehend how people could be so hurtful for simply being myself. Throughout elementary school, I had to endure bullying. I couldn’t see a therapist because, in Filipino culture, seeking help often carries a stigma, and people might label you as weak. They would dismiss serious feelings with comments like, "Oh, that's just depression. It's nothing," or tell me to "stop blabbering about it." I don’t mean to criticize Filipino culture, but there are individuals who belittle your mental health struggles. If someone has a mental health issue, it tends to be the subject of gossip, so whenever I felt sad, I kept my feelings to myself to avoid judgment and protect my image. At times, I had suicidal thoughts, questioning why people treated me so poorly when all I wanted was to live a quiet life. I cried, hurt myself, and screamed in frustration. As time went by, I finished elementary school and moved on to high school, where the school system is different in the Philippines. I met new people and began making friends. Life in my old school felt traumatic, but at my new school, I slowly started to feel better. However, I struggled to adjust since I had never really learned how to make friends. Over time, I became more comfortable and grateful for the friends who stayed by my side. I enjoyed high school, joined clubs, and learned to connect with others. However, one moment shattered me: one of my closest friends passed away from cancer. We rallied to help raise funds for her expensive chemotherapy, which was challenging because the law prohibits 16-year-olds from getting part-time jobs in the Philippines. Unfortunately, she didn’t live long enough to attend our graduation. I hope you are safe in heaven, Xyla. This experience taught my friends and me about the pain of loss and the need to accept that life can be unfair. In 11th grade, I was thriving. I held specific roles at school, like cleaning the gym with my clubmates and participating in activities at different schools, making high school a fun experience. Everything seemed normal until I fell in love for the first time. He was a great guy, but sadly, we couldn’t be together because I was about to leave the country, so we decided to remain friends. Another challenge was my uncertainty about my future after graduation, especially since I was about to migrate to a different country permanently. I struggled to discover my passions as I was still exploring options that excited me. Upon arriving in the U.S., I didn’t attend school for three months because my family and I were waiting for our green cards. I felt like I was losing my mind, watching my old classmates go to school while I was stuck at home doing nothing. I tried to stay productive by reading books or going for walks, but I constantly worried about whether I would graduate. Fortunately, our green cards arrived before the end of the school year, and I feared I would have to repeat 11th grade. During my senior year, I focused on researching career choices because I didn’t want to take a gap year after graduation. I tried to figure things out while finishing high school. I didn’t make many friends since I was new to the environment, and the culture here in America was different, making it hard to adjust. One day, my grandmother decided to take me to her facilities at Napa State Hospital because she wanted me to see what her work is like. When I went there, there were a lot of nurses. I even met a nurse practitioner who told me that if I wanted to aim high, I gotta work hard for it with no excuses. On that very day, I decided to become a nurse. Right now, I am attending community college to earn my Associate's degree in Nursing and aim for a higher degree afterward. I even started volunteering at Providence so I could serve the people. From my experience with mental health, I learned that you overcome challenges if you choose to be a good person and with God by your side. I thank God for guiding me and bringing me to a good path. It was difficult to stay a good person despite the world treating you differently, but that should not stop you from having a bright future and good morals.

My name is Trisha Belen. I am an immigrant from the Philippines and a pre-health student at Napa Valley College. My time at Napa Valley College has been instrumental in shaping my path to becoming a nurse. I am completing my requirements to enter the nursing program to attain my Associate's Degree in Nursing. This decision was influenced by the supportive environment and the quality of education I received at Napa Valley College. This degree will make it easier for me to find a job in the healthcare field and save a lot of money. I am also doing volunteer work at Providence for exposure and to get my feet wet since I wanna experience what it's like to be in their environment. I plan to get my Bachelor's degree in Nursing from any state university in California once I am financially stable enough to pay my tuition since my parents need to support my brothers. Back in the Philippines, I wasn't sure what I wanted to become, and I was still exploring my interests, whether I liked this or that. At first, my parents wished I would become a doctor since my relatives had respectable careers, such as my father, who is an engineer; my grandmother, who is a nurse; my mother, who is also a nurse, but she worked in Saudi Arabia, my uncle who has his own business, and my grandfather who is a lawyer. However, during a visit to my grandmother's workplace, I had my 'aha' moment. Seeing the care and compassion she showed to her patients, I knew I wanted to follow in her footsteps and become a nurse. She brought me to her facilities, and I met a nurse practitioner. The nurse practitioner told me, "If you want something, you must not give up." Hearing those words from an actual nurse practitioner motivated me to do it. I planned to pursue architecture because it differed from my family's career choices, but I wondered, "Do I even want to become this?" I may be good at art, but will it make me secure in the long term? I knew that I needed to think realistically about my decisions. I changed my decision. Throughout high school, I was desperate to find something I wanted, but none clicked with me. I tried joining a music club, a military club, and a philosophy club, but I did not feel passionate about them. What made me feel scared about my future was that my family and I had to move to the U.S. since our papers from the U.S. embassy came to our doorstep. I didn't know how I would react, but I do know that we had to complete the requirements the U.S. asked for. It was a dreadful process since we had to travel to the capital 8 to 9 times, and each trip was 6-7 hours, so we had to be persistent to succeed and get our visas. This involved a lot of paperwork, interviews, and waiting, which was challenging for us. After accomplishing everything, we left the Philippines and started a new life in the U.S. I was still discovering what I wanted to do after high school, but thanks to my grandmother, something sparked me to follow a specific path: becoming a nurse. I was sure of my choice, and I will not regret it.

My name is Trisha Belen. I am an immigrant who recently moved from the Philippines and am pursuing a nursing degree at a community college. I am the only daughter in my family, which pressured me to do more in life since they believe that I need to become something so I can prove that just because I am a woman does not mean I can do less. When I was a little girl, I wanted to become a doctor since it is one of the most respectable careers in the Philippines, and everyone in my neighborhood knows that if you choose a major that will allow stability, you will do great in life. As time flew by, I began to change my course of interest. In high school, I wanted to become an architect since I like designing and drawing, but knowing little about the field since no one in my family was born an architect or an artist, so I gave up during my senior year. In my last days of high school, I questioned what I should do because graduation was just around the corner, and I needed to decide for the long term. One day, my grandmother brought me to her facility at Napa State Hospital so I could get a peek at what it's like inside. When we went inside, there were many healthcare associates, and I even met a nurse practitioner. The nurse practitioner told me, "If you want something, you must not give up." Knowing he is a nurse practitioner gave me hope; I knew what I wanted to become, so I decided to pursue a nursing career. I even considered becoming a nurse back then, but the problem was that I didn't know if I desired to become one. Now that I am confident of my choice, I am taking college classes to complete the nursing program requirements. I currently go to Providence as a volunteer, so I can see what it's like to be in their environment, and I think I will like it because, after my shift there, I don't feel any regret even though I am not getting paid for it. I feel fulfilled that I get to do something for the community without asking for anything in return and experience what it's like to do something productive outside. I even like the people I work with, knowing I can contribute something. Once I become a nurse, I will be helping patients feel better and recover since my grandmother inspired me that if I become a nurse, I will become the breadwinner of my family and help people in my community.

I chose to pursue education in healthcare because my family's inspiring legacy in this field deeply motivated me. My grandmother paved the way as the first nurse in our family, followed by my mother and cousins, who dedicated themselves to this noble profession. As the only daughter, I strongly desired to become a breadwinner for my family, working hard to succeed. Throughout my high school years in the Philippines, I was an average student who excelled in my classes and participated in various clubs. However, I struggled to pinpoint my future career. Initially, I dreamt of becoming an architect because I enjoyed drawing, but I soon realized I didn't want to spend my days confined to that routine. I contemplated careers that would provide financial security and bring me joy. I understand that following passion without a practical approach can lead to struggles. Therefore, I am determined to make a realistic and meaningful career choice in healthcare that honors my family's legacy and fulfills my aspirations. My grandmother inspired me to become a nurse. She took me to her facilities to give me an idea of what healthcare is like. Even my cousin shared that becoming a nurse is worth it because she became one and is satisfied working at the hospital. I aspire to be a nurse so that I can serve the community and feel fulfilled. When I was in high school, I had a teacher who thought that working as a nurse in the past was one of her best decisions because she loved her role and even got benefits from it. She even encouraged me to become a nurse when I told her I planned to. Crazy, right? I have met people pursuing a degree in nursing, and I have to admit I want to graduate just to become one since I want to have a stable purpose in life. Other than wanting to become stable, I also want to take care of people who need critical care since I had a friend who passed away, and what saddens me is that I never get to see her one last time. I want to take care of someone who wants to live a longer life, and if not, I want to ensure they enjoy a life worth living. I plan to become a medical-surgical nurse since I heard you need to provide comprehensive care to recovering patients, which is worth achieving. It may take a while to gain the experience, but at least I know it will be rewarding.

When I was young, I dreamt of becoming a doctor, but then I realized it wasn't for me because no one influenced me to become a doctor. It all takes one moment to make someone dream something, but that moment never happened, so I gave up on it. However, one day, someone encouraged me and made me stay on that path for the rest of my journey. When I lived in the Philippines, I attended a prestigious high school in my city. One had to pass an examination to qualify for the school, and lucky for me, I passed. I had a fever when I took the exam, but I knew that I had to do this or else. I thank God for guiding me because, through Christ, everything is possible. During my years of studying in that school, I couldn't decide what I wanted to be after graduation because I was too busy with schoolwork and everything else. I gave up on becoming a doctor because it felt like it wasn't right for me, so I decided to become an architect. Honestly, I wasn't sure if I wanted to be an architect because I like to draw, but what would I do after I become an architect? I didn't think that far because I wasn't sure if I was doing the right thing. One day, our documents from the Embassy came to our doorstep. My mother was shocked by the news, and I wasn't sure if I was happy about the news or sad because I knew that I would be leaving the homeland. I was glad I could travel somewhere and gain experience in the U.S., but when I told my friends, they told me, "You're gonna leave us before graduating?" That statement saddened me because I had to move to another country since the U.S. Embassy gave us limited time to complete their requests. When we completed the requirements, I had to say goodbye to everyone I cared about, and I knew there was no return. I promised my friends I would return one day, but I couldn't tell them when. When my family and I departed the Philippines, we stayed at our grandmother's house. She told me everything about her journey of becoming a nurse and encouraged me because she saw potential in me. She even brought me to her facilities at Napa State Hospital. I was encouraged by her because I knew what it felt like. I started dreaming of becoming a nurse. I began to look for resources to become a registered nurse. I even looked for teachers who could help me with my journey. What I like about pursuing a healthcare career is the many options. A lot of people encouraged me to pursue nursing. Even a nurse practitioner at my grandmother's facility motivated me to become one. If I wanted to go further, he told me I could also become a nurse practitioner. I just had to never give up in the process. I have met people who are pursuing a healthcare career, and I enjoy learning from them. "It all takes one moment to decide your future." That's what my grandmother told me.

My name is Trisha Belen, and I am an immigrant from the Philippines who moved to the United States two years ago. I am the eldest and only daughter in my family. I used to be surrounded by people heavily influenced by Filipino culture, but now I must adjust to my new environment to strive for a better life. I am taking all the necessary classes for the nursing program, which can be a complex process, especially without clear guidance. My desire to build a better life for my family inspired me to pursue higher education in the U.S. My parents faced many challenges in their early years, and I wanted to give them the life they deserved for their hard work. I also wanted to transform my life to make a difference in my community. I struggled to determine my future path when I was still in the Philippines because I knew I would be migrating, making it challenging to decide what I wanted to be when I grew up. Back in the Philippines, I was an average high school student. I performed well in my classes, spent time with friends, and enjoyed great professors. I initially thought my life would remain in the Philippines. However, one day, we received a document from the U.S. Embassy—our immigration papers had been approved. All we needed to do was complete the required steps. My mother was incredibly surprised by the news; she had waited for those papers for 20 years and had even considered allowing me to stay in the Philippines, content with what we had. I was excited but saddened by the news at the same time. Knowing that I would be leaving everything behind. We had to let my dad return to the Philippines immediately. When we got the news, he was still in South Korea. We had to move fast because the Embassy limited our time to accomplish the requirements. I had to get my transcripts at my old high school and bring them to the United States, but the problem was that it was during examination week. I had no choice but to get my grades. I had to say goodbye to everyone I cared about, and what hurt me was that I never got to graduate with my friends. My family and I had to travel to Manila eight times, each trip lasting six hours. If we want a better life, we have to work for it. In the end, we completed everything the Embassy asked us to do. From the experience, I learned that if you want something, you have to persevere no matter what. I wanted to do nursing because my grandmother inspired me to become one. She didn't put any pressure on me, but she showed me how it could help me and give me a purpose in life. She brought me to her facility. I didn't even know I was allowed to go in. There were a lot of nurses, and they were very chill people. I even met a nurse practitioner in the facility, and he told me that if you want to become something, you have to do whatever it takes to achieve it; that inspired me to become a nurse because knowing that anyone can become successful if they choose to follow their path to having a fulfilling life. My post-graduate plan is to take some time off and look for a job in California. I also plan to invest and save money for further education, such as becoming a Nurse Practitioner.

I want to build my career in nursing. Since graduating high school in 2024, I have been making progress in my journey. I started volunteering at Providence, taking all the necessary classes at Napa Valley College to get into the nursing program, and applying for scholarships to support my education. Small steps can lead to significant progress. While it may not come quickly, I am moving forward. When I first arrived in the United States, I was uncertain about how to shape my future. I needed help from my counselor to explore my options as I was unsure of my path. I returned home feeling lost, crying in bed while my classmates had already planned their futures. I was struggling to figure things out because immigrating to the U.S. had not been part of my original plan. I had aspired to become an architect and knew which schools I wanted to attend. However, everything changed after we moved to a different country, leaving me anxious about my next steps. The decision process was more challenging because the classes I completed in the Philippines did not count as credits for universities like UCLA or UCSD. It felt like all my high school efforts had gone to waste. There was this one time my grandmother brought me to her nursing facility. She encouraged me to choose nursing as my primary career choice because every member of my family was associated with healthcare; even my mother was a nurse, but she stopped nursing because she had to take care of me. I remember participating in a military club in the Philippines in my old high school, where I helped people. I was happy whenever I contributed something to my community; if I start doing it again, I can find my purpose. One day, I realized that my passion for helping others and my desire to make a difference in my community could guide me toward a fulfilling career. Nursing became my new focus, and I understood perseverance and commitment would be crucial in this journey. I am determined to overcome the obstacles in my way and build a future in nursing that not only fulfills my aspirations but also serves the needs of my community. I have always wanted to help people in need because I empathize with them and wish to make my patients feel they are being cared for. I never felt great when I first went there to the U.S., but now I know that I can do so much for the people of this country.

A specific time when I relied on faith was when my family and I migrated to the U.S. It was a significant challenge for us because we only had one chance to move to America legally. It took a lot of time and effort to be successful in the immigration process, and we placed our faith in God, believing that with Christ, anything is possible. This journey began 20 years before I was born when my grandmother moved to the U.S. after passing her NCLEX exam in Dubai. She made the transition smoothly and petitioned for my family to join her so we could build a better life. My parents were eager to make the move, knowing I could pursue a career in the U.S. One day, we received a document from the U.S. Embassy in the mail. When it arrived, my mother was shocked because we needed to take immediate action; otherwise, we could lose our chance at immigration. My father had just left the Philippines to work in South Korea, and I was about to begin my STEM research project. Although I had contributed to my research team, I had to tell them I couldn't continue. Saying goodbye to everyone I cared about was incredibly difficult, especially since I couldn't graduate in my hometown without completing all the Embassy's requirements. We had to make seven trips to Manila, each taking six hours. With determination, we persevered to ensure we passed the necessary interviews. We gathered all our documents, including medical records, property details, and every other requirement my parents needed to fulfill. During this time, I struggled with mental health issues. I was surrounded by everything I wanted, but I felt I had to let it all go to be with my family. My parents insisted that we must move because our future depended on it. I was reluctant, as I was content with my life in the Philippines, but I had no choice. I spent many nights crying in my room, reminiscing about the memories I made with my friends. I promised them I would return one day, though I couldn't say when. The last time I hung out with them was emotionally challenging; we all cried, knowing this was goodbye for now. After completing the requirements, we went to the U.S. Embassy for the final task: the interview. According to the Global Alliance, U.S. visa interviews are among the most challenging parts of the immigration process. My parents and I waited in line for over 12 hours and went through multiple security checks. My parents were understandably anxious when the interview finally began since we didn't know what to expect. However, once the interviewer started, we answered her questions honestly, and to our relief, we passed—we finally got our visa! Throughout this experience, we relied on our faith in God. We knew that we might not have achieved our dreams of moving to America without His support.

I am interested in nursing because I believe it is a profession where I can make a significant impact in healthcare. My goal is to provide compassionate care and contribute to improving health outcomes for my family and the community. It all started when I was still living in the Philippines. I was an average high school student. I got good grades if I put effort into the work, and I was still exploring my career choices, whether I should be an architect or a doctor. My parents are very supportive of my choices. I should look for a job that could financially take care of me while I get to enjoy life. If I had chosen a career that makes me happy, I'd go broke or be unable to provide for my family. I have to make a wise choice because if I chose something that couldn't feed me, I would have regretted it for the rest of my life. I was having an existential crisis. Should I let people decide my future or take a year off and discover my interests? I had so many questions that all of them had to be answered by me. One day, I found out we were about to migrate to America. It was a blessing we never asked for because we were okay staying in the Philippines, but we had to take our chances to pursue a better life elsewhere. This event made me question my choices in life much harder because I had never met anyone in America, and I didn't even know what I wanted to do since I was facing conflicts with immigration. My grandmother, who helped my family to get here in America, played a significant role in my decision to become a nurse. Her encouragement and the exposure to the nursing environment influenced me greatly. It all takes one moment to change your decision. I wanted to pursue nursing because I knew it would benefit me and my family's future. I promised my parents that I would help my brothers throughout college, and my parents never grew up here, so I had to figure out how to support them. Another reason is that I had a friend who dreamt of becoming someone in life, but sadly, she passed away at such a young age that I felt terrible that I didn't even know what I wanted, but I did know that I enjoyed helping people. I know nursing is the right path because I have met people who have helped me on my journey, and I will forever cherish their knowledge. It is a complex process, and I am passionate enough to achieve my goal. This scholarship will help me move forward with my nursing education by covering tuition fees, purchasing necessary textbooks and equipment, and providing financial stability. It will also lessen the burden on my parents, allowing them to focus on their own needs and aspirations.

My most unforgettable outdoor experience was hiking in the breathtaking mountains of the Philippines with my family. This adventure left a lasting impression on me, strengthening our family bonds and deepening my appreciation for nature and its wonders. While still in the Philippines two years ago, our church organized a special summer event centered around hiking and picnicking in the mountains. The highlight was a stunning waterfall nearby, which my brothers and I were excited to visit, especially after the pandemic had shifted our perspectives on life. We eagerly participated in this event, longing to rejuvenate ourselves outdoors after spending so much time indoors. However, the journey was far from smooth. Due to rainfall, we faced challenges such as flat tires on a rocky road and rising river tides. Despite moments of doubt, my family's determination to reach our destination never wavered. After several hours, we finally arrived, filled with anticipation as we unpacked our picnic supplies. I jumped into the river, gleefully leaping from rocks with my church friends, while my brothers enjoyed their floats and my parents relished some delicious lumpia. This wonderful day was a joyful escape and a reminder of the importance of family, resilience, and the healing power of nature. This experience continues to shape my life's journey. When my cousins called me to explore mountain areas, I joined them because I wanted to experience places I had never been to. However, the river's current grew stronger, and the areas became narrower. I started to feel uncomfortable, but my cousins assured me they wouldn't let me out of sight if things went wrong. It was still sunny, so there was nothing to be afraid of. They encouraged me to learn to overcome challenges because you never know what lies at the river's end, and they knew the hiking spot was safe. As I walked, my foot hit a rock, and I tripped, resulting in a large wound on my shoulder that I was too scared to look at. My eldest cousin advised me not to look at it, fearing it would discourage me from reaching our ultimate destination. I nodded and tried not to cry because I didn't want to see the wound. She quickly grabbed a bandage and wrapped it around me. We continued hiking and eventually reached our destination; the view was unforgettable, and I was grateful my cousins convinced me to persevere. I sat on a flat rock and admired the beauty of nature. From that experience, I learned the importance of keeping moving forward. If you reach your destination, you will appreciate the effort you put into it. I can apply this lesson as I study to become a nurse. My grandmother told me that the journey would be hectic but worthwhile.

I am passionate about nursing because I grew up in a family of healthcare-associated nurses. Their influence, mainly my grandmother's, has profoundly shaped my passion for nursing. My grandmother was the first nurse in my family, and she became a nurse when she was 42. She inspired me because she taught me many things about what it's like to be a nurse and even encouraged me because if she could go back in time, she could have chosen nursing as her major at the beginning of college, but things went differently in her path. Her dedication, compassion, and impact on her patients left a lasting impression on me. I wanted to have a successful life and make my parents proud since I didn't come here to the U.S. to screw around. I also want to take every opportunity as I build my career. My grandmother told me that it doesn't want to age before you start your career. You have to dedicate yourself to the path you wish to continue, or you will regret things in the future. I want to start gaining the experience to become a nurse, and with that experience, I can independently do what I can contribute to the community. Therefore, I plan to come out of my nursing career by networking with professional nurses and collaborating with activities to help me learn the skills since I want to build my nursing career proficiently. I learned there are many options for what kind of nurse you want to be, such as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Cardiac nurse, ICU nurse, ER nurse, and more. There is a wide variety of choices when it comes to healthcare. I want to become a medical-surgical nurse to help patients after their surgery, and I want to learn more about it once I graduate with my associate's degree in nursing. Once I have become a medical-surgical nurse, I will serve my time helping patients and experience what it is like to be a real nurse in a hospital. I am usually anxious as a person because I don't like people talking to people, but getting to talk to patients about their condition is something I am confident to overcome since I have become used to if you get to do it every day. Moreover, I will be assessing patients with their care plans, medication, managing paperwork, etc., since I can learn so much more once I start nursing for real. I want to earn this scholarship because it will allow me to continue my education in nursing and help me move forward without worrying about the debt I will have in the future.

My name is Trisha Belen. I am a Filipina who moved to the States for a better education in nursing. Therefore, you can see why healthcare is my major right now. I plan to learn the fundamentals of health and the science behind it. Other than considering healthcare as my field of study, I want to apply what I learned in real life. For example, I learned how my blood pressure increases. I found out that your urine becomes more concentrated when that happens, and your Antidiuretic Hormone, which is produced in the posterior pituitary gland, controls it. I also wanted to learn how to apply it once I enter the nursing program since I am not taking health sciences. When I was in the Philippines, I learned that we Filipinos are one of the largest exporters of nurses, and even my family is in the healthcare field. My grandmother and my cousins mainly influenced me since they inspired me to do much more. I considered majoring in architecture, but then I realized what I should do once I become an architect. I was lost in thoughts because my path was not clear. However, I now know what I want, so I pursued a career in health. Even better, I get to learn from healthcare professionals since networking will allow me to expand my resources. I went to a conference at UC Davis and met many people from different universities. It was a great learning experience, and I became more motivated to continue my goals. Listening to people who made a difference in their lives made me feel passionate that I can do something beneficial for myself and the people in healthcare. I only chose healthcare as my field of study because many people encouraged me to pursue it despite not being experienced since everyone has their level of learning. Sometimes, the people who have inspired me make me love something. Now, I know what I want to pursue without going in a different direction or feeling confused about whether you are only pursuing a career because your parents want you to do it. I want to make a difference for my family and the community since serving them will make me feel fulfilled and give me a purpose in life. In addition to having a purpose, I will become successful and have control. Therefore, I will be someone in life.

My name is Trisha Belen. I am an immigrant who moved to the United States with my family to live a better life because I was just an average student in the Philippines. I went to school, studied, did projects, and more. However, life was hard for everyone else. I did not screw around because I got into a prestigious high school in my hometown, and I did want to waste the opportunity, so I focused on getting good grades and doing a good job for my parents. Now that I am here in America, I want to do something more since my parents waited 20 years for our legal documents to come to our doorstep, and coming to America is a dream of mine. This scholarship will help me build my path to success and allow me to finish my nursing education because I want to help people once I graduate. I promised my family that I would take every opportunity to learn and gain the skills I need, and I know those skills are not free to learn, but asking for assistance would support me. My academic goal is to obtain my associate's degree in nursing at Napa Valley College since it is the only affordable option for my parents to continue my schooling. Attaining my associate's degree in nursing would allow me to get a job and earn some money so I can get my Bachelor's degree in nursing and have more opportunities in healthcare. I know the path to success is never easy, but whenever I have something in mind, I will do whatever it takes to get it. I plan to volunteer in Providence so I can get some experience and be exposed to what my job will be like in the future. I have joined clubs and visited California universities to network with people. During high school, I contributed to the community by helping the homeless, cleaning the streets, and giving food. I never felt more fulfilled when supporting those in need, and at that moment, I knew that I wanted to become a nurse. A time that I have failed is a time when I lost one of my closest friends to cancer. I knew it wasn't my fault, to begin with, but I failed to stay by her side until her last breath. I failed to be a friend to her, and what even saddens me is that I did not get the chance to say goodbye before I left the Philippines. I had every opportunity to see her, but I still failed. What conflicted me was that I could not sleep at night or do well in school. I almost ended my life when things started to go bad for me. I could never forget how much I failed, but one day, I remembered my late friend telling me I could do it. I questioned myself, "Why am I doing this?" It took me a while to recover, such as rediscovering myself and learning that life is worth living. My greatest strength is that I never stop moving forward because I have a family who supports me no matter what situation I am in, whether I am in trouble or doing something great for the community. My family never stopped supporting me, and that is enough to make me strong and achieve my goals in life.

My dream is to help my family, and give them a comfortable life where they do not need to worry so much of the bills. I want to make that happen because I did not move here in the States just to ruin the opportunity that God has given me. I aspire to become a nurse because I like helping people. I started supporting my community when I first joined a club where it involves giving food to the poor, cleaning the streets, and more. I never came from a wealthy family, but at least I grew up in a healthy family where my mom would take care of me and my siblings while my father provides for us. When I was in the Philippines, I saw how hard life was compared here in the U.S. People thrive to provide for their families despite being poor or homeless. However, in the U.S., people choose to be homeless or do drugs since it is the only way to escape the pains of life. I understand life is hard that people want to end their suffering, but sadly, there are people who are broken where it would be almost impossible to repair it. I know there are still good people out there even though life is being hard on them. Therefore, I want to make a difference for myself and my family. As an immigrant myself, moving to a different country is never easy because I need to change to survive and move forward perseveringly. This scholarship will not just help me financially, but it will also help me build my path to success because every effort I make in order to become successful needs to count since life is short, and I better make the most of it for my family.

Success is something where people are happily stable with mental, financial, spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being. It does not necessarily mean you are rich because of the money you earned, but the goals you have achieved in life whether it is small or big. I always believe that you are successful whenever you wake up in the morning, you don't worry about paying the bills, or what you need to pay next because you are in control of your life, and that's what I think when a person is successful. It also means that you are professionally independent and you can do things by yourself at work. Success is something you do all by yourself and every effort you make is something that will rewarded in the future. An example I can share is when I was in my freshmen year, my classmates would call me fat, but that motivated me to exercise more, so I joined a military club in my school. I would exercise every day, push my limits, and do what it takes to become healthy. After two years, my parents noticed that I looked different compared to when I was still in my freshmen year. Therefore, I could say that I became successful physically. I still eat like any person would since life isn't pretty without eating the food you want. Being successful means being grateful to the people who have supported you in your journey. Right now, my goal is to attain my associate's degree in nursing, and I wouldn't be able to consistently do so without my parents. My parents are my number one supporters, and I will never forsake their hard work. Success is built with people who love and care about you because you will never be at the top without them. I may not become successful like people who got into Harvard or any prestigious university, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't be successful since I only want to live a life where I don't need to worry about the next step. This scholarship will help me finish my studies not because it is for financial aid, but as an opportunity to expand my knowledge and skills since I am pursuing to become a nurse, and I need to learn the expertise of a professional one. I know life has its ups and downs, but just because I am not financially stable, that shouldn't prevent me from becoming successful since my mom would always tell me, "There is a solution for every problem." Instead of making excuses, I should focus on how I can move forward and what I plan for my future. This essay may sound cliche because I am a broke college student like everyone else, but all I want is to make my parents proud and that will make me feel successful because they will have a daughter who has worked hard until the very end. I promised them I would help my brothers once they get into college, so they don't have to worry about what will happen to them because my parents never grew up here in America they are not familiar with the system here, so I will help them since I also want my brothers to become successful in life.

My mental health can impact my academic performance and personal life when such circumstances are beyond my control which could permanently damage me for the rest of my life. However, I managed to overcome those conflicts while I attended school because I knew I was my family's hope to live a better life. When I was in the Philippines, mental health was one of the most impacted health aspects of a student. I remember studying all night for five exams, and what hurt me was that I always got a C in my finals. I didn't know what to do when the situation started getting to me, and sometimes I attempted jumping off the building, so I didn't have to feel pain anymore, but I remembered a friend of mine who passed away so soon. I always remember my late friend when my world started to fall apart. I asked myself, "Why am I doing this? Why do I need to do this?" My mind was filled with thoughts that I couldn't even comprehend. My friend found me on top of the building, she sat me down, and we talked about how I was feeling, and what she could do to make me feel better. When I got home, I cried in my bed, screaming, punching the wall, and tearing every notebook I had. I never felt better whenever I let my emotions out. What saddens me is that I recently found out a student from my old high school committed suicide. I don't know what the school did to accommodate the student's family, but I heard that all the student's friends and teachers attended the funeral. I never met the youngster, but it hurts me that he ended his life at such a young age. After a few years, whenever I randomly remember that scenario of myself ending my life, I am glad I never took my life away. High school was the best part of my life, but also the worst because I was stressed for the past four years. One day, my parents told me we would be migrating to the U.S. because the U.S. embassy finally gave us our legal documents, and my parents waited 20 years for those papers. Now, I am doing well in college because I want to make my life worth living. I am doing things that make me happy such as learning new hobbies, eating outside, and exploring California. I managed to overcome my shortcomings by remembering that there are people who love and need me, so I don't want to throw it all away. I prioritize my mental health whenever I need to prepare myself for an exam because I know it will be challenging. I let myself breath and believe that I can overcome things.

Mental health is important to me as a student because it allows me to make decisions carefully, especially when taking an exam, doing projects, participating in extracurricular activities, and more. Now that I am in college, I have to take care of my mental health or else I won't be able to do well in my classes. After my first semester, it felt like a rollercoaster because I would cry every night just to pass my classes and get good grades somehow. If you are not mentally alright, you need to talk to someone, so you can analyze how you feel and what you think. I went to a therapist one time in my college about my mental health and whether I need of support or not. It was helpful because I got to talk to someone about my thoughts and feelings. At the end of my first semester, I did well in my classes. People need to take mental health seriously nowadays because there are a lot of people who commit suicide due to difficult circumstances and society just disregards it as if it's just a minor issue. When I was still in the Philippines, I had a club where we would serve the school and the community. We took mental health seriously because someone in my school passed away due to stress, depression, and anxiety. I even had a friend who hurt herself because she believed that she deserved it. The school would do seminars and activities to promote mental health awareness. My club and I would facilitate activities, and I would admit that doing such fun activities once in a while could do so much help in our mental health. For me, if someone just hugs me to make me feel better, it could fix me and have hope that not everything over. Life is short, so it's important to prioritize our mental health. I would advocate mental health by doing activities that could develop their well-being and looking for ways how to understand people of their situations. Why? Everyone needs to do something to prevent people from ending their lives and neglecting their mental needs. I want to make a difference for that once I become a nurse, I will take care of patients who are in need of mental support because no one deserves to be ignored, and be left in the dark when things get hard.

Being bilingual is something I grew up with since I lived in the Philippines, where many Filipinos can understand English. My name is Trisha, and I am a Filipino, having moved to the U.S. for a better life. Currently, my plans are to finish community college and enter the nursing program to earn my Associate's Degree in Nursing because I want to save money for my family. After obtaining that degree, I will pursue a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing once I have saved enough money for myself. My first language is Tagalog, and it has been challenging for me to maintain both languages. I mostly speak English when I’m outside of the house, and sometimes I struggle to find the right words in English. Is it difficult for me? Yes, but over time, I have become accustomed to speaking two languages. When I started working at McDonald's, I began learning Spanish because most of my coworkers were Hispanic. They were often curious about the languages I speak, and I appreciate the diversity because it allows me to learn from people who are different from me. Learning Spanish was challenging, particularly during lunch hours when I had to switch between English and Spanish at the drive-thru, which sometimes caused me to stutter. I can remember phrases in Spanish well enough to communicate with my coworkers about small things. However, I do not speak Spanish fluently and only know the basics. One of the benefits of being bilingual is that it makes it easier for me to learn a new language if I am surrounded by speakers of that language. I miss working with my coworkers at McDonald's, even though I don't speak Spanish fluently. They were always accommodating, and I remember one manager giving me tamales, which I appreciated. I may be the only Filipino there, but they do appreciate me for being on time, and doing a good job even though there was this one time I accidentally dropped a bag of hashbrowns in the fryer I mean accidents happen sometimes. However, the challenging part is the language barrier because I get stressed a lot if I speak Spanish and then transition to speaking English, and then to Tagalog. Sometimes, whenever I spoke Tagalog to my Filipino manager, they misunderstood what I said because there are words in Tagalog that are bad in Spanish, so I mostly use English at work. I mean when it comes to learning a language, it's never easy if you don't study it consistently or learn from different people. Therefore, I try to speak another, so I can show my appreciation because that's how I show that I am interested and willing to learn more other than my mother tongue.

The reason why I have chosen to pursue a degree in healthcare is that I have a friend who has passed away, and what hurts me is that I didn't get to see her one last time. She's one of the closest people I have ever met. She was strong in her last moments, and she was holding onto her dream to become a lawyer. Her strength motivated me to become a nurse because I want to take care of someone even in their last moments. What saddened me was that she didn't get the chance to graduate with me and my friends in high school, so I promised myself to do whatever it took to achieve my goals because she stayed strong to achieve hers. Whenever I feel like giving up, I think of her as a way to drive myself to greatness. Life is short, so I have to live my life to the fullest because everyone lives a long life. When I was in the Philippines before she passed away, I served my community by cleaning the streets, giving food to the poor, and helping the faculty in my school. It felt nice to do something for my people, and I felt like I could do so much more when I became a nurse. I got a text from my friend's mom telling us that cancer got to her. It was the most depressing day of my life knowing someone very close to me was taken away so soon. On that day, I began to take life seriously. After two years of serving my community, the C.A.T (Citizenship Advancement Training ) organization decided to make me corporal commander, but I told them I couldn't take the position because I was about to move here to America. I also told them that I would still like to give my service to my people one last time. Therefore, I remained in my position as a records officer. As time flew by, I got to say goodbye to my friends, my clubmates, and the faculty of my school, but I didn't get to see my friend's grave. After a few months of staying here in America, I got a part-time job, but then I eventually quit because I had to study for college. I joined clubs and I tried looking for ways how I can expand my resources in the healthcare field. Despite being a woman, it doesn't mean that I wouldn't be able to impact the healthcare field. Yes, there can be inequality in the system, but that shouldn't stop women from moving forward. I choose to move forward because I know that I can make a difference to the people. Now, I started volunteering in health institutions because I want to serve the community. I believe that I can make a positive impact as a woman in the healthcare field if I choose to push my limits and try my best to help people who are in need of support with their health.

The experiences that have shaped my pro-life position are that I was taught that killing babies is a sin, and at the same, I decided to find a reason why it is a sin, and how it can be taught to the public without pushing my agenda to them, but rather educating them. When I was young I always believed that abortion is a sin, and what a surprise that there are people who want to legalize abortion. I honestly find it disturbing because even though I don't want to have a baby, I will still look for a way how I can raise it if I ever get pregnant. I do not care if it is legal because I will be carrying someone's life in my belly. We have rights, yes, but there is a limit for it. According to the MCCL, We may do many things, but not everything. We have a right to choose what to eat for breakfast, where to live, and how to spend our time. We don't have the right to decide to harm people or violate their human rights. We don't have the right to kill innocent human beings. If that's what abortion does, then we don't have a right to abortion—and the government ought to protect against it as a matter of justice (Stark, 2019). Just because we have the right to make whatever choice we make, it does not mean that we have the right to kill an unborn human being. Back in the Philippines, I used to go to seminars that involved healthcare and human rights. My club and I would advocate pro-life to the public since there was a crisis of illegal abortions. Abortion is prohibited in the Philippines and punishable. Based on the Center of Reproductive Rights of the Philippines, In 2008 alone, the Philippines’ criminal abortion ban was estimated to result in the deaths of at least 1,000 women and complications for 90,000 more. Therefore, the government will be responsible for taking care of the mother and the unborn child. Education is the key to stopping abortion, and allowing people to realize that abortion or killing the baby is not the solution. There are a lot of women who do not know the consequences of getting pregnant, it would be better to teach them how to plan a family if they want to. For pregnant women, giving the support they need is an utmost priority because they carry the next generation, and instead of criticizing them whether they got knocked up at such a young age or got raped, help them. Helping women who got pregnant is one of the ways to allow pro-life to be implemented in the public and prevent abortion from happening. To summarize everything, it is important to share with everyone what they need to know about abortion, and how it could impact someone. Providing the help they need is also important because judgment won't solve anything. As a Christian, babies are the symbol of new beginnings, so it would be painful to ruin someone's start in life.

Tell us about a problem you have to overcome in your life. I encountered a significant challenge when I learned that my family would be moving to America. Initially, it didn’t seem like a monumental issue, but I secretly understood it would require a considerable adjustment on my part. The news came unexpectedly, prompting us to quickly prepare all our paperwork. At the time, I was still in high school, and obtaining my transcripts from my previous school proved to be particularly difficult. Additionally, saying goodbye to my friends was an emotional struggle, as I realized I wouldn’t have the opportunity to graduate alongside them, which was a heartbreaking realization. Upon our arrival in the U.S., we faced a four-month wait for our green card to arrive in the mail. This waiting period was challenging for my family and me, but we were fortunate to have a place to stay, as my grandmother had a house there. What caused me even more anxiety was the fact that I was out of school for three to four months. I feared falling behind and dreaded the thought of possibly repeating 11th grade. All we could do was wait until our legal documents came through. One day, when I checked the mailbox, I found it: our legal documents had finally arrived. My family and I celebrated this milestone because it meant my dad could secure a job, my mom could work anywhere in town, and my siblings and I could finally attend school. As time passed, I began working part-time at McDonald's while continuing my studies in high school. It was quite an experience, especially considering that in the Philippines, teenagers weren’t allowed to work until after they graduated from college. After a year of staying in the U.S., I managed to adjust and grow as a person. It was challenging, but it was worth experiencing since life is filled with ups and downs. How will this scholarship help you give back to the community?  It would help me give back to the community because I'll be studying nursing, which is a career that runs in my family that I am willing to pursue. I wanted to choose a career where I would be able to contribute something to society. Therefore, having this scholarship will help me attain my goal of becoming a nurse since I want to have a purpose in my life where it involves helping people. Philately is a hobby that promotes the study of postage stamps. How would you encourage young people to pursue this hobby? For me, when it comes to hobbies, I would encourage myself to discover them more by learning the educational aspects of what makes them interesting. I would encourage young people to pursue Philately by making them do interactive activities like a scavenger hunt, and I think it would make young people pursue this hobby if they have learned something from it or they get to experience what's like studying postage stamps.

When I was young, my mother often told me that one day we would be in America. At first, I didn’t believe her, as I was content growing up in the Philippines. However, I have always aspired to achieve the American Dream. But what does it truly take to attain that dream? The American Dream is something many Filipinos yearn for, as it symbolizes an escape from poverty and the opportunity to live the life they deserve. I am among those Filipinos. When I was an infant, my parents were in Indonesia, where my father completed his engineering training while my mother cared for me in a less affluent part of the city. As I grew older and returned to the Philippines, I often questioned my mother about why my father couldn't stay with us. She explained that he could not secure a job in the Philippines that would provide for us adequately. That’s when I promised my parents that I would study diligently and pursue a career as a doctor or nurse, so they could enjoy the life they truly deserved. Throughout high school, I focused solely on my studies and worked hard to achieve good grades, aiming for entrance into the most prestigious universities in the Philippines. I know that my efforts are crucial for my parents’ future, as I want them to rest and enjoy their retirement while I build a secure career. Then one day, we received the papers from the U.S. embassy, along with an invitation for an immigration interview. My mother was shocked, and I was initially bewildered. It wasn’t until I read the papers that I truly understood: that we could move to America. I was so enthusiastic about the news but sad at the same time. I knew that I would be leaving everything behind. My friends were happy for me because I got to experience what is like to be an American. I didn't want to leave since I was happy with what I had in the Philippines. My family and I went to the U.S. embassy in Manila. We got approved for the interview, and it was a long and intimidating process. When we went home, we celebrated and did everything as a family like I was devastated that I would be eating authentic Filipino food for the last time. Right now, I am doing fine because I am studying in college and trying to get into the nursing program, and my parents were proud of me because I get to control my life despite not growing up here in America, and I still most home. I now know that the American Dream can only be given to the ones who have earned it, and worked hard for it like my parents.

I want to enter the Nursing Program because I was inspired by my grandmother and other relatives to pursue a career in nursing. My progress has been focused on ensuring I reach my personal and professional goals, such as completing my prerequisites, volunteering, joining clubs, and more. I actively seek opportunities to immerse myself in medicine, especially nursing. It all began when I was still living in the Philippines. Initially, I was planning to major in architecture because I enjoyed drawing. However, I soon realized I wanted to do more than just draw. I wondered, "What will happen to me once I graduate with an architecture degree?" At that time, I felt lost because I hadn’t yet decided what career I truly wanted to pursue. As time passed, I found out that I would be migrating to the U.S., which added more confusion to my life, as I would soon meet many people I had never known. I continued my senior year of high school, feeling scared and unsure of my future after graduation. I heavily relied on my counselor's advice about which classes to take, and I realized I wasn't in control of my own decisions. I didn't take much action at the time because I was still adjusting to my new environment. Every time I went home, I kept asking myself, "What will drive me to move forward with my life?" I sought advice from my grandmother, and she told me, "The right choice will come to you if you do it now." My grandmother became a registered nurse at 42, which shocked me and made me realize I needed to make a decision that would change my life. My grandmother told me that I had to make the right choice because she made many mistakes when she was my age, so I better prioritize what would benefit my future. I became ambitious with nursing when I learned that there are a lot of choices of what type of nurse you want to be you can be a Nurse practitioner, a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, a Pediatric Nurse, an ICU nurse, an ER nurse, and more. When I graduated, I went to Napa Valley College to finish my prerequisites, so I could get into the nursing program. I have met people who were also pursuing nursing, which made me happy somehow because I got to network with people. I knew that I would have a purpose in my life, so I decided to make the most of it. I was still worried about what my life would become in the future, but I am certain that I need to be ambitious and decisive because making the wrong choice will waste my time and effort. Right now, I am still in the process of getting all my classes done since I want to get into the nursing program, and I can certainly say, I am not gonna regret it because I get to study something worth it and would positively impact my career. I do know that I will be learning many things that I am familiar and I think it is worth the risk despite being a stressful career, but a rewarding one. I still wish that I knew a lot of people who are going into nursing, so I could ask for advice, but I guess I'll face the journey myself to become successful. I will invest my time to find the right people who can boost my skills and knowledge about nursing since there is a saying, "Experience is the best teacher."

I am deeply committed to pursuing a degree in nursing because I believe in the power of making a meaningful difference in people's lives. My goal is to help individuals improve their well-being and to ensure they live the fulfilling lives they deserve. Life is too short, and I want everyone to have the opportunity to make the most of it. I strongly believe that by dedicating myself to nursing, I can foster positive change in my community and contribute to a better future for those around me. My journey toward this calling began in the Philippines. Initially, I dreamed of becoming an architect due to my passion for drawing. However, I reconsidered my path when I realized that mere interest shouldn't dictate my career choice. When I found out I would be migrating to the U.S., everything shifted. I felt lost and uncertain about my direction after high school, and the challenge of adapting to a new culture made me doubt my ability to connect with others. Yet, I knew I had to choose a path before graduation, especially since my family needed my support. Ultimately, I chose nursing. My grandmother was a beacon of inspiration—she selflessly helped her family, and I longed to embody that same spirit. Additionally, witnessing my cousin's journey as a nurse fueled my determination. I understand that by choosing this profession, I can support my family and empower others, reinforcing my belief that everyone has a purpose. Together, we can create a world filled with compassion and healing, transforming lives for the better. I also wanted to start building my life after high school because I know I can do so much more in this world. Therefore, I started going to community college because that's a financially wise choice, and I know I can make connections with people on how I can contribute to the community like I learned that there are volunteering opportunities where I can help people without asking for anything in return. It feels nice to help people, and it led me to the point that I wanted to pursue nursing. I had a friend who wanted to become a person with purpose, but sadly she passed away too soon, and what hurts me is that I didn't get to hear her last words. When I become a nurse, I want people to feel safe as they become better and listen to them because I know there are people who need someone to talk to while they are recovering. Lastly, I want to contribute my service to the people by making them better since life is something worth living for even with the ups and downs, and that is why I want to pursue a degree in Nursing.

My experience with mental health has expanded my mind, and it is more than I thought. Throughout my life, I have always believed that mental health is the only part of me that is holding me back from moving forward. I never prioritized what my mind said to me because it would only block me from getting good grades, a promising career, and more. When I graduated, my goals changed. My current goal is to finish college and look for a stable job. As I grew up, the world realistically affected how difficult it is to move forward in life since there are moments when I feel like a failure and that there is nothing I can do to improve. However, my mind is telling me that it is okay to feel that way, but it should not become why I should not develop. In terms of relationships, I experienced what it is like to love someone, but as conflict arose, my mind told me to let go of someone since the person I loved never returned as if nothing had happened. Therefore, I went back to losing hope all over again. Right now, my understanding of the world makes me see that life is filled with surprises, where you meet someone who either hurts you or helps you. I now know that taking care of my mental health is very important, and this led me to pursue a career in nursing so I could experience what it's like to help people with their health and make them feel that it is still worth moving forward in life.

In the future, I envision myself embracing dual roles as both a breadwinner and a nurturer for my family. Supporting them through any circumstance is fundamental to who I am, and I am determined to persevere despite the stress and challenges inherent in a nursing career. My commitment is driven by the belief that the effort I invest will be worthwhile, as my aspiration is to assist people during their most challenging times and maintain a positive outlook even when faced with personal struggles. The demanding nature of nursing represents a continuation of a family legacy, as my grandmother was the first nurse in our family, and her dedication continues to inspire me. The stories of sacrifice shared by the women in my family have deeply influenced my dedication to focusing on my career and avoiding distractions. My ultimate goal is to become a registered nurse in the Navy. This aspiration stems from my desire to work in a military setting where I can collaborate with other dedicated nurses in operating medical facilities and providing essential care to Navy personnel. I am particularly drawn to working with patients in critical conditions, administering necessary treatments to aid their recovery. Furthermore, I aim to offer emotional and mental support to patients and their families during challenging times, such as when facing the end of a patient’s life. I recognize the importance of compassion during these moments and strive to be a comforting presence. In my envisioned role, I see myself meticulously developing care plans and assessing patients through comprehensive physical exams, health data analysis, and vital sign monitoring. Maintaining accurate patient documentation will be a priority, as it is crucial for tracking conditions, treatments, and progress. Looking ahead two decades, I see myself in a position to make a significant impact on the nursing profession in various ways. My plans include educating the next generation of nurses, participating in health organizations to help shape a better healthcare system, collaborating with health executives, and supporting individuals in need of medical care. I am committed to contributing to the advancement of healthcare and continuing the legacy of care and dedication that has been a hallmark of my family’s history. Through these efforts, I hope to honor the legacy of my grandmother and make a lasting difference in the field of nursing. As of now, I know my future will be filled with conflict, but everthing is possible if you look for a solution.