My name is Jalaya Estes, and I am a freshman at Virginia Commonwealth University. I am majoring n Pre-nursing, and I will graduate in 2024 with my bachelor’s degrees. My career goal is to be a family practitioner so I can help people when they aren't feeling so well. I want to contribute to families when their young ones who are not feeling well, or older people who have health problems. I just want them to know I will always be by their side. I decided to pursue a medical career when I was twelve years old. I have always been interested in helping people and solving problems, but I decided to become a nurse since I have been diagnosed with PFAPA syndrome. It is very uncommon and I've always been sick and taking all sorts of medicine ever since I was born. I had to get my tonsils taken out and that immediately helped me with my fevers and sickness. My mom has spent years taking care of me and trying to make me comfortable while I was going through all of that. Ever since all of that has happened I have always wanted to be a nurse, because my mom inspired me. I have wanted to study nursing and help others the same way she helped me. I have done much better academically in college than I ever did in high school. That is because there is no routine to the experience. Every week, I have new projects to complete, tests to study for, and activities to try. During all of this Covid-19 situation, it is very hard to immediately go straight into online school in your first year of college. I had to adapt to that very quickly and till this day it is still confusing. As a young girl, I was always one of the final contenders in the spelling bees, timed tests, and even kickball games at recess. I enjoyed the challenge of schoolwork, the competition amongst peers, and the rewards of my successes. Yet, as I grew older I was more often complimented on what a pretty young woman I was developing into, and less noticed for my scholastic achievements. This shift of attention from my educational pursuits towards my physical attributes effected me. It made me more determined in what I wanted to do and accomplish for the rest of my life. After graduating, I will apply for work as a family practitioner, but I am not quite sure where I want to work. I am applying for this scholarship to help me through these expensive years of college, and become successful. I want to know that I will be able to provide for my self. I have not gotten one scholarship that I have applied for and that really brings me down. I try my hardest to do my best on these essays. However, I need additional financial aid to cover the remainder of my academic costs. I appreciate your consideration, and I hope that you can help me pursue a profession in being a family practitioner. This is my passion, and I have a clear plan to turn that passion into a lifelong career.