Joseph Joshua Searor Memorial Scholarship

Growing up with an engineer father and musician mother, I quickly learned of the differences between art and science. Although this gifted me with a very diverse and unique upbringing, come college I had difficulty figuring out which direction I wanted my life to go. It wasn't until my brother started his nursing degree that I found a glimpse of what I would soon desire to pursue. After completing my first degree in Digital Media with an emphasis in audio production, I started thinking more about making my life as meaningful as it could be and decided to pursue a degree in nursing. After completing my Bachelor of Science in Nursing, it was a quick transition from classroom education to clinical practice. Being married to a Pediatric ICU nurse, my wife was the reason I chose to begin my nursing career in critical care. It wasn't, however, until the COVID-19 pandemic began that I found my desire to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. During the heaviest days of the pandemic, our intensive care physicians were stretched so thin, they turned to our hospital's anesthesia staff to help with patient care. CRNA's and anesthesiologists would help with intubation, proning, and sedation, all while updating and educating family members on their loved one's care. This sparked my interest in anesthesia and led me to shadowing multiple CRNAs in the operating room, showing me that the position combined the joys of personal impact with the experience and intellect required of critical care nursing. This desire continued to blossom over the past year, when my wife suddenly required an abdominal surgery. Although three years of intensive care experience provided me surgical knowledge and expectation, having my own loved one's care in the hands of anesthesia staff brought me a new perspective. Anxiety set in as I began to think of patients I recently took care of who had unexpected surgical emergencies during a routine operation, requiring life support for an extended period of time. This nervous feeling was quickly decreased as the CRNA who entered the room was unbelievably gracious and informative; she earned my trust within minutes of my wife being rolled into the operating room. This solidified my passion to pursue a degree in nurse anesthesia. As I complete these three years of school, I endure many sleepless nights of studying, financial struggles of being unable to hold a job, and disappointments of not being able to spend much time with my wife and our newborn daughter, but I embrace the awaited joy of being the individual who gains the trust of patients and families in their most vulnerable times. A nurse anesthetist plays a role rarely placed on a pedestal; their position behind the scenes of a surgical operation requires confidence dressed in humility. This is the reason I have chosen to pursue my Doctorate in Nurse Anesthesia Practice: to humbly give compassionate care in the most uncertain moments before, during, and after surgery. Although there are many different career options for anesthesia, the operating room is my goal. As I complete my program at the University of South Carolina, my desire is to strongly prepare myself for these moments: the moments where a family is worried about a procedure, or a child is scared of what it means to be put to sleep. However, compassionate care begins with proper preparation. The educational rigor and clinical training required is heavy, but I will choose joy in the difficult moments to come, as the eventual reward of giving strong and comforting care will be more than worth the struggle.

A mother's love is truly a gift; a realization that dawned on me after becoming a mother myself. My journey has been greatly influenced by my mother's unwavering strength, who became a single parent of 4 after tragically losing my father to a motorcycle accident when I was just 10 years old. She worked tirelessly, often juggling 2 jobs to support our family. Though I wished for more of her time, looking back, I’m amazed at how she managed it all. As the eldest of 4, I had to toughen up and take on new responsibilities, from looking after my siblings to cooking by age 12, even mowing the lawn with my brother during summer breaks. I was well equipped for the many challenges that awaited, even with regard to my emotional well-being. I can vividly remember one morning when my mother walked from her bedroom, and her once long hair had been unevenly, cut short. I sensed her mood shift and lack of motivation, as she isolated herself in her room. I know now that my mother was battling depression and thankfully she made it through. My own experience with depression began a few years ago with the onset of the pandemic. Like many others, my life was suddenly disrupted, prompting a significant shift that for me started with the closing of my warehouse in 2020. I knew immediately I wanted to continue pursuing Nursing, so I enrolled at my local community college and completed 2 of 3 semesters required. Shortly after, my husband began experiencing health issues requiring short-term disability from work and surgery. We also relocated from our home in the city to a small rural development 30 minutes away. It was a dark, tumultuous period as I had to figure out quickly how to contribute more all while maintaining my sanity. My son also graduated high school in 2020 with aspirations to pursue a Robotics Engineering degree, which was delayed until 2022 due to these unforeseen circumstances. I worked full-time to support him, but after completing his 1st semester, we were surprised by an unexplained balance of out-of-district fees. I felt so hurt, furious, and helpless, realizing how my shortcomings were impacting my family’s future. Because of our family dynamic, my son was fully aware of our situation and knew how much we valued his success. So he moved on to enroll in another program offering Networking Engineering with plans to finish by Summer 2024. We ensured this college was in-district, however, financial aid covered all but $6000 for the program. Still determined, we devised a plan to split $625 monthly to pay the balance. Amidst the same period of 2022, I managed to complete my last semester of prerequisites, take the Nursing entrance exam, and earn acceptance into the program for the Spring of 2024, however, I deferred starting until Fall 2024 to ensure my son’s success. It’s a worthy sacrifice any proud mother would make, yet still leaves me to figure out how I’ll afford my own dream of earning my Nursing degree. My deepest aspiration is to gain prestige and become a servant of healthcare, utilizing my skills to enhance the lives of others. This scholarship is a crucial step toward that goal. Though my story may be unique, I know there are other capable individuals with similar stories. I hope within 5 years and because of your favor, I’ve become that confident Nurse restoring health & wellness, but also paying forward the same generosity to another student. Thank you for considering my story. Sincerely, Renee Daniels

God Said It Grandma said, “The best thing you can do is get your education. That way, no one can ever take that away from you.” I knew I was going to be a nurse when God said it. I was working in a well-known call center. I no longer felt challenged in my current position. As for my working goals, I either “met expectations” or “exceeded expectations.” I knew I had come to a crossroads when a supervisor position came open. I prayed and said, God, if this job is for me, I pray that you grant it. If it's not for me, I will trust you and your will, and I won't even be upset if I do not receive the position. I know that you have more in store for me. On the day of my interview, I dressed for success for my first managerial interview. However, once I got to the end of the interview, my nerves began to take hold of me, and I started to sweat bullets. In hindsight, after all, I got this: “We regret to inform you that you were not selected, and we've decided to move forward with other candidates.” So, I sought God after the disheartening news. Consequently, Mom always would go on about nursing school and learning about the positions of other roles in my job, stating I could become a licensed vocational nurse and work with the prescription team. I decided that this may be an opportunity to apply to nursing school. God had me apply to nursing school. So, I researched nursing programs, local nursing schools, and their requirements. Once I applied, God showed me a vision approximately three months earlier. I got accepted into the nursing program! As soon as May or June rolled around, I received notification I had met all the qualifications and was able to start nursing school. Mom and I jumped for joy when we received the news. At that point, I had no idea that life would change forever! I knew the moment God gave me nursing. It was my purpose. Now, I've been saving lives, healing others, and providing compassionate care. I've been a nurse for approximately three years now. I'm currently finishing up my bachelor's degree in nursing and need a financial blessing so I can graduate in March 2024. I plan to become an intensive care unit nurse and help those needing critical care.

My journey into nursing as a second degree was what shaped who I am today. It began with a series of decisions and experiences that have led me to where I am today. After completing my first bachelor's degree in Brain Behavior and Cognitive Sciences, my initial plan was to pursue either research or medical school. However, life took an unexpected turn when I moved to Florida for my fiancé's job after a year of a long-distance relationship. In order to stay close to home, I made the decision to switch tracks and enrolled in a practical nursing program. Choosing the practical nursing path allowed me to pursue my passion while avoiding the challenges of moving away and the financial burden associated with graduate school. The pivotal moment that solidified my desire to become a nurse occurred during my first clinicals in a nursing home within the practical nurse program. Witnessing the impact and importance of compassionate care during people's most vulnerable moments made me realize I wanted to be the person at the bedside with the patients. My journey continued as I successfully bridged to obtain my Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN), followed by the pursuit of my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). As a registered nurse, I have gained valuable experience and insights into patient care in the Cardiac ICU. Currently, I am actively engaged in nursing education and work with ICU new graduate nurses to help them with professional development in their first 8 months. Despite the detours and challenges, I believe that every twist and turn in my path has provided me with a wealth of experiences and life lessons that have deepened my understanding of the human condition. Now, after twelve years of learning, I am hoping to obtain my doctorate, and become a nurse practitioner. While I want to work as a nurse Practioner my other passion is in teaching and education. I hope to further develop my ability to teach others and learn enough to be able to further other's educations as well. Today I am very glad I chose to stay close to home as we have been happily married for 11 years with two beautiful children. I now continue my education and my growth to give them the best future possible. I am hoping for a scholarship to help ease the cost of school and be able to continue to fund my children's future as well. While the road may have been longer than initially anticipated, I am grateful for the diverse experiences that have shaped me into the compassionate and dedicated individual I am today. These experiences have given me profound insights into the lives of those I aim to serve, reinforcing my commitment to making a meaningful impact in the field of healthcare as I work towards my terminal degree.

I am 42 and a life-long learner. Like many nurses, I am committed to learning as much as possible so I can better the lives of my patients and their families. I started my BSN while I was working full time and pregnant with my son. I finished it about a year and a half after he was born. I was the first one in my immediate family to complete a bachelor's degree. The more I went to school the more I fell in love with learning. I spent the majority of my nursing career in the Intensive Care Unit. In the ICU, I took the students and new nurses under my wing. I loved teaching and sharing knowledge. I knew I wanted to teach when I was in nursing school clear back in 2001. That dream was realized as I finished my MSN in nursing education in 2015. I started teaching immediately after and loved it. I was driven to complete my Doctor of Nursing Practice and finished that in 2019. I am still teaching undergraduate students and enjoy it very much. But, in my heart I knew I would go back to school for something, again. Even pushing 40, I knew I wanted to keep going. I was actually admitted in 2019 to a post graduate certificate program where I currently teach. However, life happens, my kids are very busy, and I decided it wasn't the right time. A turning point for me was in 2021. I teach a class called "Mission Nursing" and the class culminates with a mission trip to the mountains of Guatemala. I had only been on one mission trip, 11 years prior to Kenya. I had no idea just how much Guatemala would change me. While there, I felt pretty helpless since I was "just a nurse" and not a provider- and my Spanish is subpar. However, I was able to form relationships with those involved in the hospital ministry as well as the citizens of Canilla, Guatemala, who worked side by side with those in ministry. I have since led a couple more trips and went back on one surgical trip as a member and not a leader. In May of 2023, I led my third group of nursing students. It was this trip that I realized I wanted to go back to school. There is minimal mental health and addiction care in Guatemala. I felt a push to get back into the psych mental health program so that one day I could help provide those services in a place I have grown to love. I am about to lead my 5th and 6th trips to Guatemala in 2024 and my perspective has shifted since my first trip. While I strive to be a provider there someday, I am passionate about showing average Iowa students just what it is like to see and experience healthcare in the developing world. These nursing students go down and LEARN. Expanding their minds, their hearts, their grace, their love- it is all done with love- they unlock an entire new level of empathy…empathy that spills over in their day to day, their patient care, their ability to make those who are lost in the shuffle SEEN. This is why I continue to go. I want students to feel for those they are caring for. Someday when I am done with school, I will hopefully be seeing patients in Guatemala. For now, I am pushing forward in both my studies and in teaching and I hope to leave an impact on my students.