My name is Veronica Brenner, and I am a rising senior located in New York. I am the child of a Jamaican mother and a Polish father, which has surrounded me with many different cultural experiences and a huge community, as my mother comes from a large family. That environment has caused me to become very family-oriented and has developed my strong character and faith through their positive influence. Another main aspect of my life is staying active. I have been training in the martial arts for the past 11 years and am a part of my school's track and swimming team. I am also passionate about giving back to my community. I enjoy participating in various opportunities, such as volunteering at my church's nursery, assisting at my community's food pantry, and participating in my school's mission trip. My ultimate goal is to become a traveling pediatric nurse practitioner. The journey to deciding on this career path was a long one, but I'm grateful that I took it, as it helped me uncover many of my previously unrealized passions. Since I was little, I've always loved to serve. Even my parents recognized that and said, "Veronica has always seen the good in others; she always loves helping people." I never took those comments lightly, but it took me a while to realize that's what I want to do for the rest of my life. During middle school, I wanted to be a vet. Mixing my love for animals, medicine, and helping others, veterinary medicine seemed perfect. But when I started high school, I was exposed to new STEM pathways, and engineering became a new passion. I thought that the innovative career of a biomedical engineer was an amazing path to follow. But as time went on, my interest in engineering hit its ceiling. My doubts were confirmed after I attended an Engineering summer program, which left me so appreciative of the college experience, but not more enthusiastic about the profession. Junior year finally brought some clarity for me. Trying to sort through the stress of this career search, I took a step back. I returned to the roots of my passions: medicine and helping others. After conducting research and talking to family members in the medical field, I found nursing. This summer, I had the amazing opportunity to attend Georgetown University's Nursing Academy, which taught me about the true reality and intricacies of nursing. From that amazing experience, my passion for service was renewed. I knew that via this career, I would be able to improve the quality of many lives through nursing's various avenues of care. I want to specifically be a traveling PNP because I have always loved working with kids, as I have assisted in teaching at my martial arts dojo for four years. I strive to be a nurse practitioner because I can perform advanced tasks and gain important knowledge for my future as a traveling nurse. I have seen the terrible struggles that children around the world live through and cannot obtain help for, and I want to be a part of the mission to help fix that, as no child or family deserves to suffer through illnesses without support. I know that through my future practice, I will be able to positively impact my patients and am willing to travel to every underserved location to do so. From supplying medicine to assisting in surgery, my role will be crucial to assisting those in need. The nursing profession is the perfect gateway for me to commit my life to the service of others.

A time when I had to show strength and determination was during my martial arts black belt test. As I was only a freshman in high school, this was one of the most important tasks of my life thus far. This test was a point that I had worked toward for roughly eight years, and I knew that so much was riding on my performance that night. It was my time to prove that I was ready to take on the responsibility of being a black belt and, most importantly, a leader. I was acutely aware that I would have to give my all to pass this demanding assessment. During the test, I ensured that I consistently conveyed strength and focus, as well as demonstrated a quick reaction time to showcase my expertise in the techniques I had learned. During certain parts of the test, such as the sparing section, where I had to fight my classmates while wearing martial arts gear, I had to dig deep. This was by far the most tiring part of the test. Even when I felt like I couldn't throw another strong punch or I couldn't seem to lift my leg enough to throw a powerful kick, I kept pushing. I told myself that I didn't work this hard to give up now, then look back and know that I could've pushed myself to my limit. I recalled being informed that our mind is more powerful than our bodies, meaning we can push ourselves farther by just using our willpower. I not only wanted to prove to my Senseis that I deserved this new position, but I wanted to prove to myself that I could perform exceptionally and be able to be proud of my progress. Now, nearly three years later, I reflect on my test with deep gratitude for the opportunity it provided. This experience has greatly enhanced many of my qualities; as a second-degree belt now, I have gained access to a wealth of knowledge and expertise in martial arts. I strive to embody the strength and determination I demonstrated during my black belt test through active leadership in the dojo and my involvement in more advanced classes. In my future work as a pediatric nurse, I will utilize these qualities of strength and determination, as well as other lessons I've learned, in order to correctly serve my patients. Pursuing any form of nursing requires not only mental strength but also emotional resilience. Being involved with children, especially during the worst days of their lives, can most definitely take a toll on a nurse's mind. But having that emotional strength that I've built through my involvement in martial arts will allow me to calmly support my patients and their families. Additionally, it will undoubtedly take determination to fight for the care of my patients. If a child or parent is unable to stand up for themselves, it will be my job to do it for them. These efforts will take great fortitude to fully support and represent my patients. Lastly, nursing is a demanding profession, and every day presents difficulties. But having determination will help me recognize my love of medicine and stay dedicated to my craft. There will be bad days, but the fruits of my labor will be seen through hard work. In martial arts, I saw it in the form of a new belt or a sense of self-improvement and confidence. In nursing, I will see it in the faces of my patients, witnessing the impact I've made right in front of my eyes. That is truly rewarding.