What would the world be like without doctors, nurses, physicians etc.? Everyday someone’s life is being saved by these special people.Ever since I was a little kid I would always go around the house acting as if I was a teacher, bank owner, grocery clerk etc. but one day when I had to receive the Heimlich Maneuver from my dad because I was choking on a piece of starburst candy it changed the future for me. I remember it like it was yesterday. From that day forward, that incident has impacted me a lot which has inspired me to become a part of the medical field. Once I found out what doctors and nurses do it’s like I knew that occupation was for me. Until this day, I still want to become a medical provider. I chose to pursue a medical career because I want to help save lives. I want to make a difference in someone's life offering hope, understanding, medical guidance, and encouragement. Like the words of Maya Angelou, “ as a nurse we have the opportunity to heal the mind, soul, heart, and body of our patients. They may forget your name but they will never forget how you make them feel.” I agree with this statement, being able to uplift those when they are at their lowest putting a smile on someone's face just makes my day. Sharing with them the good and bad days allows patients to know they are not alone in the battle. Being that one person to listen to patients and families' concerns about health issues and offering guidance to a speedy recovery is what I am going to do. In addition, I am going to obtain my Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Virginia Commonwealth University. I discovered that working in the NICU environment combines all my dreams into one. Not only do I get to work in the medical field, I am working with children in which I love and still get to be a part of the office setting. My goal is to become an outstanding registered nurse in the NICU helping babies to my fullest potential, learning from the through rigorous college coursework and hands-on clinical experience at VCU. While showing others they can conquer obstacles and achieve dreams. I know that pursuing a degree in the medical field will be challenging; however, my determination & faith within myself helps keep me focused on my goals.Once I set my mind on something nothing will stop me from achieving it. In conclusion, I want to be the Nurse that helps make a difference to families and the community. The Deborah Stevens Pediatric Nursing Scholarship will be very beneficial towards my overall learning and career goals. This scholarship would help me to pay for my college expenses and allow me the opportunity to expand my knowledge and experience to utilize in my academic and future career. I will be able to provide medical assistance to those in need to help keep them healthy and answer any health related questions or concerns. If awarded this scholarship I plan to use this opportunity to strive for greatness and be successful through all aspects of my career while pursuing my dreams as a registered nurse in the nicu.

What would the world be like without doctors, nurses, physicians etc.? Everyday someone’s life is being saved by these special people.Ever since I was a little kid I would always go around the house acting as if I was a teacher, bank owner, grocery clerk etc. but one day when I had to receive the Heimlich Maneuver from my dad because I was choking on a piece of starburst candy it changed the future for me. I remember it like it was yesterday. From that day forward, that incident has impacted me a lot which has inspired me to become a part of the medical field. Once I found out what doctors and nurses do it’s like I knew that occupation was for me. Until this day, I still want to become a medical provider. I chose to pursue a medical career because I want to help save lives. I want to make a difference in someone's life offering hope, understanding, medical guidance, and encouragement. Like the words of Maya Angelou, “ as a nurse we have the opportunity to heal the mind, soul, heart, and body of our patients. They may forget your name but they will never forget how you make them feel.” I agree with this statement, being able to uplift those when they are at their lowest putting a smile on someone's face just makes my day. Sharing with them the good and bad days allows patients to know they are not alone in the battle. Being that one person to listen to patients and families' concerns about health issues and offering guidance to a speedy recovery is what I am going to do. In addition, I am going to obtain my Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Virginia Commonwealth University. My goal is to become an outstanding registered nurse in the NICU helping babies to my fullest potential, learning from the through rigorous college coursework and hands-on clinical experience at VCU. While showing others they can conquer obstacles and achieve dreams. I know that pursuing a degree in the medical field will be challenging; however, my determination & faith within myself helps keep me focused on my goals.Once I set my mind on something nothing will stop me from achieving it. In conclusion, I want to be the Nurse that helps make a difference to families and the community. The Wieland Nurse Appreciation Scholarship will be very beneficial towards my overall learning and career goals. This scholarship would help me to pay for my college expenses and allow me the opportunity to expand my knowledge and experience to utilize in my academic and future career. I will be able to provide medical assistance to those in need to help keep them healthy and answer any health related questions or concerns. If awarded this scholarship I plan to use this opportunity to strive for greatness and be successful through all aspects of my career while pursuing my dreams as a registered nurse in the nicu.

What would the world be like without doctors, nurses, physicians etc.? Everyday someone’s life is being saved by these special people. It has always been my dream to be a part of the medical field displaying my skills while doing the thing I love most which is helping out others. Ever since I was a little kid I would always go around the house acting as if I was a teacher, bank owner, grocery clerk etc., but the one thing that always clicked with me was when I used to act as if I was a nurse or doctor. One Christmas my mom bought me a doctor's kit that I fell in love with. Anytime someone in the house didn't feel good, I would come in with the doctor's kit to check on them. Until this day, I still want to become a part of the medical field. I chose to pursue a medical career because I want to help save lives. I want to make a difference in someone's life offering hope, understanding, medical guidance, and encouragement. Like the words of Maya Angelou, “ as a nurse we have the opportunity to heal the mind, soul, heart, and body of our patients. They may forget your name but they will never forget how you make them feel.” I agree with this statement, being able to uplift those when they are at their lowest putting a smile on someone's face just makes my day. Sharing with them the good and bad days allows patients to know they are not alone in the battle. Being that one person to listen to patients and families' concerns about health issues and offering guidance to a speedy recovery is what I am going to do. In addition, I am going to obtain my Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Virginia Commonwealth University. My goal is to become an outstanding registered nurse in the NICU helping babies to my fullest potential, learning from the through rigorous college coursework and hands-on clinical experience at VCU. While, showing others they can conquer obstacles and achieve dreams. I know that pursuing a degree in the medical field will be challenging; however, my determination & faith within myself helps keep me focused on my goals.Once I set my mind on something nothing will stop me from achieving it. In conclusion, I want to be the Nurse that helps make a difference to families and the community. The Dashanna K. McNeil Memorial Scholarship will be very beneficial towards my overall learning and career goals. It would help me to pay for my college expenses and allow me the opportunity to expand my knowledge and experience to utilize in my academic and future career. If awarded this scholarship I plan to use this opportunity to strive for greatness and be successful through all aspects of my career.

What would the world be like without doctors, nurses, physicians etc.? Everyday someone’s life is being saved by these special people. It has always been my dream to be a part of the medical field displaying my skills while doing the thing I love most which is helping out others. Ever since I was a little kid I would always go around the house acting as if I was a teacher, bank owner, grocery clerk etc., but the one thing that always clicked with me was when I used to act as if I was a nurse or doctor. One Christmas my mom bought me a doctor's kit that I fell in love with. Anytime someone in the house didn't feel good, I would come in with the doctor's kit to check on them. Until this day, I still want to become a part of the medical field. I chose to pursue a medical career because I want to help save lives. I want to make a difference in someone's life offering hope, understanding, medical guidance, and encouragement. Like the words of Maya Angelou, “ as a nurse we have the opportunity to heal the mind, soul, heart, and body of our patients. They may forget your name but they will never forget how you make them feel.” I agree with this statement, being able to uplift those when they are at their lowest putting a smile on someone's face just makes my day. Sharing with them the good and bad days allows patients to know they are not alone in the battle. Being that one person to listen to patients and families' concerns about health issues and offering guidance to a speedy recovery is what I am going to do. Furthermore, I want to become a medical advocate within the community. Throughout my volunteering with Caritas at my church I realized many in the African American community have the misconception that going to the doctor’s office will do more harm than good. I want to become a medical advocate within the community. While learning methods to help break the disparity of healthcare within the African American community so life expectancy can increase, I want to help promote improvements in behavior and healthy lifestyles. To include informing the community about the different vaccines, viruses, new health regulations and more. Encouraging those to change up diets, get physicals, along with seeking medical attention when necessary. In conclusion, I want to be the nurse that helps make a difference to families and communities. By giving back to the community while ensuring those who are less fortunate have the essentials they need. As Dr. Hart at my church would say, “so we can be well and go forth, and go forth and be well!” With the assistance of the Community Health Ambassador Scholarship for Nursing Students, I will be able to continue my learning and help provide medical assistance to those in need. Ensuring all aspects of healthcare components are met within the communities teaching them about their health. This scholarship will also help me strive for greatness to take on the vigorous college content that comes my way to pursue my dreams of being a registered nurse.

What would the world be like without doctors, nurses, physicians etc.? Everyday someone’s life is being saved by these special people. It has always been my dream to be a part of the medical field displaying my skills while doing the thing I love most which is helping out others. Ever since I was a little kid I would always go around the house acting as if I was a teacher, bank owner, grocery clerk etc., but the one thing that always clicked with me was when I used to act as if I was a nurse or doctor. One Christmas my mom bought me a doctor's kit that I fell in love with. Anytime someone in the house didn't feel good, I would come in with the doctor's kit to check on them. Until this day, I still want to become a part of the medical field. I chose to pursue a medical career because I want to help save lives. I want to make a difference in someone's life offering hope, understanding, medical guidance, and encouragement etc. Like the words of Maya Angelou, “ as a nurse we have the opportunity to heal the mind, soul, heart, and body of our patients. They may forget your name but they will never forget how you make them feel.” I agree with this statement being able to uplift those when they are at their worst putting a smile on someone's face just makes my day. Sharing with them the good and bad days allows patients to know they are not alone in the battle. Being that one person to listen to patients and families' concerns about health issues and offering guidance to a speedy recovery is what I am going to do. Furthermore, I want to become a medical advocate within the community. Throughout my volunteering with Caritas at my church I realized many in the African American community have the misconception that going to the doctor’s office will do more harm than good. I want to become a medical advocate within the community. While learning methods to help break the disparity of healthcare within the African American community so life expectancy can increase, I want to help promote improvements in behavior and healthy lifestyles. To include informing the community about the different vaccines, viruses, new health regulations and more. Encouraging those to change up diets, get physicals, along with seeking medical attention when necessary. With the assistance of a scholarship, I will be able to continue my learning and help provide medical assistance to those in need. In conclusion, I want to be the nurse that helps make a difference to families and the community. By giving back to the community while ensuring those who are less fortunate have the essentials they need. Also, as a woman becoming a future provider I want to be a part of a medical environment where I can learn, grow, and help patients to my full abilities. While expanding my knowledge on how women are being treated in the medical industry in my opinion is very sad and unacceptable. Becoming a nurse I want to be able to uplift other women’s spirits setting an example showing that we can do this job. Talking with those who feel that they can’t perform the job telling them they can, helping out with any tasks they may need, and just being there to listen to concerns and questions. As Dr. Hart at my church would say, “so we can be well and go forth, and go forth and be well!”

The quality or characteristic I value most in myself is my determination because once I set my mind to do something nothing is going to stop me from completing it. I remember when I was learning how to swim, I would watch others glide through the water. They made it look natural and graceful. I said to myself I’m going to be like that one day. I was already taking swimming lessons but only two days a week. I told my swim teacher my goal and she advised me that I can get more practice by joining the swim team. The first few months, I still wasn’t swimming like I wanted to, but I never gave up. I kept trying at each lesson and swim competition. My swim coach said to me, “Just go and keep going, it will come, trust me.” I went on to win numerous blue ribbons after that. Today, I can happily say I am the one teaching my nephew how to swim and glide through the water. Being determined gave me the ability to strive and complete my goal, now I am paying it forward and showing others they can do it too. My determination has also helped me excel in my academic courses from AP, honors, to dual-enrolled college courses. I am ranked number three in my High School senior class of 286 and have obtained my license as a Certified Nursing Assistant. I plan to obtain my Bachelor of Science in Nursing at a four-year university where I can excel to my greatest potential while continuing to learn and experience more as I take on the next chapter in life. College will assist me in continuing my pathway of academic achievement to excel in my future career as an outstanding Registered Nurse. I want to become an advocate in the African American community and help overcome the misconception that going to the doctor's office will do more harm than good. Pursuing a degree in the medical field will be challenging and rigorous, however, I have the dedication and faith in my abilities that I will succeed. I believe life is sort of like a test you can’t study for, but you have the ability to determine your outcome. I must keep a positive mindset that I will succeed and not fail in my future. I know there will be times I am going to make mistakes; however, I just have to own up to them, learn from them and do better the next time around. Just keep pushing forward, doing my best, and learning all I can from my peers, professors, and colleagues which will help me succeed. Being awarded this scholarship I will utilize it to help pay for my college expenses to include books, fees, meals etc. to help alleviate the burden on my parents. It will allow me the opportunity to gain more knowledge to utilize in my academic and future career. I plan to use this blessing to strive for greatness and be successful. Using this opportunity to excel in all parts of my education and to continue to grow overall.

I am a determined, dedicated, hard-working individual that never settles for the bare minimum, but continues to push myself to set new goals with higher expectations. Throughout high school, I have taken on vigorous academic courses from AP, honors, dual-enrolled college courses and excelled in all of them. I am ranked number three in my senior class of 286 and have obtained my license as a Certified Nursing Assistant. I am a well-rounded student that knows how to get things done whether it is through my extracurricular activities at school, my volunteer work within the community, or my part-time job. I am a team member that works well to accomplish and have excellent results. For instance, there have been times when I had to collaborate with classmates on projects who just didn't want to put forth effort on their part. I took action in encouraging open viewpoints of everyone's ideas and offering help if needed so we can meet deadlines, and everyone can share the spotlight of the final results. Furthermore, I plan to use these skills I have to obtain my Bachelor of Science in Nursing at a four-year university, where I can excel to my greatest potential while continuing to learn and experience more as I take on the next chapter in life. College will assist me in continuing my pathway of academic achievement to excel in my future career as an outstanding Registered Nurse. I want to become an advocate in the African American community and help overcome the misconception that going to the doctor's office will do more harm than good. Being awarded this scholarship I will utilize it to help pay for my college expenses which include books, fees, meals etc. to help alleviate the burden on my parents. It will allow me the opportunity to gain more knowledge to utilize in my academic and future career. I plan to use this blessing to strive for greatness and be successful like my hero-my mom. Over the past eighteen years, my mother has taught me ways to approach life. For example, she taught me how to count money, read, write, apply for jobs and more. When I was younger, she would teach me how to count money using monopoly money. This assisted me while working as a cashier to count out the correct amount of change for customers. Having to write my alphabet and different words numerous times helped me to be a good note-taker and allowed me to receive good grades. In addition, my mom works very hard showing off good examples. Life can become difficult at any point in time and my mother just makes it look so easy even when it’s not. She received her master's degree while working a full-time job and taking care of our house, my brother, my dad, and me. This made me focus on achieving my goal of going to college and pursuing a profession in the medical field. She works hard to help provide for our family while keeping us healthy and fulfilled. She balances her eight-hour job with the household cooking, cleaning, and helping with homework, along with taking us to our extracurriculars. With her displaying these examples, I understand I can do anything in life just have to work hard for it. If awarded the Desiree Jena Wapples Scholarship I will utilize this opportunity to excel in all parts of my education and to continue to grow overall.

In this world, I feel that everyone has a role model or someone they look up to. Whether it’s their mom, dad, sibling, grandparent, famous idol etc. Having this model or mentor helps people strive for greatness and grow in all aspects of their life. This special person allows individuals to set positive goals for themselves because others set a marvelous example at what they’re doing. You get to set higher standards for yourself while having someone guide you to success. For me, my role model is my mom because she teaches me things and she works hard to provide good examples. To begin with, I just want to say that over the past eighteen years, my mother has taught me ways to approach life. For example, she taught me how to count money, read, write, and apply for jobs and more. When I was little, my mom would make my brother and I write our alphabet, words, and names over a million times until it looked like we put our best effort forward. She would always say “no sloppy writing,” and if it was sloppy, we would have to do it all over. Of course, we would whine and pout until she let us go play, but overall, it made me learn how to write in a proper and tidy manner. Having to write almost every day made me a very good note-taker, which allows me to receive good grades. Every other day, we would sit at our kitchen table, and she would teach me how to count money using monopoly money. This assisted me while working as a cashier to count out the correct amount of change for customers. Another reason why I look up to my mom is that she works very hard showing off good examples. Life can become difficult at any point in time and my mother just makes it look so easy even when it’s not. She received her master's degree while working a full-time job and taking care of our house, my brother, my dad, and me. This made me focus on achieving my goal of going to college and pursuing a profession in the medical field. She works hard to help provide for our family and tries to keep us healthy and fulfilled. She balances her eight-hour job with the household cooking, cleaning, and helping with homework, along with taking us to our extracurriculars. With her displaying these examples, I understand I can do anything in life just have to work hard for it. In conclusion, I can truly say that my mom is the true definition of a superwoman. She’s the person that I can always count on and look up to. I have learned so much from her from counting, reading, and even tying my shoes. Not only did I learn the basic skills of life, I learned to be independent, strong-minded, and goal-oriented. These attributes make me who I am today and with the assistance of The Donald A. Baker Foundation Scholarship, I will be able to help pay for college expenses and continue to strive toward completing my goals just like my hero- my mom.

What would the world be like without doctors, nurses, physicians etc? Every day someone’s life is saved by these special people. It has always been my dream to be a part of the medical field displaying my skills while doing the thing I love most which is helping out others. Ever since I was a little kid I would always go around the house acting as if I was a teacher, bank owner, grocery clerk etc, but the one thing that always clicked with me was when I used to act as if I was a nurse or doctor. One Christmas my mom bought me a doctor's kit that I fell in love with. Anytime someone in the house didn't feel good, I would come in with the doctor's kit to check on them. Until this day, I still want to become a part of the medical field. In order for me to work in this field, I knew I had to obtain a college degree. One of my goals is to become a part of a four-year university's diverse community that will afford me the opportunity to be exposed to different cultures, learn new things, and find an idea of who I really am. I plan to obtain my Bachelor of Science in Nursing and work in a medical environment where my skills and abilities will be the key to advancement and success. My determination, dedication, and hard work will help keep me focused on my goals. I have taken great steps towards achieving my goals by excelling in my academic courses along with taking dual enrollment classes, and a Nurse Aide course my junior year of high school. I performed clinical work in a nursing home environment working with human patients. Continuing my education by going to college will help me gain the knowledge and experience needed to continue my pathway in the medical field. I will utilize my skills from these programs to help build a better connection between healthcare providers and patients. Ensuring this by taking good notes, working on active and passive listening skills, open and closed posture etc. Giving my patients the comfort of knowing I am here to assist and listen to any concerns they may have. In addition, throughout my volunteering with Caritas at my church, I realized many in the African American community have the misconception that going to the doctor’s office will do more harm than good. I plan to become an advocate and help overcome this misunderstanding. Assisting families whose loved ones are admitted into the hospital informing them of the medical procedures, and expectations. While learning methods to help break the disparity of healthcare within the African American community so life expectancy can increase, I can help promote improvements in behavior and healthy lifestyles. Which includes informing the community about the different vaccines, viruses, new health regulations and more. Encouraging those to change up diets, get physicals, along with seeking medical attention when necessary. With the assistance of The Do Good Scholarship, I will be able to continue my learning and help provide medical assistance to those in need. In conclusion, I want to be a nurse that helps make a difference to families and the community. By giving back to the community while ensuring those who are less fortunate have the essentials they need. Being involved in the African American community allows me to help make changes for the better and improve life expectancy. As Dr. Hart at my church would say, “so we can be well and go forth, and go forth and be well!”

What would the world be like without doctors, nurses, physicians etc? Every day someone’s life is being saved by these special people. It has always been my dream to be a part of the medical field displaying my skills while doing the thing I love most which is helping out others. Ever since I was a little kid I would always go around the house acting as if I was a teacher, grocery clerk etc, but the one thing that always clicked with me was when I used to act as if I was a nurse or doctor. One Christmas my mom bought me a doctor's kit that I fell in love with. Anytime someone in the house didn't feel good, I would come in with my doctor's kit to check on them. Until this day, I still want to become a part of the medical field. In order for me to work in this field, I knew I had to obtain a college degree. One of my goals is to become a part of a four-year university's diverse community that will afford me the opportunity to be exposed to different cultures, learn new things, and find an idea of who I really am as a person. I plan to obtain my Bachelor of Science in Nursing and work in a medical environment where my skills and abilities will be the key to advancement and success. My determination, dedication, and hard work will help keep me focused on my goals. I have taken great steps towards achieving my goals by excelling in my academic courses as well as taking a dual enrollment Nurse Aide course in my junior year of high school. I was able to perform clinical work in a nursing home environment working with human patients. Continuing my education by going to college will help me gain the knowledge and experience needed to continue my pathway in the medical field. I will utilize my skills from these programs to help build a better connection between healthcare providers and patients. Ensuring this by taking good notes, working on active and passive listening skills, open and closed posture etc. Giving my patients the comfort of knowing I am here to assist and listen to any concerns they may have. In addition, it will give me the opportunity to help many in the African American community overcome the misconception that going to the doctor’s office will do more harm than good. I want to be an advocate for families whose loved ones are admitted to the hospital informing them of the medical treatment plans, procedures, and expectations. While learning methods to help break the disparity of healthcare within the African American community so life expectancy can increase. I can help promote improvements in behavior and healthy lifestyles. Giving medical advice and encouraging those to change up diets and exercise, along with seeking medical attention when necessary. With the assistance of The Barbara Alexander Scholarship, I will be able to pay for college expenses and continue to strive for greatness. In conclusion, I want to be a nurse that helps make a difference to families and the community. By giving back to the community while ensuring those who are less fortunate have the essentials they need. I believe through my courses and working with diverse peers, I will have the opportunity to learn from others in order to provide excellent medical assistance.

What would the world be like without doctors, nurses, physicians etc? Everyday someone’s life is being saved by these special people. It has always been my dream to be a part of the medical field displaying my skills while doing the thing I love most which is helping out others. When I was a little girl my mom bought me a doctor's kit that included a stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, and thermometer. Anytime someone in the house didn't feel good, I would come in with the doctor's kit to check on them. However, I believe what really made a difference in my life was when I had to receive the Heimlich Maneuver from my dad because I was choking on a piece of starburst candy. I remember it like it was yesterday. From that day forward, this incident has impacted me a lot which has inspired me to become a part of the medical field to save lives and make a difference in this world. Once I found out what doctors and nurses do it’s like I knew that occupation was for me. I discovered that working in the NICU environment combines all my dreams into one. Not only do I get to work in the medical field, I am working with children in which I love and still get to be a part of the office setting. My future career is to become a Registered Nurse in the NICU or even go a step further to be a Pediatrician. In addition, my determination helps keep me focused on my goal, because once I set my mind on something nothing will stop me from achieving it. I have taken great steps towards this by excelling in my academic courses as well as taking dual enrollment courses while in high school. Before I even entered high school, I took a summer Nursing Polytech class, this class centered my focus on becoming a nurse. My junior year of high school I took a Nurse Aid class which I loved. I was able to learn the ins and outs of different materials such as how to read vital signs, how to make a hospital bed properly, caring for a patient with a catheter and more. My clinicals allowed me to receive a more hands-on experience, learning what techniques other nurses use rather than just practicing simulations. I really enjoyed clinicals because it gave me the chance to build bonds with some of the staff and residents making me feel at home. With the completion of this class and passing my state board exam I can now say I am a Certified Nursing Assistant all at the young age of 17 this was a major accomplishment for me. I currently have a part time job working in a nursing home facility learning new skills and knowledge that will enable me to move closer to my goal. In conclusion, I want to be the nurse that helps make a difference to families and the community. The Analtha Parr Pell Memorial Scholarship will be very beneficial towards my overall learning and career goals. It would help me to pay for my college expenses and allow me the opportunity to gain more knowledge and experiences to utilize in my academic and future career. If awarded this scholarship I plan to use this opportunity to strive for greatness and be successful.

My goal is to become a part of a four year university's diverse community that will afford me the opportunity to be exposed to different cultures, learn new things, and find an idea of who I really am as a person. I plan to obtain my Bachelors of Science in Nursing or Pre-Med, and work in a medical environment where my skills and abilities will be the key to advancement and success. I feel this scholarship will give me the opportunity to excel in all parts of my education and allow me to continue to grow overall.

A little girl and her brother ride in the backseat of a 1995 Nissan Sentra eating starburst candy on their way home from the park, with their dad driving. All of a sudden the little girl starts to choke, grabbing her throat. Her brother begins to scream, while their dad looks back and hurries to pull the car over. Their dad jumps out the car and pulls the daughter out the back car door and begins to perform the Heimlich Maneuver to get the candy out. Finally, the little piece of starburst comes out, she hugs him so tightly she never wants to let him go. That little girl was me, I remember it like it was yesterday. From that day forward, that incident has impacted me a lot which has inspired me to become a part of the medical field to save lives and make a difference in this world. What would the world be like without doctors, nurses, physicians etc? Everyday someone’s life is being saved by these special people. It has always been my dream to be a part of the medical field displaying my skills while doing the thing I love most which is helping out others. It’s normal for you when you're little to change what you want to be when you grow up. First I used to always say I wanted to be a teacher or work in the office, but once I found out what doctors and nurses do it’s like I knew that occupation was for me. I discovered that working in the NICU environment combines all my dreams into one. Not only do I get to work in the medical field, I am working with children and in an office setting. Being in the medical environment just brings happiness to my soul. When I was little my mom bought me a little doctor's kit that included a stethoscope, blood pressure cup, and thermometer. Anytime someone in the house didn't feel good, I would come in with the doctor's kit to check on them. As I grew older, I started to get more engaged and take classes to help me start my career. Before I even entered high school, I took a summer Nursing Polytech class, this class centered my focus on becoming a nurse. My junior year of high school I took a Nurse Aid class which I loved. I was able to learn the ins and outs of different materials such as how to read vital signs, how to make a hospital bed properly, caring for a patient with a catheter and more. My clinicals allowed me to receive a more hands-on experience, learning what techniques other nurses use rather than just practicing simulations. I really enjoyed clinicals because it gave me the chance to build bonds with some of the staff and residents making me feel at home. With the completion of this class and passing my state board exam I can now say I am a Certified Nursing Assistant all at the young age of 17. I currently have a part time job working in a nursing home facility. I feel that accomplishing these goals really have made me stronger, allowing me to get my feet in the water. Taking one step at a time to achieve my dream of becoming a pediatric doctor.

Being a dog owner is overall a great experience, because you get to play with them, take them to different places, cuddle with them, and more. I currently own a Yorkie, her name is Diamond, but my family and I call her Mum. Ever since I was little my brother and I would always ask for a dog but my parents said, “no”, then that day finally came. I remember like it was just yesterday when my mom and grandma came to the house with this small little puppy. At first we thought it was a joke that my mom was playing on us. I mean she really brought a dog into the house without even telling us. Ever since that day Mum has become a part of the family and plays a huge role in each one of our lives. For me Mum is just like my little baby, she goes almost everywhere with me, she comforts me whenever i'm sad, makes me laugh etc. For example, one time when I was sitting on the couch upset about a test score that I had received it was like she sensed that something was wrong with me, she came running over to me and tried to jump in my lap trying to get my attention. I pulled her up and gave her a hug then she tried to give me tiny kisses on my face. This made me feel better inside, reducing the stress and misery that I was feeling. She’s like the best friend I never had and I'm so glad my mom brought her into my life. I can talk to her about anything knowing she will keep my secrets and she would sit there and tilt her head like she really knows what I am talking about. It’s funny how animals can understand our language but we can’t understand theirs. Although she can be a little dramatic, I love her dearly. She lets me know when it's time for bed by looking at the steps and then at me for us to go up stairs and get in the bed. Every night she would sit in front of her bed waiting for me to pull back her covers. She would look at her bed then look at me, then back, once I pulled the cover back she would jump inside waiting for me to tuck her in all nice and snuggly for a good night's sleep. Once the morning comes she’s the first to wake up jumping and tugging on my bed covers for me to wake up. She is like my own personal alarm clock. Not only does she play the role of an alarm clock, she also plays the role of our own live security system. She lets me know when someone is at the door. She will stand looking out the window and start barking when she sees someone outside. I honestly can say that I wouldn’t know what to do with myself without her, she has a special place in my heart that would never go away. Mum has played a part in how I keep track of things by making me be more responsible, ensuring that she has fresh food and water everyday, taking her for walks around the block, or even taking her to appointments whenever needed. Having a dog isn’t easy, they're just like little babies minus the talking part, but they’re always there whenever you need them.

In the process of applying for scholarships I have learned that dedication, patience, and most of all having faith is needed to achieve my goal. You have to be dedicated to sit down and research all there is to offer from the scholarships. There are websites to help such as bold.org, scholarships.com, cappex.com, or fastweb.com that require you to create an account and will match your profile up to numerous scholarships. Although, I would not just depend on these websites for looking at applications. You must make sure you read the entire scholarship application and have a good concise understanding of it before applying. Some scholarships require an essay, some do not. Brainstorming what you want to write before you start helps guide you along the way with spell check being your best friend. You need to set aside time and stay persistent to apply to all the scholarships that you can. Keeping a calendar and being organized will help make sure you do not miss application deadlines and other important information. There are numerous scholarships out there for example athletic, academic, community service, creativity, government etc. While researching, I never imagined coming across unusual scholarships for people with certain eye color, those who are left handed, or even ones for being tall. However none of those applied to me, but there is a scholarship out there for everyone if you just take the time to inquire about them. I try utilizing all my resources that are available to me to find scholarships such as: my local library, school counselor, and parents job, not just the internet. I went to my school counselor and obtained a list of different organizations that offer assistance to students. My counselor advised me that it is “easier to obtain a scholarship for my local surrounding area than nationwide, however, to still apply for everything.” Keep in mind that some require recommendations, maybe two or three, so make sure you reach out to those who know you best that can vouch on your behalf. You want to give them plenty of time to write a good recommendation. If transcripts are required, I need to have those sent to myself electronically or by mail from parchment for them to be official. There can be a waiting period of two business day by email or 7 days by mail. Once you have all the material required for the application you can submit, but double check make sure you have everything first. Keeping a spreadsheet of what scholarships you have applied and their winner announcement date, eliminates the risk of you applying for the same scholarship twice and becoming eliminated. I know applying to scholarships and not receiving a congratulation letter can make anyone feel discouraged, but keeping a positive attitude and telling yourself, “ I will apply for more just keep my head high knowing something outstanding is coming my way.” For all of the major setbacks there’s always a major comeback. Being overwhelmed is expected but you have set in your mind you can do this. You have to believe that all your hard work from the research, essays, test scores, to the spreadsheets will pay off in the end.