I strongly believe the people by whom you surround yourself with, help shape the person you are. Keeping those who have a good impact on your life is key and I hope to be one of those people in the lives of others. For me, Those influential people are my parents. It's all because of my parents' sacrifices that I get the chance to pursue my dreams for them. I persevere because my motivation to continue my academic career is hearing about the challenges my parents faced solely to be able to provide me with the opportunity to attend college which is an opportunity they didn't have. I want to prove to them its was all worth it and carry on all the lessons I've learned with me, as I navigate this new transition into adulthood. I choose nursing for many reasons. Nursing is a diverse profession that offers lots of room for growth and loads of new opportunities. Additionally, I have seen firsthand the impact that nurses have on patients and their families. Having close family members like my dad who struggles with Huntington's Chorea and my sister who's battled Lupus Nephritis the past four years; I've not only seen how much strength nurses must have each day, but I’ve also recognized how even the smallest contributions make the biggest impact. Nurses like Maureen have a positive affect on their patients even when the patient may be experiencing a whirlwind of emotions, pain or stress and not even realize it. Throughout my junior and senior year of high school, I attended Rockland BOCES. The Principles of Health Occupations and Certified Nurse Assistant programs have made me become more confident and prepared heading into the healthcare field. Throughout both years, I attended clinicals in primarily geriatric care facilities, which allowed me to get a direct feel for what it's really like to work with patients and perform tasks hands on. I quickly noticed there is so much more to nursing than just providing care to patients. To be successful, you also must be a friend. I chose this career path to make a positive difference because ultimately it isn't about having perfect grades or getting the most compensation, it's about being human. A nurse is more than administering medication and charting; A nurse is able to love and provide care even in the toughest times. I will exemplify qualities that Maureen brought to life and create a legacy.

I strongly believe the people by whom you surround yourself with, help shape the person you are. Keeping those who have a good impact on your life is key and I hope to be one of those people in the lives of others. For me, Those influential people are my parents. It's all because of my parents' sacrifices that I get the chance to pursue my dreams for them. I persevere because my motivation to continue my academic career is hearing about the challenges my parents faced solely to be able to provide me with the opportunity to attend college which is an opportunity they didn't have. I want to prove to them its was all worth it and carry on all the lessons I've learned with me, as I navigate this new transition into adulthood. I choose nursing for many reasons. Nursing is a diverse profession that offers lots of room for growth and loads of new opportunities. Additionally, I have seen firsthand the impact that nurses have on patients and their families. Having close family members like my dad who struggles with Huntington's Chorea and my sister who's battled Lupus Nephritis the past four years; I've not only seen how much strength nurses must have each day, but I’ve also recognized how even the smallest contributions make the biggest impact. Nurses have a positive affect on their patients even when the patient may be experiencing a whirlwind of emotions, pain or stress and not even realize it. Throughout my junior and senior year of high school, I attended Rockland BOCES. The Principles of Health Occupations and Certified Nurse Assistant programs have made me become more confident and prepared heading into the healthcare field. Throughout both years, I attended clinicals in primarily geriatric care facilities, which allowed me to get a direct feel for what it's really like to work with patients and perform tasks hands on. I quickly noticed there is so much more to nursing than just providing care to patients. To be successful, you also must be a friend. I chose this career path to make a positive difference because ultimately it isn't about having perfect grades or getting the most compensation, it's about being human. A nurse is more than administering medication and charting; A nurse is able to love and provide care even in the toughest times.