My name is Veronica Igbojioyibo. I am a Nigerian and the first child of my parents. I grew up in a Catholic Christian family and was very involved in community outreach and social gatherings. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I was actively engaged in helping allocate resources that the church needed to support the parishioners, especially for the older people and new mothers who could not go to the markets to get baby milk or whose family incomes were affected by the lockdown. I was inspired to pursue my higher education in the United States for several reasons. Firstly, the United States is home to many universities widely recognized for their academic excellence and research contributions. These universities offer high-quality education across diverse disciplines, allowing students to find programs that fit their academic and career goals. Secondly, studying in a highly diverse and dynamic environment like the United States will broaden my cultural knowledge and understanding, providing a rich experience. Thirdly, graduating from a United States university will enhance my career prospects, as their degrees are recognized internationally. A challenge I experienced and overcame was childbirth, rearing, and weaning. Having a baby in a foreign place without any close family members was a huge challenge, and I am grateful that God's grace was sufficient for me. I had my baby, who is now eighteen months old, through a cesarean surgery. I was so scared because that was my first experience and I wondered how I would care for my baby without an older person to guide me. I am so happy that I passed through that experience strong, and my baby is healthy, which gladdens my heart. Someone who inspires me is Chimamanda Adichie, the author of "Purple Hibiscus." She is a great Nigerian author who writes about the circumstances and challenges that individual, especially women, face and how they thrive to navigate the course of their lives. I also appreciate her talk shows, and my favorite show was "The Danger of a Single Story." My post-graduate plans are to continue with my graduate studies and probably do some research on health, birth, and women. As a rising college junior at New York University (NYU) majoring in Nursing, I have maintained a GPA of 3.75. I believe that furthering my education in the United States will provide me with the knowledge and skills necessary to make significant contributions to the healthcare field, particularly in maternal and child health. In conclusion, my background, experiences, and inspirations have shaped my determination to pursue higher education in the United States. Overcoming the challenges of childbirth and caring for my baby has taught me resilience and strength. The inspiration from Chimamanda Adichie has motivated me to strive for excellence in my field. I am committed to making a positive impact in the healthcare sector and look forward to contributing to the well-being of women and children through my post-graduate studies and research.