The quote that means the most to me is, “You can never plan the future by the past,” written by Edmund Burke. This quote is a source of guidance to my life because it reminds me to always look forward. This quote was especially influential to my life in 2018. I graduated high school in 2018, and I was not sure what career path I would be drawn to. Academically, I did well in high school, but I still had no idea what college major suited my goals. I knew I wanted to help others and become something great - something I can be proud of. So, I decided to join the Army as a 68W (healthcare specialist/combat medic). I was sent to Oklahoma to begin basic training. A couple of weeks in, it was brought to my attention that I was cleared by mistake. An X-ray I had previously taken to be cleared to join the military had indicated that I had a form of scoliosis - a form relatively irrelevant to everyday civilian life, but too harsh for Army regulation. I was very disappointed. I had finally begun feeling like I was becoming someone. As I was returning home from being administratively discharged from the U.S. Army, I sat in the airport feeling like I had failed despite there being nothing I really could have accomplished. I noticed a variety of posters that had inspirational quotes written on them. One read, “You can never plan the future by the past.” I had a lot of time to think, and within that time I quickly accepted that there was nothing I could do about my situation. All there was left to do was to move forward. I knew college was the next move. Earning a higher education has always been important to me. I took some time to research some majors that resonated with the lifestyle I wanted to live - one that made me valuable to society. I decided to stay on the medical route, and I am proud to say that as of May 2021, I was accepted into Chaffey College’s Associate Degree in Nursing program. To this day, the quote, “You can never plan the future by the past,” has positively affected my mindset. This quote reminds me that you have got to stop worrying about things that you cannot change. No matter how upsetting, it is a complete waste of time to dedicate emotion and energy to something that is always going to be what it is. Instead, you must move on. Knowing that I can still be more and do more than I have ever done is enough motivation to keep moving forward. This quote is a constant reminder that any step forward is always a step in the right direction. I’ve come to understand that my past is full of moments, not failures. Now, I only have sight for the goals I am working towards and the person I am determined to become.

Working toward a life of value has inspired me to pursue nursing. In general, a career in the field of nursing would allow me the opportunity to be more valuable to society. As a nurse, I would have the opportunity to make a difference in a vulnerable moment in somebody else’s life. Bringing patients to a higher state of health would not only be a rewarding and fulfilling career path for myself but for society as a whole. This is because the reward is shared. The fulfillment is felt by patients, families, friends, and anyone who happens to learn about the work I will have engaged in as a nurse. The more lives I touch, the more valuable and influential I will become. Possessing the capacity to affect the character, behavior, and development of others is incredible. The thought of being able to make a difference in the lives of others unquestionably influences my determination to pursue nursing. Knowing that I can be a person of value and influence is what keeps the fire in me burning. I am a Chaffey College student, and I have just earned acceptance into Chaffey’s Associate Degree in Nursing program. I am set to begin Chaffey’s ADN program in the fall of 2021. I plan to take advantage of joint enrollment programs to get a head start on my Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. I am hoping to become an adult ICU nurse. I would like to advance in the field of critical care nursing. I hope to do this by becoming certified as a CCRN. After about two to three years of experience in the adult ICU, I would like to return to school to obtain my Doctor of Nursing Practice degree and become a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA). I hope to earn my BSN and eventually my DNP from Cal State University Fullerton. This is the current game plan; however, during my time in nursing school, I may find a passion for another specific area of nursing. That is one of the many beauties of nursing. The term “nurse” is very broad. There are a variety of different ways a nursing career can be influential to people’s daily lives. No matter the path I choose, I would consider advancing my education beyond a bachelor’s degree in order to expand my role in a related area of specialization. Overall, my professional success will mean nothing if it does not lead to being valuable. A career in nursing will not only allow me to make a decent living, but it would also allow me to feel good about the rewarding nature of the work I will take part in throughout my career. I am determined to become a nurse because it is a profession that never stops giving, and the opportunity for growth is limitless. This is just the beginning of a very rewarding career path ahead of me. It will not be easy, but neither will be working as an ICU nurse. Overcoming the challenges that come with a career in nursing will only add to the reward: making a difference in the lives of others.

I find inspiration in a variety of people and things. My parents, working towards a life of value, and the challenges I have faced all present as inspiration to my life. My parents are the primary inspiration that constantly pushes me to work toward my goals. It is not necessarily their physical self that is sending inspiration my way, but their backgrounds and the situations I have lived through them that fill me with the urge to be more than who I am today. This urge pushes me to work toward the security that will come with professional success and the fulfillment that will come with being of great value to society. Knowing that I have the opportunities and support that my parents did not have drives me to work towards my long-term goals of becoming a registered nurse. Knowing that I can be a person of value and influence keeps the fire in me burning. My hard work and perseverance will allow me to achieve greater professional success; however, my success does not necessarily make me valuable. Success is the accomplishment of a goal. My goal is to become a registered nurse. Upon completion of this goal, I would consider myself to be successful. However, I want to go beyond that. I want to possess the capacity to affect the character, behavior, and development of others. In general, a career in the field of nursing would allow me the opportunity to be more valuable to society. I would be granted the opportunity to make a difference in a vulnerable moment in somebody else’s life. Being able to bring patients to a higher state of health is not only a rewarding and fulfilling career path for myself but society as a whole. This is because the reward is shared. The fulfillment is felt by patients, families, friends, bystanders, and anyone who learns of the work I’ve engaged in as a nurse. The more lives I touch, the more valuable and influential I will become. The thought of being able to make a difference in the lives of others unquestionably influences my determination to pursue nursing. Finally, each challenge that comes my way serves as inspiration in my life. Challenges can be serious distractions from pursuing my ambitions; however, every conquered challenge provides stability and hope. Further, it is the unavoidable life challenges and the challenges that come with being a student that will add to the reward - becoming of value in the lives of others. It is important to note that even if a challenge I have faced is beyond resolution, I persist. Knowing that I can be more and do more than I have ever done is enough motivation to keep moving forward. These movements may be small, and not necessarily with a constant incline, but any step forward is always a step in the right direction. Challenges may be meant to weigh one down, but I choose to allow them to fuel my persistence.