This past year has given me a new appreciation for our military service members. My younger brother, as well as two of my younger cousins all enlisted in the army last year. I got to visit my brother after he completed basic training and attend his graduation. I got a glimpse into the sacrifices our soldiers make, as they spend time away from home and family to serve and protect us. I cannot express how much pride I have in him for making this decision, following such a selfless calling. My career choice has been an incredible decision and journey so far in college. I am in Mizzou's nursing program (Sinclair School of Nursing). I chose nursing because I want to use my abilities and knowledge to serve others in my community. Throughout nursing school and working at my local hospital I have taken care of such a diverse population. This has taught me so many communication skills, even learning how to communicate with non verbal or mentally ill patients. Every aspect of my schooling and work requires immense dedication and an excellent work ethic. There are many times I have been in class all day, then went straight to work to take care of patients in the evening. I wake up early for clinicals, lectures, masteries, labs and my job. Homework and studying consume most of my time, but I know my hard work will pay off someday. My dream job is to work in an ICU full time and to be a critical care flight nurse part time. I lost 2 teammates in high school to car accidents, and it was one of the hardest things I have ever been through. Being able to use my nursing degree to respond to tragedies would mean so much to me. I will graduate with my Bachelors, then want to pursue critical care certifications and gain experience working in a Level 1 Emergency room or ICU unit. Another facet of my career goals is the type of nurse I want to become. My goal is to be a nurse who heals, listens, advocates and protects his patients. Kindness and gentleness are becoming forgotten attributes in todays society, but in my opinion they are cornerstones for being a good person, especially for someone going into the nursing field. Leadership is another attribute I have been working on since entering nursing school. I am a young man who does not know everything, however I hate sitting on the sidelines. I try to pay attention and learn as many things from other nurses as I can so future me can teach others. Leadership to me is not claiming to know all, rather it means you are willing to jump into action, admit your mistakes, and build others up around you. I have worked with incredible leaders, and it makes everyone around them more confident and excited to accomplish whatever tasks needed. When I become an experienced nurse I want to be someone new nurses and patients can come to with questions and always count on me to help them. This scholarship would help me finish up my degree and go become a leader in my workplace/community. Thank you for your time and consideration!

Addiction is a brutal disease that takes no prisoners. The reality of addiction is portrayed absolutely nothing like it is shown on television or in movies. Addiction shows no bias, and can attack anyone no matter race, background, age, religion or other personal factors. This semester through nursing school I have seen the reality of havoc that addiction wrecks within our communities. The scariest part about addiction is how silently it can destroy someone's life. There may be no bright red flags or flashing signs shown by someone who is struggling with addiction. The phrase "help is available" sounds nice on paper, but the reality is that seeking and receiving help are still extremely difficult in this country. As a part of my mental health class this semester at Mizzou, we got to choose several programs to attend to give a real world glimpse of what addiction looked like in our community. I attended several AA meetings, and there was one thing that shocked me every time I attended. It wasn't the stories, it wasn't the tears or hugs, it was the people. Residents from all walks of life were in attendance, people that one year ago I would have walked by in Walmart and never in a million years suspected they struggled with addiction. This opened my eyes to the reality of how addiction can be right in front of your face and you would never know it. People came in from their jobs, still dressed in cooperate clothing. They came in with young children, some even came in wheelchairs. But these meetings inspired me and encouraged me. Nurses have such potential to make a difference and battle addiction. The sad reality is that the weight of societal stigmas stops so many people from seeking the help they desperately need. I have heard comments about intoxicated or high people downtown that hurt my heart. Addicts are often not even seen as humans, just junkies looking for money or their next high. I personally believe in second chances, because addiction deserves just as many resources and compassionate people as any other disease or sickness. In nursing school they teach us lots of medications to treat addictions, interventions and other nursing things. The most important lesson I have learned about addiction came from one of my best friends recently. There was a night in my basement several months ago where I was discussing parental relationships with one of my best friends since we were 14. I was asking him questions about his relationship with his father and some tension I had noticed recently. What he told me next flipped my world upside down. He revealed to me that his dad struggled with a severe substance abuse disorder and that he had grown incredibly bitter towards his father for that. I had been one of his best friends for 5 years and never had a remote clue that was happening. That addiction was so well hidden from outsiders I never realized how much damage had happened to my friend as a result. The biggest takeaway from that story was that I can be a force for change. I have the choice to make a difference in someone's life. My heart is with my patients, regardless of what struggles they have. I am always going to be available to talk to about this subject with friends, family and patients. While I am only one person, I still have seen the effects of love, patience, and trust towards those struggling. I am an advocate and never plan on changing that.

The decision to pursue nursing has been one of the best choices I have ever made. My mother became a nurse 5 years ago, going back to school at 42 to get her ADN. At the time I did not realize the sacrifices she made for our family. She was a full time mother to my 3 younger brothers and I, and a full time nursing student simultaneously. The long nights she spent studying, the projects she was always working on, and papers she was writing did not mean a ton to my brothers and I at the time she was in school. In the spring of 2023 I applied to Sinclair School of Nursing (University of Missouri), and was accepted into their BSN program. It took me only one semester of nursing school to discover what an incredible woman my mom was for going back to school while remaining active in our lives. She continues to inspire me daily, and she is my number one supporter throughout my nursing journey so far. Nursing has been such an incredible experience so far in my college life. I see so many adults sucked into jobs they hate or have no passion for. Finding nursing has been such a rewarding calling. The ability to connect with so many people and make impacts in my community and in my patients makes me so proud to be a future nurse. Being a student, I take lots of classes, tests, and do lots of homework. The thing that blows my mind the most is how much I have learned from my patients via work and clinical experiences. There are so many lessons I have learned from people that you can not find in any textbook or research articles. Looking back over the last few years, I am amazed at the character growth I have witnessed in myself through nursing. This calling has taught me virtues such as gentleness, patience, advocating for the vulnerable, friendships, communication and more. Being a male in nursing has been a unique experience too. My first day of class when I saw there were 4 total boys and 84 girls was a bit of a surprise for me. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. Every day I learn from incredible women both in the classroom and in the field. I am one of the few guys who has discovered what an incredible honor it is to be a nurse. Nursing is not all rainbows and sunshine, however even on my hardest days I remember that I have been given the opportunity to be a light in someone's life who may be in one of the darkest parts of theirs. Nursing to me is more than 2 letters on a badge, it is a calling and a daily choice to put the best parts of yourself into other people.

I have a unique opportunity to bless peoples lives through my career. Growing up, I had amazing role models in my parents and grandparents, who showed me and everyone around them so much love. I knew growing up from a young age I wanted a job where I could help and advocate for people who are struggling or going through hard times in life. In high school, as I got older I realized how much I enjoyed helping my peers, teammates and younger kids with school and sports. This was when I started realizing I wanted a career in the medical field. I started a job at my local hospital 2 years ago and have developed so much as a healthcare worker and a person. Working at the hospital has taught me how to see my patients as people rather than diagnoses. The nurses I work alongside inspire me every day to be an advocate and a healing force in my career. Nursing school has also taught me so much through my various clinical rotations. I have been in psych units, medical floors, operating rooms and more. Getting to see people who are in all stages of life struggling with mental or physical illness reminds me daily why I wake up and continue my journey to becoming an RN. Getting to see the impact nurses make in peoples lives has been one of the most incredible parts of college. This calling is very difficult at times, but such a blessing in other ways. I remember one patient told me "If all hospital employees treated me how you did, the hospital would be a lot less scary of a place." This really stuck with me, because even though patient care can be frustrating, I remember that I am taking care of sick and scared people, and want to remind them that I am always on their team. There are lots of problems within the US healthcare systems. High prices, patients not getting the care they need, lack of resources, understaffing, etc. I want to be a part of this solution. I want to become a nurse that everyone can count on, and who patients trust. I have seen first hand the impact my mom has made through being a labor and delivery nurse, and it has been one of the best things I have experienced to form that bond with her over our nursing experiences. This scholarship would help me continue furthering my education and dreams.