College is not always a linear experience. As a Black, female, low-income student in America, my journey in pursuing higher education was one of the furthest from linear imaginable. I had already come from a background that made it less likely that I could one day say I was a college graduate. I knew very few people who were college-educated, and even fewer who had a Master's degree or beyond. Finances were at the forefront of the obstacles I faced in obtaining my Bachelor's degree. I felt like an imposter at times; like I didn't even deserve to say I was in college, let alone a college graduate. That meant that from the beginning, I knew that I was destined to break barriers, end generational curses, and start new trends within my family and community. Ever since I was a child, I have strived to accomplish goals that seemed impossible to some, but that I knew were within reach for me. Looking back on how challenging of an experience it was to complete my Bachelor's degree - mostly because of my background, some might ask why I decided to pursue a Master's; furthermore, why would I want to pursue a doctorate? For me, the answer is simple: in my experience thus far, the closer you get to success, the more challenging the pursuit becomes - and I love a good challenge. I am my own worst enemy, yet my biggest cheerleader. I will never forget hearing the crushing words of the people closest to me, stating that they "never thought I'd graduate" - even on my graduation day! I will never forget the days I dragged myself out of bed wondering if it was even worth it. From dealing with depression, to coming of age, to feeling misunderstood by mostly everybody I had grown to know and love my entire life, to constantly being under the stress of trying to find a balance between my education and the one thing that was financing it - I understand that many people in my shoes may have given up. However, I was not in a position to give up. My Bachelor's, which was actually my second college degree, was about more than just me! From a young age, I have always been a go-getter; if I had a goal in mind - big or small, I saw it through every time. I knew at 14 years old that I'd have my first college degree by 18. And I did. I knew at 18 years old that I'd complete my Bachelor's degree - something my father was never able to accomplish. And I did! I knew before I graduated that I would be admitted into Graduate school to pursue my masters. And I was! I overcome adversity by believing in myself more than I believe any negative stereotypes associated with people who look like me. I overcome adversity by thinking about all the people who came before me who paved the way for me to be able to achieve these feats. I overcome adversity by doing things that fuel my passion to help others, and to help make the world a better place. After I complete my Master's degree program in Applied Behavior Analysis, I intend to continue to help educate my community on developmental disorders, associated stigmas, and proper intervention strategies to promote independence in performing activities of daily living in the individuals affected by these disorders.

Mental health is something that is often swept under the rug in the Black community. However, it is just as important as one's physical health. I, like many others, had the luxury of pretending mental health was some sort of obsolete topic that I was so far removed from for the first 15 years of my life. Then, in the summer of 2015 I faced the harsh reality of my mother's bipolar disorder. Having been off of her medication unbeknownst to myself or my other family members, my mother's mental health was slowly declining to the point that it started to affect my own. Do you know what it is like to witness the highs and lows of manic depression as a child... to have your mother's internal doubts take over to the point that you no longer trust your family members... to selfishly wonder, if this is the future that awaits you - one that encompasses a long and very difficult battle with your sanity? Emotional regulation is something you are just starting to figure out as a teenager. Imagine pairing that with the person you love the most transforming into a stranger before your eyes so quickly. "Scary" is only a surface-level description of such an experience. To explain to you how witnessing my mother experience manic episodes over and over affected me, I could say I developed anxiety... I could say that I experienced frequent panic attacks... and as embarrassing as it is to admit, I could say that I even became afraid of the dark for a period of time. The way religion played a part in my mom's bipolar episodes has also made my relationship with religion strained and very hard to navigate to this day. As true as it may be that this experience negatively affected me in many ways, I fight every day to take the positive out of it. I am writing to you now as a Registered Behavior Technician. I work with children who have mental/behavioral issues every day to help them overcome what it means to be on the Autism spectrum. I am also a student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where I am majoring in Cognitive Psychology. By obtaining my bachelor's degree, I will not only be able to continue helping the children I work with even more, but I am putting myself in a position to learn more about mental/behavioral health and do the research and field work it takes to de-stigmatize mental health and aid people in obtaining proper treatment.

In life, we often place a lot of value on the "pretty" things - the things that make everything more aesthetically pleasing or palatable. Throughout this journey, however, we all face challenges that, no matter how discouraging, cannot be discounted. Sometimes these challenges even contribute to who we are in some way. Every step of the journey is meaningful. As, someone once said, "there is no rainbow without the rain". My name is Bria Dixon and I am a Psychology major at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. College has been anything but a linear experience for me. Regardless of the circumstances I face, I refuse to give up on my educational and career goals because they are not only important in bettering myself, but also in helping those in need. My persistence in the pursuit of my dreams is personal, but it is also bigger than just me. I will never forget the day I celebrated scoring the highest on a standardized test in a class that previously struggled in. This was also the day following my Uncle Spencer's unexpected passing. This is one of many examples that defines my college journey and life thus far: persistence despite my circumstances. I have lost the financial and emotional support of my family, battled sickness several times over, mourned losses, and celebrated wins amongst many other things all within the past 4 years. I can confidently say that regardless of what I may face, I will continue to be persistent in reaching my wildest dreams. The easiest choice is always to give up, but the opposite always proves to be more fruitful.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the word "generosity" as the willingness to give or to share, or an act of unselfish giving. To expound upon that, I might add my own definition: generosity, to me, is putting the wants and needs of others before your own. This can be, for example... helping a friend solve a difficult math problem, guiding a stranger across the street, or becoming an organ donor. The core defining principles of any generous act are the fact that one did not have to do it, and the intention behind it was to aid someone else in some way. Ever since I was a kid, I've loved helping others in any way that I knew how. Because of this, I am not only pursuing a career as a BCBA, but I have also committed my entire life thus far to small and large acts of community service. I am currently employed as a Registered Behavior Technician, and a big part of my job is providing therapy to Autistic children to help make their behaviors more meaningful. By becoming a BCaBA and later a BCBA, I can use my education as a tool to better understand Autism and further help kids who are on the spectrum. A couple of the other acts of community service I have performed include plasma donation and volunteering at hospitals. Alongside my passion for helping others, I truly believe that these generous acts are a necessity for bridging cultural gaps and eventually solving national and worldwide issues, such as poverty and homelessness. There is no "I" in team, and we must all work together to make a positive impact on society.

One of the things that people don't tell you about college is that it is not a linear experience for all. From navigating early adulthood, to birthdays, weddings, and even funerals, college comes with many ups and downs. My name is Bria Dixon and I am a student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. My college experience has been everything but linear. Throughout my journey, I have experienced many celebratory moments in my own life and the lives of those around me including academic feats, pregnancies/births, awards/honors, and other new experiences. However, I have also faced many challenges including financial hardship, strained family relationships, sickness, and pregnancy loss. Regardless of the hardships I face, I refuse to let them taint my college experience or stop me from pursuing my education. College and further education is so important to me for two reasons: 1) because a lifelong commitment to learning is an important part to becoming a pioneer for positive change in the community and the world, and 2) because further education is a crucial part of my career and life goals. Being open to learning helps broaden one's perspective by introducing them to new people, ideas, and experiences. It also helps one to acquire more knowledge about things that, prior to education on the topic, they knew nothing about or misunderstood. Education can break down barriers by way of combating stereotypes or general misconceptions; a great example of this is the degree requirement to learn a new language, or the requirement to take a certain amount of Western or other cultural classes. All of these things are not only necessary but also very important to me. Alongside these necessities, a Bachelor's degree in Psychology is the first step to one of many professional and personal life goals I have. I currently work as a Registered Behavior Technician providing therapy to Autistic kids on a daily basis. One of my future goals is furthering my education and experience in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis, and continuing to help Autistic children make their behaviors more meaningful. By becoming a BCaBA and later a BCBA, I would putting myself in a position to understand and help these kids even more! I have had a passion to help people whenever I can since I was a child, and my degree would aid me in doing just that. I have had to take gaps in my education, balance a full time job with being enrolled in college, and constantly battle the stress, depression, and exacerbation of other mental and physical health issues that come with having a lack of family support and limited financial/other resources as a college student. I have constantly had to sit on the sidelines and celebrate everybody else achieving their dreams while having to put mine on the back burner, wondering when my time was coming. If I received this scholarship, it would help me to continue my education and pursue my dreams with a little less worry. I am ready for my time to shine so that I can obtain my degree and use it to help myself and others who are in need. I would be so appreciative if I received the Bookman 5 Scholarship and I am so grateful you took the time to review my application.

My name is Bria Dixon and I am a nursing student from Chicago, IL. I feel as if I was called to help others in any way that I can, and I have been doing everything I can to fulfill this calling for as long as I can remember. Whether it be providing advice, physically aiding someone, or leading the way during a difficult journey, I have always made it my mission to help those around me succeed. But in order to help others, I must first help myself. I have struggled with mental ailments such as generalized anxiety disorder, depression, and ADHD throughout my lifetime. Like many other conditions, there are periods of remission as well as exacerbation. Certain triggers or stressors can cause these ailments to flare up, and I have unfortunately experienced really tough times trying to manage mental illness centered around certain events or life changes. Mental illness is something that can be extremely difficult to deal with and manage, and even more so when the stigma exists that experiencing mental illness makes a person undesirable in some way, or different (with a negative connotation). Fortunately, due to personal experience as well as being a firsthand witness to my mother's battle with Bipolar Disorder, I have worked tirelessly in my own life and the lives of others to fight this stigma. Some ways that I successfully cope with my mental illnesses are going to therapy, simply making time to do things I enjoy, and venting to people I trust. Going to therapy has benefitted me greatly because it helps to make my thoughts and actions more constructive. Sometimes trying to figure out everything on my own only contributes to my stress and makes matters worse, especially when I cannot figure out an ideal solution, or I don't get a certain outcome. Especially as my anxiety is concerned, talking my thoughts out with a therapist helps me to look at the bright side in things and not beat myself up about my choices as much, because all I can do is try my best - I am bound to make mistakes along the way regardless. Making time to do things you enjoy sounds so simple, but we may often forget to do this in the midst of stress and turmoil. By intentionally setting aside time to engage in activities I enjoy, such as ice skating or going to the movies, I am able to boost my morale and find more joy in my journey. Focusing solely on work or challenges can definitely be overwhelming and hinder progress when dealing with mental issues. Finally, venting to people I trust also helps me cope with mental illness. Putting my thoughts into words helps to take the pressure off of myself because even if I don't receive advice, just knowing someone else is listening and actually hears me honestly makes me feel better. A goal of mine for the future is to help other people with mental and/or behavioral issues. I recently joined the Applied Behavior Analysis field, which plays a huge part in helping children with autism become functional members of society. Through my role as a Behavior Technician, I have been able to help change the course of my clients' lives by helping to mold their maladaptive behaviors into functional communication. I absolutely love what I do and hope to incorporate Applied Behavior Analysis into my future goals. I also strive to speak up and be a voice for those who struggle with mental illness in every way that I can, in every room I step foot in.

When the COVID-19 pandemic peaked in 2020, I was employed at OSF Heart of Mary Medical Center near the university I attended at the time - the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I had been working there for a year in the support services department, with the goal of obtaining experience in a healthcare setting to help prepare me for my future career as a nurse. As the number of people infected with COVID-19 skyrocketed, with government and health agencies knowing little to nothing about the virus, I recall being questioned about my career choice. A scary and uncertain future ahead for the nation and the world, I was asked "are you sure you still want to be a nurse?" My answer then, and until the day I am awarded my final degree as a Doctor of Nursing Practice, is absolutely. My name is Bria Dixon and I am a nursing student who was born and raised in Chicago, IL. As a member of the Black community, I have unfortunately witnessed firsthand the disparities that exist within the healthcare field. Due solely to racism, so many disgusting ideals and practices have led not only to insufficient healthcare as it is related to minorities, but also a great deal of distrust for medical professionals amongst the Black community and other minority communities. Two things I hope to accomplish are cultural awareness/sensitivity education and broadened access to healthcare within underprivileged communities. Personally, a large factor in my decision on whether or not to seek the help of a medical professional when needed is the presence (or absence) of cultural awareness/sensitivity within the healthcare field. Imagine a person who is educated and licensed in their profession, whom you are supposed to trust, simply not believing you when you say that you are in pain... or not taking appropriate measures to medically treat you because they hold the false belief that you are somehow different than others because of your skin color, culture, and/or heritage. I strive to be a trustworthy medical professional that the members of my community, as well as other minorities, are able to turn to because I have experienced this. I wholeheartedly believe that receiving good healthcare from people who look like you or come from similar backgrounds can have a lasting impact, and even change your perspective on health. I also aim to educate others who may be ignorant of their own biases on how to be more culturally aware without allowing their awareness to negatively impact the care they provide for others. A huge part of my future plans is to establish a presence in underprivileged communities across the country, and even the world if possible, to provide and promote health & wellness among people who normally might not have access to it. Through taking sociology courses and doing my own fieldwork, I have learned that a commonality between the most underprivileged communities is limited access to... well, everything. From sky-high gas prices to limited public transit, to little to no grocery/health stores within the area, to low quality healthcare - people living in disadvantaged areas lack a lot of resources - and access to quality healthcare, and even healthcare education, is one of the most important ones. By making the effort to travel to these communities, and even possibly make room for permanent spaces for quality, affordable healthcare there, I believe I can help to change the course of many people's lives and limit health disparities among marginalized groups in society.

My name is Bria Dixon and I'm a nursing student from Chicago, IL. My ultimate goal is to obtain my DNP and eventually become a Head Nurse Anesthetist. I also strive to make nursing education a part of my career path, as well as healthcare research. I was inspired to pursue an advanced practice degree for several reasons, but one stands out above all others: I love helping people. Ever since I was a kid, whether it be helping a friend with a difficult math problem, or helping to be a pioneer for positive progress within society, I have always loved helping others whenever I am able to. I honestly feel as if it's my purpose. I also love math and science, which both play a huge part in the nursing field, especially as anesthesia is concerned. I've encountered so many challenges along my path to becoming a nurse, with the financial burden being one of the biggest. Yet when I'm asked "are you sure you still want to become a nurse?" the answer to that question is "absolutely" every single time. Because I'm so passionate about helping others as well as using my power to make a positive change within society, especially as social injustice and race relations are concerned, becoming a nurse is undoubtedly my first and only choice - there is no plan B. By becoming a head nurse anesthetist, I hope to achieve my career goals of destigmatizing healthcare, increasing healthcare access in underprivileged communities, and taking part in research projects to help further advance the healthcare field. Both due to racism within the healthcare field as well as common myths and misconceptions about health and wellness, in my experience I have seen that minorities are less likely to seek out the help of medical professionals when needed. I hope to help break down this barrier first by using my identity as a Black woman, and second by working my hardest to educate members of my community as well as other people of color about things such as healthcare facts and myths in order to increase the likelihood that minorities will not only visit the doctor when needed but also trust the medical professionals on their care team. It is also a goal of mine to travel to other states within the US and even worldwide to provide healthcare access to people in underprivileged communities. A commonality found between some of the most disadvantaged areas is that the people residing in them lack resources as a whole - grocery stores, affordably priced transportation, healthcare, etc. By traveling to these areas I hope to be able to serve people who wouldn't normally be able to take advantage of the services that medical facilities have to offer, especially the services that are needed and often overlooked such as yearly physical exams. Finally, I hope to be an active participant in healthcare research that aids in advancing the field. Through being a member of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's Student Nursing Association, I was exposed to medical professionals who recounted their experience with research within the medical field and how critical it is. Witnessing this and having knowledge about the great amount of progress left to be made in areas such as general medication, cancer, and other disease research, I strive to one day participate in areas of research such as those mentioned to further inform the public and hopefully eradicate or find cures to some of the most devastating conditions.

Mental health, especially within the Black community, is something that is and has been near and dear to my heart for a very long time. As a Black woman, like many others, I can attest to the fact that mental health is often not taken seriously within the Black community. Many mental ailments and illnesses are often pushed under the rug, and sometimes "treated" with the not-so-helpful solution of a "Go lay down" or "Stop exaggerating." The most fatal of all responses, though, is treating mental ailments and illnesses as if they simply do not exist. Growing up, I quickly realized over a brutal summer during my teenage years through a lot of tough firsthand experiences what it was like for my mother to have suffered from Bipolar Disorder for a large portion of her life. Alongside this, earlier in my life, I also witnessed the mental anguish my best friend and nephew experienced shortly after coming out to our family as bisexual. Mental health has been an overarching topic in my life and the lives of those closest to me, and I have both witnessed and felt the consequences that come with ignoring it for the sake of oneself or others. I have been a strong advocate of mental health awareness in any way that I've been able to, especially since witnessing my mother's Bipolar episodes for the first time in my life. My utopian vision for optimal mental health in the Black community first starts with awareness, closely followed by acknowledgment. All too often, people within the Black community are made to feel as if they are alone in their mental health struggles because a lot of people often refuse to acknowledge they exist or work tirelessly to downplay mental illness. I believe that by bringing the facts to the table, supported by mental health (and other) professionals, it will allow the community to take a big step in saying "actually, there might be a reason as to why you're feeling blue, and you're not the only one who's experienced this." If the awareness and acknowledgment are there, it will be way easier to get people of color the care they need from that point - whether it be therapy, medication, or a combination of both. The ideal world is one in which we treat mental illnesses just as seriously as physical illnesses and the Black community has a lot of work to do in making ourselves aware that mental ailments can be just as debilitating. Mental healthcare and advocacy can help achieve social justice in communities of color because it helps to address the part of inequality that fallacies related to mental health contribute to. Mental illnesses are also usually more prevalent in people that are already disadvantaged (and minorities are a large part of this group), so advocacy and more readily available healthcare would help level the playing field.

My name is Bria Dixon and I am an undergraduate student and entrepreneur from Chicago, IL. In August of 2020, I launched my business "Luxe and Co. Jewelry." My brand aims to provide people with luxurious-looking, quality pieces at affordable prices to help them embrace their inner beauty without breaking the bank. I'm currently working on my relaunch, in which I will introduce new jewelry pieces that are more on-target with my brand. I will also be developing a new website, increasing social media presence, developing better business and marketing strategies, and outsourcing when possible. My long-term goals are to be more hands-on with my jewelry - eventually learning how to make it all from scratch myself - and to ultimately become a household name. I have plans to expand the "Luxe and Co." line into other industries, including home, beauty, and dining further down the line. However, my biggest struggle to date has been accumulating finances to grow and market my business in the jewelry industry the way I need to be able to in order to reach broader audiences. These funds would not only help me to obtain inventory that I could have on hand for faster shipping times and additional sales options, but they would also assist me in funding social media marketing, website design, and other experimental endeavors I eventually want to accomplish, such as international shipping - at least on a smaller scale to start. The demand for my business has been there and people often inquire about test pieces I wear daily for quality purposes. However, I am not able to comfortably offer these pieces for purchase because I am unable to afford the price it costs to have a decent amount of inventory on hand. As far as marketing is concerned, I have developed strategies that have produced favorable results when I had the funds to do so, but as mentioned previously, I am currently being held back due to not being able to afford paid ads and other marketing venues. Ultimately, this funding would allow me to establish a relaunch date in the near future, build up my inventory, and use marketing strategies to build both anticipation and demand for my products. I know there is a place for Luxe and Co. Jewelry within the jewelry industry, I just need the support to be able to grow my brand and let everyone else know that we are here to stay.

The question that so many college students most likely dread - one that usually comes up during family events or other functions when we've finally made it to a break in our studies - is "How is school going?" Often, when people think of the college students in their life, they do not consider the fact that college is a very challenging experience. Along with taking rigorous coursework, many students are experiencing a coming of age that brings many memories alongside it, some that we are fond of, and some that we are not so fond of. The best part about college, though, is that you ultimately get to define how your path looks. Some of us have more of a linear path that may start when we're 18 and end when we're 22 with a bachelor's degree and several notable feats obtained in the process. I, however, fit into the latter group of students that has had an all-but-linear experience in pursing my college education. My name is Bria Dixon and I am an undergraduate nursing student from Chicago, IL. I've faced many challenges and setbacks in pursuit of my BSN, but they've only served to make me more diligent in finishing my college education, and obtaining the second of many degrees. My story is not a simple one. It involves dual credit, several transfers, several moves - from local to statewide, failures, sickness, and financial and emotional struggle amongst many other things. Yet, here I am, persevering to complete my degree against the odds because I am laser-focused on my goal of becoming a nurse, not only to better myself but also my community and the world in the process. As mentioned above, though I've faced many challenges, I've refused to let them stop me. Resilience is something that I feel is embedded in me. The easiest option is always to give up, but as far as my education and future are concerned, I refuse to give up - even when I may not have all of the answers. What makes me resilient above all else is the selfless need and duty I feel within me to help others. I've loved helping others for as long as I remember and I strongly feel that career-wise, it's something I can see myself doing for the rest of my days. I see that there's so much that can and desperately needs to change within society and especially the healthcare field. Therefore, as long as I'm of able body and mind, I'm going to make my best effort to be apart of that change through research, field work, and social justice. My need to succeed is way bigger than me. As long as I know I can make a difference or at least try to, I'm always going to be motivated to "keep on keeping on." I plan to utilize my degree to help eliminate disparities within healthcare. Having experienced inadequate healthcare as a Black woman in America myself, I know that there is so much progress to be made toward racial equality within the field. I intend to work locally in underrepresented communities and travel when possible to serve those individuals who have a hard time accessing necessary healthcare services for financial or other reasons. Beyond that, fueled by my passion for social justice, I will take every opportunity to advocate for the voiceless through larger public platforms and bring awareness to the issues of racism, inequity and cultural insensitivity within the healthcare field. Furthermore, research and education are also a large part of my plan.

Hello. My name is Bria Dixon and I am an undergraduate nursing student from Chicago, IL. For as long as I can remember, I have desired to establish a career in nursing. Ever since elementary school, I've been following the path to get there. I'm currently in an ADN program, but my dreams extend far beyond just registered nursing. After completing my ADN, I'll be participating in a bridge program to obtain my BSN the following year. Beyond that, I am doing the research and work in order to be able to eventually obtain my DNP with a focus in nurse anesthesia to one day be able to call myself a Head Nurse Anesthetist. But I don't plan on stopping there. I also possibly see nurse educating in my future, especially as far as on-the-job training is concerned. Having seen the examples local leaders have set for me, research is also an interest of mine I plan to take further when I'm established within my nursing career. I believe education and research are both important in the advancement of the medical field, and these things aid in limiting or eliminating health disparities. I believe it is crucial to increase racial diversity in healthcare partially because no one can speak up for minorities as clearly as minorities can speak up for ourselves. Minorities are the best people to represent minorities because, while other groups may have an understanding of and empathy toward our personal experiences and challenges within healthcare, society, the nation and the world, only minorities can attest to what these experiences feel like. It is important for us to exist within the healthcare field to share our own personal and common community experiences so that we can break down barriers caused by systematic racism and advocate for the voiceless. Having more racial diversity within healthcare would also increase racial sensitivity and awareness. It's not uncommon knowledge that throughout healthcare history, certain groups of people - minorities in particular - have been treated differently due to medical "professionals" genuinely believing certain racial groups felt less pain, or were just born more susceptible to certain ailments and illnesses, for example. A larger minority presence within healthcare would help vastly in those small teaching moments that require more than a degree. Cultural awareness and new perspectives often happen when someone who can bring a different viewpoint to the table gets involved. In my opinion, there is no way healthcare will continue to progress toward equality without an increase in diversity amongst professionals.

My name is Bria Dixon and I am an undergraduate Foundational Black American nursing student from Chicago, IL. My most important goals in life are to help as many people as I can and make a measurable impact within my community, the nation, and the world. I plan on achieving these goals by pursuing a career as an advanced practice nurse and making it my mission from day 1 to be a pioneer for change. I desire to not only become a leader within my field, teaching others the way in the process, but I also strongly desire to do critical healthcare research, travel to other parts of the US and the world to provide much-needed healthcare - especially to the underprivileged - and use given platforms to be a voice for the voiceless because healthcare is one of the most evident indicators of social injustice in existence. As mentioned above, I am a Foundational Black American. Not only is being Black is a huge part of my identity, but it fuels my passion for social justice because I have experienced personally and through those I'm close to what it feels like to be Black in America, and the impacts of systematic racism that are still very present today. I knew my heritage included Black American ancestors, but I was recently able to dive deeper by taking a DNA test. I learned the names of some of my ancestors who went the furthest back as well as major details of their lives such as where they resided, what they did for a living, and some of their statuses - as either "free men" or slaves to a specific plantation. Digging into the roots of my ancestry has really taught me the importance of family and familial connections as well as story-telling and keeping my ancestors' names alive.

My name is Bria Dixon. I am an undergraduate student who was born and raised in Chicago, IL. For as long as I can remember, I've always loved helping those around me in any way I knew how - whether it was with a difficult math problem, life advice, or training for a particular job or skill, I've always felt as if it was my duty to help those within my community. Being that I felt so drawn to helping others, the best-fitting career I saw myself pursuing from a very young age was nursing. I set out a plan for myself to become a nurse anesthetist from only a 7th grader, and 9 years and many challenges later, here I am continuing to follow that path. My strong love of math and appreciation for science also influenced my desire to pursue a nursing career. I knew from a very young age that college would be a critical step in my career path, so not only am I enrolled in undergraduate studies and on my way to completing my ADN and then BSN soon after, but in order to fulfill my dream of becoming a nurse anesthetist, I also plan to attend graduate school and obtain my DNP with a focus in nurse anesthesia. While part of the nursing club at the second major university I attended, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, not only were my eyes opened to all of the possibilities within the nursing field, but I was also inspired by local leaders to pursue something bigger than myself. I've always been outspoken in the face of social injustice and plan to continue to be an advocate for the voiceless when I become a nurse. I'm also striving to impact community and world health in a positive way through research - something very critical in the medical field. I believe there are a lot of disparities within the healthcare field and have even experienced said disparities myself as an African American woman. My goal through not only pursuing a college education, but also a nursing career, is to help bridge the gap created by systematic racism, help to provide healthcare services within communities and to individuals most in need at an affordable cost, and to do the much-needed work and research to advance the healthcare field so that the nation and even the world can better understand, and furthermore, combat major illnesses and other ailments.