I have never been so passionate about anything more so than I am about the work I do for the Department of Veterans Affairs. I look forward to going to work everyday and feel leaving like the work I do makes a difference. I want to continue having a positive impact on the life of the Veterans I serve and the only way to accomplish this is through continuing my education and expanding my knowledge base. The more I learn, the better I can serve our nations heroes. I began my work with Veterans in 2018 as a baby nurse, new to the healthcare industry with compassion for others and a desire to help. As my nursing path unfolded, I found myself becoming a fierce advocate for Veterans. I was building trusting partnerships with my patients and after a few years, I realized I could do more for this very vulnerable population that had done so much for our country. I started to work with homeless Veterans, and supporting their needs through nursing interventions, education, and resources. During my time with the homeless program, I worked closely with Veterans struggling with PTSD, mental health issues and substance use. Working with these issues on a daily basis gave me insight to their life, their upbringing, service, current state and future aspirations. Listening to their stories, getting to know their families and acknowledging their uniqueness and individuality, lit a spark of immense gratitude in my heart. When I received my Masters, I was offered a leadership position where I could finally make a difference on a larger scale by creating policies and procedures for our highest risk patients. Over the years, I have demonstrated advocacy for Veterans with a genuine desire to make a difference in their individual lives. My commitment is exemplified by being a driver of change despite change being very difficult to lead. I consider myself a transformational leader and will continue to exemplify this through a higher degree. I hope to represent the attributes of a committed nursing advocate with respect for all and a genuine desire to make a difference in the life of others. Most importantly, my experiences with my patients has served to make me a humble servant of others. Despite what my own individual path is to get there, my overarching goal is to serve these vulnerable populations where ever I am in my career. I am with veterans in their most vulnerable times and hear their most heartfelt stories. Many have verbalized their gratitude for my care, for a kind word, or for simply listening to them. My patients, however, will never know that their kind words have gotten me through more challenges in my own life than any care I can ever provide to them. The kind words of my veteran patients and their families are a daily motivator to continue serving this population: a population so selfless, that has done so much for our country and our freedom.

Being a full-time RN, full-time student, sole provider and single parent brings its own set of challenges. Add to it that I’m considered a minority: a Hispanic woman, divorcee, single mom of 2 teenage boys with a chronic autoimmune condition; but instead of placing a label on myself and allowing that to define me, I use it as a motor. My name is Vanessa Pulido and I am a Registered Nurse for the Department of Veterans Affairs serving our nations heroes. A brief glimpse into my history: It's 2011, I’m a stay-at-home mom, with a real estate career in my rear view mirror, a Bachelors degree that I never put to use, caring for my two year old son and pregnant with my second child. I loved being a new mom but it was tough times. I was in a crumbling marriage, facing financial hardships and had essentially lost all sense of who I was prior to being a wife and mother. I went from being driven, passionate, and ambitious to being passive, complacent, and going through the motions of daily life with very little enjoyment. A few years later I found myself in my mid-30's as a single mom with no recent work history and 2 small kids. I decided to take that old Bachelors degree that was gathering dust and have my credits evaluated. My Bachelors waived all my prerequisites for nursing school and I was able to to start immediately. I attended all sessions with no breaks until I was done with my ADN. I acquired my Associates, my Bachelors and I just completed my Masters. I am now 42 years old and seeking my DNP with one of my main inspirations being my 12-year-old son that says he wants to call me “Dr. Mommy”. My passion for nursing has evolved as I have grown personally and professionally. I have never been so passionate about anything more so than I am about the work I do for the VA. I look forward to going to work everyday and feel leaving like the work I do makes a difference. I began my work with Veterans in 2018 new to the healthcare industry with compassion for others and a desire to help. As my nursing path unfolded, I found myself becoming a fierce advocate for Veterans. After a few years, I realized I could do more for this very vulnerable population that had done so much for our country. I started to work with homeless Veterans, and supporting their needs through nursing interventions, education, and resources. During my time with the homeless program, I worked closely with Veterans struggling with PTSD, mental health issues and substance use. Listening to their stories, getting to know their families and acknowledging their uniqueness and individuality, lit a spark of immense gratitude in my heart. When I received my Masters, I was offered a leadership position where I could finally make a difference on a larger scale by creating policies and procedures for our highest risk patients. My passion for this very complex population has gone from simply having empathy to a drive within me fueled by a genuine desire to make positive change and I continue to seek ways to elevate the level of care we provide this vulnerable population by getting my DNP. It is a privilege to apply for the Law Family Single Parent Scholarship. It is so refreshing to find that despite the obstacles single parents face, our efforts do not go unnoticed. Thank you for the opportunity to share my story and be considered for this award.

Being a full-time RN, full-time student, sole provider and single parent brings its own set of challenges. Add to it that I’m considered a minority: a Hispanic woman, divorcee, single mom of 2 teenage boys with a chronic autoimmune condition; but instead of placing a label on myself and allowing that to define me, I use it as a motor. My name is Vanessa Pulido and I am a Registered Nurse for the Department of Veterans Affairs serving our nations heroes. A brief glimpse into my history: It's 2011, I’m a stay-at-home mom, with a real estate career in my rear view mirror, a Bachelors degree that I never put to use, caring for my two year old son and pregnant with my second child. I loved being a new mom but it was tough times. I was in a crumbling marriage, facing financial hardships and had essentially lost all sense of who I was prior to being a wife and mother. I went from being driven, passionate, and ambitious to being passive, complacent, and going through the motions of daily life with very little enjoyment. A few years later I found myself in my mid-30's as a single mom with no recent work history and 2 small kids. I decided to take that old Bachelors degree that was gathering dust and have my credits evaluated. My Bachelors waived all my prerequisites for nursing school and I was able to to start immediately. I attended all sessions with no breaks until I was done with my ADN. I acquired my Associates, my Bachelors and I just completed my Masters. I am now 41 years old and seeking my DNP with one of my main inspirations being my 12-year-old son that says he wants to call me “Dr. Mommy”. My passion for nursing has evolved as I have grown personally and professionally. I have never been so passionate about anything more so than I am about the work I do for the VA. I look forward to going to work everyday and feel leaving like the work I do makes a difference. I began my work with Veterans in 2018 new to the healthcare industry with compassion for others and a desire to help. As my nursing path unfolded, I found myself becoming a fierce advocate for Veterans. After a few years, I realized I could do more for this very vulnerable population that had done so much for our country. I started to work with homeless Veterans, and supporting their needs through nursing interventions, education, and resources. During my time with the homeless program, I worked closely with Veterans struggling with PTSD, mental health issues and substance use. Listening to their stories, getting to know their families and acknowledging their uniqueness and individuality, lit a spark of immense gratitude in my heart. When I received my Masters, I was offered a leadership position where I could finally make a difference on a larger scale by creating policies and procedures for our highest risk patients. My passion for this very complex population has gone from simply having empathy to a drive within me fueled by a genuine desire to make positive change and I continue to seek ways to elevate the level of care we provide this vulnerable population by getting my DNP. It is a privilege to apply for the Raquel Merlini Pay it Forward Scholarship. It is so refreshing to find that despite the obstacles single parents face, our efforts do not go unnoticed. Thank you for the opportunity to share my story and be considered for this award.

I’m considered a minority: a Hispanic woman, divorcee, single mom of 2 teenage boys. But instead of placing a label on myself and allowing that to define me, I use it as a motor. As a single mom, my life purpose is to find meaning in the work I do everyday to provide for my two kids and being the best mom and role model I can be while having a positive impact on the life of those I serve. Looking at my sons trailing in my footsteps, I understand that they are watching the example I set as a parent, a nurse, a leader, and a productive member of society. I have found meaning in serving our nations heroes as a Registered Nurse for the Department of Veterans Affairs. My passion for nursing has evolved as I have grown personally and professionally. I have never been so passionate about anything more so than I am about the work I do for the VA. Going to work has never felt like a “task”. I look forward to going to work everyday and feel leaving like the work I do makes a difference in peoples lives. I want to continue feeling this way about myself, my life and what I do for Veterans. I began my work with Veterans in 2018 as a baby nurse, new to the healthcare industry with compassion for others and a desire to help. As my nursing path unfolded, I found myself becoming a fierce advocate for Veterans. I was building trusting partnerships with my patients. After a few years, I realized I could do more for this very vulnerable population that had done so much for our country. I started to work with homeless Veterans, and supporting their needs through nursing interventions, education, and resources. During my time with the homeless program, I worked closely with Veterans struggling with PTSD, mental health issues and substance use. Working with these issues on a daily basis gave me insight to their life, their upbringing, service, current state and future aspirations. Listening to their stories, getting to know their families and acknowledging their uniqueness and individuality, lit a spark of immense gratitude in my heart. When I received my Masters, I was offered a leadership position where I could finally make a difference on a larger scale by creating policies and procedures for our highest risk patients. My passion for this very complex population has gone from simply having empathy to a drive within me fueled by a genuine desire to make positive change. Over the years, I have demonstrated advocacy for Veterans with a genuine desire to make a difference in their individual lives. My commitment is exemplified by being a driver of change despite change being very difficult to lead. I consider myself a transformational leader and will continue to exemplify this through a higher degree. I take pride in mentoring others and providing guidance for struggling moms based on my own experiences. It is a privilege to apply for this Scholarship that can be a stepping stone in my climb towards my Doctorate and my dream to inspire other minorities in achieving their dreams through hard work and perseverance. In the words of Theodore Roosevelt, "The best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing”. Thank you for the consideration.

Being a student, sole provider and single parent brings its own set of challenges. Add to it that I’m considered a minority: a Hispanic woman, divorcee, single mom of 2 teenage boys with a chronic autoimmune condition; but instead of placing a label on myself and allowing that to define me, I use it as a motor. Looking at my sons trailing in my footsteps, I understand that they are watching the example I set as a parent, a nurse, a leader, and a productive member of society. I have an obligation to them to be the best example and role model I can be and a degree can increase the chances of a better future for myself and my two boys. My name is Vanessa Pulido and I am currently a Registered Nurse for the Department of Veterans Affairs serving our nations heroes. A brief view into my journey: It's 2011, I’m a stay-at-home mom, with a real estate career in my rear view mirror, a Bachelors degree that I never put to use, caring for my two year old son, pregnant with my second child and binge watching Greys Anatomy. I loved being a new mom but it was tough times. I was in a crumbling marriage, facing financial hardships and had essentially lost all sense of who I was prior to being a wife and mom. I went from being driven, passionate, determined and ambitious to being passive, complacent, unmotivated and going through the motions of daily life with very little enjoyment or ambition. A few years later I found myself in my mid-30's as a single mom with no recent work history and 2 small kids. I decided to take that old Bachelors degree that was gathering dust and have my credits evaluated. My Bachelors waived all my prerequisites for nursing school and I was able to to start immediately. I attended all sessions with no breaks until I was done with my ADN. I acquired my Associates, my Bachelors and I just completed my Masters. I am now 41 years old and seeking my DNP with one of my main drivers being my 12-year-old son that says he wants to call me “Dr. Mommy”. I wake up every morning and choose to make the best out of difficult situations. My boys have seen me study late nights, work late shifts, put in the hard work, alone, while making them my number one priority and being present for them. My hope is that my efforts set a good example for my kids in more ways than one. I want them to value hard work, education and have respect for others and their individual stories. I want to model integrity, perseverance, ambition and determination for them. This opportunity is a stepping stone on my journey to provide financial stability and the best life possible for my two kids and I. It is a privilege to apply for the Organic Shop Single Parent Scholarship. It is so refreshing to find that despite the obstacles single parents face in society, our efforts to not go unnoticed. Thank you for the opportunity to share my story and be considered for this award.

I’m considered a minority: a Hispanic woman, divorcee, single mom of 2 teenage boys. But instead of placing a label on myself and allowing that to define me, I use it as a motor. As a single mom, my life purpose is to find meaning in the work I do everyday to provide for my two kids while having a positive impact on the life of those I serve and being the best mom I can be. Looking at my sons trailing in my footsteps, I understand that they are watching the example I set as a parent, a nurse, a leader, and a productive member of society. I have found meaning in serving our nations heroes as a Registered Nurse for the Department of Veterans Affairs. My passion for nursing has evolved as I have grown personally and professionally. I have never been so passionate about anything more so than I am about the work I do for the VA. Going to work has never felt like a “task”. I look forward to going to work everyday and feel leaving like the work I do makes a difference in peoples lives. I want to continue feeling this way about myself, my life and what I do for Veterans. I began my work with Veterans in 2018 as a baby nurse, new to the healthcare industry with compassion for others and a desire to help. As my nursing path unfolded, I found myself becoming a fierce advocate for Veterans. I was building trusting partnerships with my patients. After a few years, I realized I could do more for this very vulnerable population that had done so much for our country. I started to work with homeless Veterans, and supporting their needs through nursing interventions, education, and resources. During my time with the homeless program, I worked closely with Veterans struggling with PTSD, mental health issues and substance use. Working with these issues on a daily basis gave me insight to their life, their upbringing, service, current state and future aspirations. Listening to their stories, getting to know their families and acknowledging their uniqueness and individuality, lit a spark of immense gratitude in my heart. When I received my Masters, I was offered a leadership position where I could finally make a difference on a larger scale by creating policies and procedures for our highest risk patients. My passion for this very complex population has gone from simply having empathy to a drive within me fueled by a genuine desire to make positive change. Over the years, I have demonstrated advocacy for Veterans with a genuine desire to make a difference in their individual lives. My commitment is exemplified by being a driver of change despite change being very difficult to lead. I consider myself a transformational leader and will continue to exemplify this through a higher degree. I hope to represent the attributes of a committed nursing advocate with respect for all and a genuine desire to make a difference. Most importantly, my experiences with my patients has served to make me a humble servant of others. It is a privilege to apply for this Scholarship that can be a stepping stone in my climb towards my Doctorate and my dream to inspire other minorities in achieving their dreams through hard work and perseverance. In the words of Theodore Roosevelt, "The best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing”. Thank you for the consideration.

My name is Vanessa Pulido and I am a Registered Nurse for the Department of Veterans Affairs. I would describe myself as driven, enthusiastic, resilient and optimistic. I set a high bar for myself, I set goals and I very actively pursue them. With that said, life is not a straight path. It's 2011, I’m a stay-at-home mom, with a real estate career in my rear view mirror, a Bachelors degree that I never put to use, caring for my two year old son, pregnant with my second child and binge watching Greys Anatomy. I loved being a new mom but it was tough times. I was in a crumbling marriage, facing financial hardships and had essentially lost all sense of who I was prior to being a wife and mom. I went from being driven, passionate, determined and ambitious to being passive, complacent, unmotivated and going through the motions of daily life with very little enjoyment or ambition. A few years later I found myself in my mid-30's as a single mom with no recent work history and 2 small kids to support. I knew I had to snap out of the complacency I had fallen into and decided to take that old Bachelors degree that was gathering dust to have my credits evaluated. My Bachelors waived all my prerequisites for nursing school and I was able to to start immediately. Through a very non-traditional and winding route, I acquired my Associates, my Bachelors and I just completed my Masters. I am now 41 years old and seeking my DNP with one of my main drivers being my 12-year-old son that says he wants to call me “Dr. Mommy”. Besides that short, yet long, decade that I was lost - I have never wanted to stop learning and growing. I’m considered a minority: a Hispanic woman, divorcee, single mom of 2 teenage boys. But instead of placing a label on myself and allowing that to define me, I use it as a motor. Looking at my sons trailing in my footsteps, I understand that they are watching the example I set as a parent, a nurse, a leader, and a productive member of society. My passion for nursing has evolved as I have grown personally and professionally. I began in 2018 with a simple desire to help others. I was working with Veterans and building trusting partnerships with my patients. Listening to their stories, getting to know their families and acknowledging their uniqueness and individuality, lit a spark of immense gratitude in my heart. After a few years, I started to work with homeless Veterans supporting their needs through nursing interventions, healthcare education and resources. When I received my Masters, I was offered a leadership position where I could finally make a difference on a larger scale by creating policies and procedures for our highest risk patients. I consider myself a transformational leader and will continue to exemplify this through my DNP. I take pride in mentoring others and providing guidance for struggling moms based on my own experiences. It is a privilege to apply for this Scholarship that can be a stepping stone in my climb towards my Doctorate and my dream to inspire other minorities in achieving their dreams through hard work and perseverance. In the words of Theodore Roosevelt, "The best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing”. Thank you for the consideration.

My name is Vanessa Pulido and I am a Registered Nurse for the Department of Veterans Affairs. I would describe myself as driven, enthusiastic, resilient and optimistic. I set a high bar for myself, I set goals and I very actively pursue them. With that said, life is not a straight path. It's 2011, I’m a stay-at-home mom, with a real estate career in my rear view mirror, a Bachelors degree that I never put to use, caring for my two year old son, pregnant with my second child and binge watching Greys Anatomy. I loved being a new mom but it was tough times. I was in a crumbling marriage, facing financial hardships and had essentially lost all sense of who I was prior to being a wife and mom. I went from being driven, passionate, determined and ambitious to being passive, complacent, unmotivated and going through the motions of daily life with very little enjoyment or ambition. A few years later I found myself in my mid-30's as a single mom with no recent work history and 2 small kids to support. I knew I had to snap out of the complacency I had fallen into and decided to take that old Bachelors degree that was gathering dust to have my credits evaluated. My Bachelors waived all my prerequisites for nursing school and I was able to to start immediately. Through a very non-traditional and winding route, I acquired my Associates, my Bachelors and I just completed my Masters. I am now 41 years old and seeking my DNP with one of my main drivers being my 12-year-old son that says he wants to call me “Dr. Mommy”. Besides that short, yet long, decade that I was lost - I have never wanted to stop learning and growing. I’m considered a minority: a Hispanic woman, divorcee, single mom of 2 teenage boys. But instead of placing a label on myself and allowing that to define me, I use it as a motor. Looking at my sons trailing in my footsteps, I understand that they are watching the example I set as a parent, a nurse, a leader, and a productive member of society. My passion for nursing has evolved as I have grown personally and professionally. I began in 2018 with a simple desire to help others. I was working with Veterans and building trusting partnerships with my patients. Listening to their stories, getting to know their families and acknowledging their uniqueness and individuality, lit a spark of immense gratitude in my heart. After a few years, I started to work with homeless Veterans supporting their needs through nursing interventions, health education and healthcare resources. As a result of my experiences, helping the homeless population continues to be a cause near and dear to my heart to this day. When I received my Masters, I was offered a leadership position where I could finally make a difference on a larger scale by creating policies and procedures for our highest risk patients. I consider myself a transformational leader and will continue to exemplify this through my DNP. It is a privilege to apply for the Christina Taylese Singh Memorial Scholarship. Occupational Therapists are an immense support to our Veterans and help them thrive in their environments. It is very touching that her dream endures through the support this scholarship provides to others that serve these vulnerable populations. Thank you for reading my response and the opportunity to be considered.

My name is Vanessa Pulido and I am a Registered Nurse for the Department of Veterans Affairs. I would describe myself as driven, enthusiastic, resilient and optimistic. I set a high bar for myself, I set goals and I very actively pursue them. With that said, life is not a straight path. It's 2011, I’m a stay-at-home mom, with a real estate career in my rear view mirror, a Bachelors degree that I never put to use, caring for my two year old son, pregnant with my second child and binge watching Greys Anatomy. I loved being a new mom but it was tough times. I was in a crumbling marriage, facing financial hardships and had essentially lost all sense of who I was prior to being a wife and mom. I went from being driven, passionate, determined and ambitious to being passive, complacent, unmotivated and going through the motions of daily life with very little enjoyment or ambition. A few years later I found myself in my mid-30's as a single mom with no recent work history and 2 small kids to support. Ironically enough, my "aha" moment came while watching an episode of Grey's Anatomy! I knew I had to snap out of the complacency I had fallen into and decided to take that old Bachelors degree that was gathering dust to have my credits evaluated. My Bachelors waived all my prerequisites for nursing school and I was able to to start immediately. Through a very non-traditional and winding route, I acquired my Associates, my Bachelors and I just completed my Masters. I am now 41 years old and seeking my DNP with one of my main drivers being my 12-year-old son that says he wants to call me “Dr. Mommy”. Besides that short, yet long, decade that I was lost - I have never wanted to stop learning and growing. Despite my aha moment being less than impressive, my journey to where I am today has been nothing but extraordinary. I’m considered a minority: a Hispanic woman, divorcee, single mom of 2 teenage boys. But instead of placing a label on myself and allowing that to define me, I use it as a motor. Looking at my sons trailing in my footsteps, I understand that they are watching the example I set as a parent, a nurse, a leader, and a productive member of society. My passion for nursing has evolved as I have grown personally and professionally. I began in 2018 with a simple desire to help others. I was working with Veterans and building trusting partnerships with my patients. Listening to their stories, getting to know their families and acknowledging their uniqueness and individuality, lit a spark of immense gratitude in my heart. After a few years, I started to work with homeless Veterans. When I received my Masters, I was offered a leadership position where I could finally make a difference on a larger scale by creating policies and procedures for our highest risk patients. I consider myself a transformational leader and will continue to exemplify this through my DNP. I take pride in mentoring others and providing guidance for struggling moms based on my own experiences. It is a privilege to apply for the Joseph Joshua Searor Memorial Scholarship as I too have overcome many hurdles to further my education, be a role model for my kids and have a positive impact on the patients I serve. In the words of Theodore Roosevelt, "The best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing”. Thank you.

I have never been so passionate about anything more so than I am about the work I do for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Going to work has never felt like a “task”. I look forward to going to work everyday and feel leaving like the work I do makes a difference in peoples lives. I want to continue feeling this way about myself, my life and what I do for Veterans. I began my work with Veterans in 2018 as a baby nurse, new to the healthcare industry with compassion for others and a desire to help. As my nursing path unfolded, I found myself becoming a fierce advocate for Veterans. I was building trusting partnerships with my patients. After a few years, I realized I could do more for this very vulnerable population that had done so much for our country. I started to work with homeless Veterans, and supporting their needs through nursing interventions, education, and resources. During my time with the homeless program, I worked closely with Veterans struggling with PTSD, mental health issues and substance use. Working with these issues on a daily basis gave me insight to their life, their upbringing, service, current state and future aspirations. Listening to their stories, getting to know their families and acknowledging their uniqueness and individuality, lit a spark of immense gratitude in my heart. I was humbled by the stories shared with me and began volunteering with local communities to advocate for the homeless population - a population so grateful for any service you provide. When I received my Masters, I was offered a leadership position where I could finally make a difference on a larger scale by creating policies and procedures for our highest risk patients. My passion for this very complex population has gone from simply having empathy to a drive within me fueled by a genuine desire to make positive change. Over the years, I have demonstrated advocacy for Veterans with a genuine desire to make a difference in their individual lives. My commitment is exemplified by being a driver of change despite change being very difficult to lead. I consider myself a transformational leader and will continue to exemplify this through a higher degree. I hope to represent the attributes of a committed nursing advocate with respect for all and a genuine desire to make a difference. Most importantly, my experiences with my patients has served to make me a humble servant of others. Despite what my own individual path is to get there, my overarching goal is to serve these vulnerable populations where ever I am in my career. I am with veterans in their most vulnerable times and hear their most heartfelt stories. Many have verbalized their gratitude for my care, for a kind word, or for simply listening to them. My patients, however, will never know that their kind words have gotten me through more challenges in my own life than any care I can ever provide to them. The kind words of my veteran patients and their families are a daily motivator to continue serving this population: a population so selfless, that has done so much for our country and our freedom. Their smiles and their gratitude give me more reason to further my education and continue my advocacy efforts.

I have never been so passionate about anything more so than I am about the work I do for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Going to work has never felt like a “task”. I look forward to going to work everyday and feel leaving satisfied and accomplished. I want to continue feeling this way about myself, my life and what I do for Veterans. I believe the only way to accomplish this is through continuing my education and expanding my knowledge base. The more I learn, the more I know, the better I can serve our nations heroes. I began my work with Veterans in 2018 as a baby nurse, new to the healthcare industry with compassion for others and a desire to help. As my nursing path unfolded, I found myself becoming a fierce advocate for Veterans. I was building trusting partnerships with my patients. After a few years, I realized I could do more for this very vulnerable population that had done so much for our country. I started to work with homeless Veterans, and supporting their needs through nursing interventions, education, and resources. During my time with the homeless program, I worked closely with Veterans struggling with PTSD, mental health issues and substance use. Working with these issues on a daily basis gave me insight to their life, their upbringing, service, current state and future aspirations. Listening to their stories, getting to know their families and acknowledging their uniqueness and individuality, lit a spark of immense gratitude in my heart. When I received my Masters, I was offered a leadership position where I could finally make a difference on a larger scale by creating policies and procedures for our highest risk patients. My passion for this very complex population has gone from simply having empathy to a drive within me fueled by a genuine desire to make positive change. Over the years, I have demonstrated advocacy for Veterans with a genuine desire to make a difference in their individual lives. My commitment is exemplified by being a driver of change despite change being very difficult to lead. I consider myself a transformational leader and will continue to exemplify this through a higher degree. I hope to represent the attributes of a committed nursing advocate with respect for all and a genuine desire to make a difference. Most importantly, my experiences with my patients has served to make me a humble servant of others. Despite what my own individual path is to get there, my overarching goal is to serve these vulnerable populations where ever I am in my career. I am with veterans in their most vulnerable times and hear their most heartfelt stories. Many have verbalized their gratitude for my care, for a kind word, or for simply listening to them. My patients, however, will never know that their kind words have gotten me through more challenges in my own life than any care I can ever provide to them. The kind words of my veteran patients and their families are a daily motivator to continue serving this population: a population so selfless, that has done so much for our country and our freedom. Their smiles and their gratitude give me more reason to further my education and continue my advocacy efforts.

My name is Vanessa Pulido and I am a Registered Nurse for the Department of Veterans Affairs. I would describe myself as driven, enthusiastic, resilient and optimistic. I set a high bar for myself, I set goals and I very actively pursue them. With that said, life is not a straight path. It's 2011, I’m a stay-at-home mom, with a real estate career in my rear view mirror, a Bachelors degree that I never put to use, caring for my two year old son, pregnant with my second child and binge watching Greys Anatomy. I loved being a new mom but it was tough times. I was in a crumbling marriage, facing financial hardships and had essentially lost all sense of who I was prior to being a wife and mom. I went from being driven, passionate, determined and ambitious to being passive, complacent, unmotivated and going through the motions of daily life with very little enjoyment or ambition. A few years later I found myself in my mid-30's as a single mom with no recent work history and 2 small kids. I decided to take that old Bachelors degree that was gathering dust and have my credits evaluated. My Bachelors waived all my prerequisites for nursing school and I was able to to start immediately. I attended all sessions with no breaks until I was done with my ADN. I acquired my Associates, my Bachelors and I just completed my Masters. I am now 41 years old and seeking my DNP with one of my main drivers being my 12-year-old son that says he wants to call me “Dr. Mommy”. Besides that short, yet long, decade that I was lost - I have never wanted to stop learning and growing. I’m considered a minority: a Hispanic woman, divorcee, single mom of 2 teenage boys. But instead of placing a label on myself and allowing that to define me, I use it as a motor. Looking at my sons trailing in my footsteps, I understand that they are watching the example I set as a parent, a nurse, a leader, a productive member of society. My passion for nursing has evolved as I have grown personally and professionally. I began in 2018 with compassion for others and a desire to help. I was working with Veterans and building trusting partnerships with my patients that I would care for. Listening to their stories, getting to know their families and acknowledging their uniqueness and individuality, lit a spark of immense gratitude in my heart. After a few years, I started to work with homeless Veterans. When I received my Masters, I was offered a leadership position where I could finally make a difference on a larger scale by creating policies and procedures for our highest risk patients. I consider myself a transformational leader and will continue to exemplify this through my DNP. I take pride in mentoring others and providing guidance for struggling moms based on my own experiences. It is a privilege to apply for the Debra S Jackson New Horizons Scholarship as I too have found myself fully embracing my second chance at a life worth living. In the words of Theodore Roosevelt, “Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing”. Thank you for the opportunity.

As I pursue higher education, I find myself more invested in making change on a larger scale. My passion for nursing has evolved as I have grown personally and professionally. I began in 2018 as a baby nurse with compassion for others and a desire to help. As my nursing path unfolded, I found myself advocating for our nations Heroes. I was working with Veterans and building trusting partnerships with my patients that I would care for over the years. Listening to their stories, getting to know their families and acknowledging their uniqueness and individuality, lit a spark of immense gratitude in my heart. After a few years, I realized I could do more for this very vulnerable population that had done so much for our country. I started to work with homeless Veterans, and supporting their needs through nursing interventions, education, and resources. When I received my Masters of Nursing Degree, I was offered a leadership position where I could finally make a difference on a larger scale by creating policies and procedures for our highest risk patients. My passion for this very complex population has gone from simply having empathy to a drive within me fueled by a genuine desire to make positive change. Over the years, I have demonstrated advocacy for Veterans with a genuine desire to make a difference in their own individual lives. My commitment is exemplified by being a driver of change despite change being very difficult to lead. Change, as we know, is often not well received. However, to provide our Veterans with the best care, we must keep up with the evidence and best practices and this requires constant process improvement. I consider myself a transformational leader and will continue to exemplify this through a higher degree. I hope to represent the attributes of a committed nursing advocate with respect for all and a genuine desire to make a difference in the life of others. My goal is to attain a Doctorate where I can hold a position to lead my healthcare organization in elevating the delivery of care and improving patient outcomes, and employee and patient experience. As our healthcare environment continues to become ever so complex, I can elevate my own level of knowledge to create policy and lead change through innovation and evidence by acquiring my DNP. Thank you in advance for reading my response to this thought provoking question. I would be honored to be considered for this award.

My name is Vanessa Pulido and I am a Registered Nurse for the Department of Veterans Affairs. I would describe myself as driven, enthusiastic, resilient and optimistic. I set a high bar for myself, I set goals and I very actively pursue them. With that said, life is not a straight path. It's 2011, I’m a stay-at-home mom, with a real estate career in my rear view mirror, a Bachelors degree that I never put to use, caring for my two year old son, pregnant with my second child and binge watching Greys Anatomy. I loved being a new mom but it was tough times. I was in a crumbling marriage, facing financial hardships and had essentially lost all sense of who I was prior to being a wife and mom. I went from being driven, passionate, determined and ambitious to being passive, complacent, unmotivated and going through the motions of daily life with very little enjoyment or ambition. A few years later I found myself as a single mom with no recent work history and 2 small kids to support. I decided to take that old Bachelors degree that was gathering dust and have my credits evaluated. My Bachelors waived all my prerequisites for nursing school at a community college and I was able to to start immediately. I attended all sessions with no breaks until I was done with my ADN. Through a very non-traditional and winding route, I acquired my Associates, my Bachelors and I just completed my Masters. Every 2 years I start to look for a new move, and that new move is to start my DNP. One of my main drivers being my 12-year-old son that says he wants to call me “Dr. Mommy”. Besides that short, yet long, decade that I was lost - I have never wanted to stop learning and growing. I’m considered a minority: a Hispanic woman, divorcee, single mom of 2 teenage boys. But instead of placing a label on myself and allowing that to define me, I use it as a motor. Looking at my sons trailing in my footsteps, I understand that they are watching the example I set as a parent, a nurse, a leader, a productive member of society. My passion for nursing has evolved as I have grown personally and professionally. I began in 2018 with compassion for others and a desire to help. I was working with Veterans and building trusting partnerships with my patients. Listening to their stories, getting to know their families and acknowledging their uniqueness and individuality, lit a spark of immense gratitude in my heart. After a few years, I started to work with homeless Veterans. When I received my Masters, I was offered a leadership position where I could finally make a difference on a larger scale by creating policies and procedures for our highest risk patients. I consider myself a transformational leader and will continue to exemplify this through my DNP. I take pride in mentoring others and providing guidance for struggling single moms based on my own experiences. It is a privilege to apply for the Rebecca Hunter Memorial Scholarship as she exemplifies all the attributes of what a working mother seeks to attain in life: finding purpose in our own lives while balancing that with nurturing and loving our children so deeply. Acknowledging that doing this as a single parent is just that much more difficult because we do it alone through hard work, dedication and perseverance; I can only imagine how proud her children are of her. Thank you for the opportunity.

I have never been so passionate about anything more so than I am about the work I do for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Going to work has never felt like a “task”. I look forward to going to work everyday and feel leaving satisfied and accomplished. I want to continue feeling this way about myself, my life and what I do for Veterans. I believe the only way to accomplish this is through continuing my education and expanding my knowledge base. The more I learn, the more I know, the better I can serve our nations heroes. I began my work with Veterans in 2018 as a baby nurse, new to the healthcare industry with compassion for others and a desire to help. As my nursing path unfolded, I found myself becoming a fierce advocate for Veterans. I was building trusting partnerships with my patients that I would care for over the years. After a few years, I realized I could do more for this very vulnerable population that had done so much for our country. I started to work with homeless Veterans, and supporting their needs through nursing interventions, education, and resources. During my time with the homeless program, I worked closely with Veterans struggling with PTSD, mental health issues and substance use. Working with these issues on a daily basis gave me insight to their life, their upbringing, service, current state and future aspirations. Listening to their stories, getting to know their families and acknowledging their uniqueness and individuality, lit a spark of immense gratitude in my heart. When I received my Masters, I was offered a leadership position where I could finally make a difference on a larger scale by creating policies and procedures for our highest risk patients. My passion for this very complex population has gone from simply having empathy to a drive within me fueled by a genuine desire to make positive change. Over the years, I have demonstrated advocacy for Veterans with a genuine desire to make a difference in their individual lives. My commitment is exemplified by being a driver of change despite change being very difficult to lead. I consider myself a transformational leader and will continue to exemplify this through a higher degree. I hope to represent the attributes of a committed nursing advocate with respect for all and a genuine desire to make a difference in the life of others. Most importantly, my experiences with my patients has served to make me a humble servant of others. Despite what my own individual path is to get there, my overarching goal is to serve these vulnerable populations where ever I am in my career. I am with veterans in their most vulnerable times and hear their most heartfelt stories. Many have verbalized their gratitude for my care, for a kind word, or for simply listening to them. My patients, however, will never know that their kind words have gotten me through more challenges in my own life than any care I can ever provide to them. The kind words of my veteran patients and their families are a daily motivator to continue serving this population: a population so selfless, that has done so much for our country and our freedom. Their smiles and their gratitude give me more reason to further my education and continue my advocacy efforts.

I’m considered a minority: a Hispanic woman, divorcee, single mom of 2 teenage boys. But instead of placing a label on myself and allowing that to define me, I use it as a motor to help vulnerable populations. Looking at my sons trailing in my footsteps, I understand that they are watching the example I set as a parent, a nurse, a leader, a productive member of society. Developing these two young men to serve others is what success would look like to me. I began looking into a nursing career when I found myself as a single mom with no recent work history and 2 small kids to support. I took my first Bachelors degree that I had acquired 10 years prior and had it evaluated. My Bachelors waived all my prerequisites for nursing school and I was able to to start immediately. I attended all sessions with no breaks until I was done with my ADN. I acquired my Associates, my Bachelors, I just completed my Masters and am now seeking to start my DNP program. As I pursue higher education, I find myself more invested in making change on a larger scale. My passion for nursing has evolved as I have grown personally and professionally as a nurse. I began in 2018 as a baby nurse with compassion for others and a desire to help. As my nursing path unfolded, I found myself advocating for our nations Heroes. I was working with Veterans and building trusting partnerships with my patients that I would care for over the years. Listening to their stories, getting to know their families and acknowledging their uniqueness and individuality, it lit a spark of immense gratitude in my heart. After a few years, I realized I could do more for this very vulnerable population that had done so much for our country. I started to work with homeless Veterans, and supporting their needs through nursing interventions, education, and resources. When I received my Masters, I was offered a leadership position where I could finally make a difference on a larger scale by creating policies and procedures for our highest risk patients. My passion for this very complex population has gone from simply having empathy to a drive within me fueled by a genuine desire to make positive change. Over the years, I have demonstrated advocacy for Veterans with a genuine desire to make a difference in their individual lives. My commitment is exemplified by being a driver of change despite change being very difficult to lead. Change, as we know, is often not well received. However, to provide our Veterans with the best care, we must keep up with the evidence and best practices and this requires constant process improvement. Finally, through respect for others, including Veterans as well as my colleagues, I have been able to build bridges to bring down silos and barriers that have historically kept us from providing efficient and longitudinal care. I consider myself a transformational leader and will continue to exemplify this through a higher degree. I hope to represent the attributes of a committed nursing advocate with respect for all and a genuine desire to make a difference in the life of others. My goal is to attain a Doctorate where I can hold a position to lead my healthcare organization in elevating the delivery of care and improving patient outcomes, and employee and patient experience. As our healthcare environment continues to become ever so complex, I can elevate my own level of knowledge to create policy and lead change through innovation and evidence by acquiring my DNP. Thank you in advance for reading my response to this thought provoking question. I would be honored to be considered for this award.

I was diagnosed with a chronic autoimmune disease at the tender age of 13 years old. As a mother, with my own 13 year old now, I look back and remember the devastation my parents felt with my diagnosis. Little did we know, however, that my diagnosis and the life changing experiences that would follow would turn me into a compassionate adult woman with a drive to help vulnerable populations. Today, despite my illness, I am a Registered Nurse with a Masters degree. I am now pursuing my Doctorate to continue helping my patients on a larger scale. In addition to having the challenges of living with a chronic illness, I am considered a minority: a Hispanic woman, divorcee, single mom of 2 teenage boys. But instead of placing a label on myself and allowing any of those titles to hold me back, I use it as a motor. Having experienced the lows of being so utterly sick, it has made me a very positive person that counts my blessings everyday my kids and I wake up with good health. I choose positivity over negativity, and optimism over pessimism. Obstacles in my life that others could complain about, are driving forces for me. Every day I choose to use setbacks as comebacks. I use the word “choose” very freely because I believe happiness is a choice. I choose happiness day in, day out. I choose to get out of bed everyday and put my best foot forward. Looking at my sons trailing in my footsteps, I understand that they are watching the example I set as a parent, a nurse, a leader, and a productive member of society. I take pride in mentoring others and providing guidance for struggling moms based on my own experiences. I seek to help others find purpose in their lives and finding something they are passionate about in the workplace while having a positive impact on the life of others. In the words of Theodore Roosevelt, “Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing”. My own obstacles have made me a fierce advocate for my patients and there is nothing I am more passionate about than the work I do every day. Thank you in advance for reading my response to this thought provoking question. I would be honored to be considered for this award.

I’m considered a minority: a Hispanic woman, divorcee, single mom of 2 teenage boys. But instead of placing a label on myself and allowing that to define me, I use it as a motor to help vulnerable populations. I began looking into a nursing career when I found myself as a single mom with no recent work history and 2 small kids to support. I took my first Bachelors degree that I had acquired 10 years prior and had it evaluated. My Bachelors waived all my prerequisites for nursing school and I was able to to start immediately. I attended all sessions with no breaks until I was done with my ADN. I acquired my Associates, my Bachelors, I just completed my Masters and am now seeking to start my DNP program. As I pursue higher education, I find myself more invested in making change on a larger scale. My passion for nursing has evolved as I have grown personally and professionally as a nurse. I began in 2018 as a baby nurse with compassion for others and a desire to help. As my nursing path unfolded, I found myself advocating for our nations Heroes. I was working with Veterans and building trusting partnerships with my patients that I would care for over the years. Listening to their stories, getting to know their families and acknowledging their uniqueness and individuality, it lit a spark of immense gratitude in my heart. After a few years, I realized I could do more for this very vulnerable population that had done so much for our country. I started to work with homeless Veterans, and supporting their needs through nursing interventions, education, and resources. When I received my Masters, I was offered a leadership position where I could finally make a difference on a larger scale by creating policies and procedures for our highest risk patients. My passion for this very complex population has gone from simply having empathy to a drive within me fueled by a genuine desire to make positive change. Over the years, I have demonstrated advocacy for Veterans with a genuine desire to make a difference in their individual lives. My commitment is exemplified by being a driver of change despite change being very difficult to lead. Change, as we know, is often not well received. However, to provide our Veterans with the best care, we must keep up with the evidence and best practices and this requires constant process improvement. Finally, through respect for others, including Veterans as well as my colleagues, I have been able to build bridges to bring down silos and barriers that have historically kept us from providing efficient and longitudinal care. I consider myself a transformational leader and will continue to exemplify this through a higher degree. I hope to represent the attributes of a committed nursing advocate with respect for all and a genuine desire to make a difference in the life of others. My goal is to attain a Doctorate where I can hold a position to lead my healthcare organization in elevating the delivery of care and improving patient outcomes, and employee and patient experience. As our healthcare environment continues to become ever so complex, I can elevate my own level of knowledge to create policy and lead change through innovation and evidence by acquiring my DNP. Thank you in advance for reading my response to this thought provoking question. I would be honored to be considered for this award.

My name is Vanessa Pulido and I am a Registered Nurse for the Department of Veterans Affairs. I would describe myself as driven, enthusiastic, resilient and optimistic. I set a high bar for myself, I set goals and I very actively pursue them. With that said, life is not a straight path. It's 2011, I’m a stay-at-home mom, with a real estate career in my rear view mirror, a Bachelors degree that I never put to use, caring for my two year old son, pregnant with my second child and binge watching Greys Anatomy. I loved being a new mom but it was tough times. I was in a crumbling marriage, facing financial hardships and had essentially lost all sense of who I was prior to being a wife and mom. I went from being driven, passionate, determined and ambitious to being passive, complacent, unmotivated and going through the motions of daily life with very little enjoyment or ambition. A few years later I found myself as a single mom with no recent work history and 2 small kids. I decided to take that old Bachelors degree that was gathering dust and have my credits evaluated. My Bachelors waived all my prerequisites for nursing school and I was able to to start immediately. I attended all sessions with no breaks until I was done with my ADN. I acquired my Associates, my Bachelors and I just completed my Masters. Every 2 years I start to look for a new move, and that new move is to start my DNP. One of my main drivers being my 12-year-old son that says he wants to call me “Dr. Mommy”. Besides that short, yet long, decade that I was lost - I have never wanted to stop learning and growing. I’m considered a minority: a Hispanic woman, divorcee, single mom of 2 teenage boys. But instead of placing a label on myself and allowing that to define me, I use it as a motor. Looking at my sons trailing in my footsteps, I understand that they are watching the example I set as a parent, a nurse, a leader, a productive member of society. My passion for nursing has evolved as I have grown personally and professionally. I began in 2018 with compassion for others and a desire to help. I was working with Veterans and building trusting partnerships with my patients that I would care for. Listening to their stories, getting to know their families and acknowledging their uniqueness and individuality, it lit a spark of immense gratitude in my heart. After a few years, I started to work with homeless Veterans. When I received my Masters, I was offered a leadership position where I could finally make a difference on a larger scale by creating policies and procedures for our highest risk patients. I consider myself a transformational leader and will continue to exemplify this through my DNP. I take pride in mentoring others and providing guidance for struggling moms based on my own experiences. It is a privilege to apply for the Jennifer Gephart Memorial Working Mothers Scholarship as she exemplifies all the attributes of what a working mother seeks to attain in life: finding purpose in our own lives while nurturing and loving our families so deeply and finding something we are passionate about in the workplace while having a positive impact on the life of others. In the words of Theodore Roosevelt, “Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing”. Thank you for the opportunity.