I am currently an 18 year old who recently graduated from high school. I'm starting college at University of North Georgia to major in Interdisciplinary Studies but after completing my prerequisites I plan on applying to the nursing program offered there. I really want to get into either labor and delivery or pediatric nursing. I've always had a connection with kids and being around babies so I found that being in a field I'm interested in while also working with kids would be the best job I could look for. I've been applying to many scholarships to hopefully help me through my journey in paying for college since I don't come from a wealthy background to pay off everything. My family doesn't have the funds to help me out so I've definitely been looking at scholarships that go well with my interests. Besides from getting awarded scholarships, I've also taken dual enrollment classes through Chattahoochee Technical College in getting my CNA license to get a stepping point into the nursing field. I've recently passed my skills exam and now I'm prepping for my written exam to seal the deal in officially becoming a licensed CNA. I've always been interested in the healthcare field nothing else really clicked with me. It's just fascinating all the careers that you're able to do and all the skills you could learn to help people out that are in need of care and guidance on their health journey. I want to be someone who can be a helping hand and a guiding light in someone's journey to having the best experience they can have when dealing with something that requires medical attention. I want to be able to get that chance to fully experience what it's like to become a registered nurse and all the things I've learned through the nursing program that I hopefully get into and apply it in real life to patients who are relying on someone to help them out and provide them with answers to their problems. While I attend University of North Georgia I plan on definitely working while going to college. I already have my eyes set on working at a senior assisted living facility as a CNA so I could save up money as well to pay off for college so I don't feel as overwhelmed with the cost of everything. Becoming a nurse is my top goal for the next 4-5 years and I'm determined to make it happen. I have hope for myself and I want to be the best that I can be at my future profession.

Ever since I could remember I've always helped out in any way that I could. My grandma was big on me helping out in church events or community gatherings where volunteer recognition and service was earned. One specific event I always hold dear to my heart is an event called "Mission Marietta". A week long event held at my church where kids from 6th-12th grade come sleep at the church and are assigned groups to go and help out in the community to people who desperately need it for a whole week. This has been something I've been doing every summer ever since I was in 6th grade up until now that I'm senior which will be my last year. Every summer I get up to 30 community service hours for the work that we spread out into our local community. Some of the things that I've done are helping out with a book drive at one of the Walton villages, replacing wooden floors in kitchen's and bathroom's, cleaning out my church's clothes closet, cleaning out different people's basements, and going out to senior homes and helping them out and telling stories of Jesus and just spreading the word for them. Every year that I do this I recognize how important it is that people work together to bring a change into other people's lives. I see how much the people that we help out appreciate our efforts to make their life a bit easier. Nothing can go wrong with bringing a little bit of kindness into someone else's world. It's taught me that showing kindness and bringing light into someone's dark situation will bring good things on to you. Every task assigned each year is totally different from the last one and it's shown me that everyone has their own things that they're going through but if you just take a moment out of your day to show that person that you care for them and that there's always a helping hand when they need one it just brightens up their day. This year I've volunteered for it again and I'm so excited for the next journey I will be experiencing with someone else. Volunteering brings joy to my heart because I can always see what an impact me and everyone else is making on them. Kindness, Resilience, and Connection always go a long way when helping someone or a group of people out. I apply those characteristics into everything that I do to make sure I'm doing the best job possible. Getting the chance to be a part of a community that strives on being selfless and loving has taught me that there's always a place where good strong people can be found. There's always hope that communities can come together and bring change to the world around them and to be able to do it out of the goodness of their heart and not for bragging purposes. The future is the unknown but one thing for certain is that good people are everywhere and good people will always be there to show kindness, resilience, and connection.

When I think about the movie that had the greatest impact on my life, Mars Needs Moms instantly comes to mind. I watched it when I was a child, not really understanding what it was trying to show me at the time, but now, as I look back, I realize how deeply it shaped the way I view family, love, and the importance of cherishing every moment with the people we care about. At that age, I didn’t fully grasp how much we take our loved ones for granted—how easy it is to go through life assuming that they’ll always be there, without truly appreciating the little things that make our relationships so special. The movie follows Milo, a boy who gets separated from his mom and goes on an incredible journey to rescue her. I remember feeling this intense sadness when he was taken from her, and I couldn’t help but wonder about the pain of losing someone you love. As a child, I had never experienced the fear of losing my mom, but watching Milo fight so hard to get back to her made me realize how vulnerable that relationship is. It opened my eyes to the reality that nothing is promised, and the people you love can be taken away in an instant. What struck me the most, though, was the way the movie made me see my own relationship with my mother. Up until then, I hadn’t understood just how much she did for me, how much she sacrificed, or how her love was the foundation of so much in my life. It wasn’t until I saw Milo’s journey that I realized how important it is to appreciate every single moment with the people who love you. The movie didn’t just make me sad; it made me want to do better, to be more grateful and present in my relationship with my mom. It gave me the urge to hug her a little tighter, to say “I love you” more often, and to recognize the little things she does without expecting anything in return. Mars Needs Moms changed the way I thought about love and family. It taught me that we should never take our loved ones for granted, no matter how routine life might seem. As I got older, I started to reflect more on the message of the film and realized how much it shaped my understanding of relationships. My mom became someone I couldn’t just take for granted anymore—I wanted to make sure she knew how much she meant to me. Watching the film reminded me that sometimes we don’t realize what we have until it’s almost lost. It taught me that it’s never too late to start appreciating those around you. Today, I carry that lesson with me. It’s shaped who I am and how I approach my relationships. I make an active effort to appreciate the people in my life, especially my mom, and to never let a day go by without expressing my gratitude for everything she does. Mars Needs Moms didn’t just teach me to love more deeply; it taught me to value the time we have with our loved ones and to cherish every moment.

Compassion isn’t just about being kind; it’s about being selfless, patient, and unwavering in the face of hardship. I’ve seen this firsthand through my mom, who has dedicated her life to taking care of her husband after a life-changing injury. When he suffered a severe neck injury that left him in a wheelchair, everything in their lives shifted. He went from being independent to barely being able to do anything on his own. While some people may have stepped away from the overwhelming responsibility, my mom chose to stay, committing herself fully to his care. From the moment of his injury, my mom’s life was no longer just about her. She quit everything including her job, her personal time, and even her own peace of mind to be by his side. She feeds him, helps him use the restroom, bathes him, and ensures that his medical needs are met. The things most people take for granted such as being able to get dressed, grab a drink of water, or move freely has became impossible for him, and my mom became his lifeline. Every day, she lifts, supports, and encourages him, even when she’s exhausted. The physical and emotional toll on her is immense. I’ve seen the exhaustion in her eyes, the strain in her body, and the moments where she feels like she has nothing left to give. Yet, she never gives up. No matter how tired she is, no matter how overwhelming the situation gets, she keeps moving forward. She pushes through every challenge, not because it’s easy, but because she loves him. Her strength isn’t just in what she does it’s in the way she does it, with patience, with love, and without hesitation. What amazes me the most is that she doesn’t see herself as extraordinary. To her, she’s just doing what needs to be done. But I know that what she’s doing is something rare. She is a living example of what it means to be compassionate—not just in words, but in action. Watching her has changed my perspective on what it means to truly care for someone. It has taught me that compassion isn’t just about feeling sorry for someone, it’s about showing up, making sacrifices, and giving all that you can, even when it’s hard. My mom’s love and dedication inspire me every day. She has shown me that compassion isn’t just about kindness it’s about strength, resilience, and choosing to stand by someone even in the toughest times. Her actions remind me that real love is not just about being there when it’s easy, but staying when it’s hardest.