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Samantha Dosso

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Bio

My name is Samantha - most people call me Sammi. I am a junior in the nursing program at Missouri State University. I am also a resident assistant on campus which has allowed me to take on a leadership role at the university and organize events and activities! Despite my financial disadvantages throughout high school, I took on a rigorous schedule of AP, honors, and dual credit courses. Successfully completing these courses allowed me to graduate first in my class of 450 students, while also being involved in several extracurriculars. I was captain of the Varsity Volleyball team, leader of the student fan section (The Redbird Nest), and an active member of the Student Council and National Honors Society. My dual credit and AP courses brought me into college with 62 hours of college credit. This allowed me to apply to MSU's competitive nursing program a whole year early. In addition to the nursing program, I am currently involved in the Student Nurse Organization, Missouri State Residence Life, and Alpha Chi Omega Sorority. FUN FACT: I have a passion for cooking, nutrition, and all things food! I have recently started a TikTok page where I have been able to share all of my favorite recipes and food-related content. I even share some creative ways to stay healthy in college while eating in the dining hall and making snacks in my dorm room!

Education

Missouri State University-Springfield

Bachelor's degree program
2020 - 2023
  • Majors:
    • Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

Alton High School

High School
2016 - 2020

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Master's degree program

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

  • Planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Nursing

    • Dream career goals:

    • Resident Assistant

      Missouri State University
      2021 – Present3 years
    • Administrative Assistant

      Cope Plastics Inc.
      2016 – 20171 year
    • Sports Official

      Alton Parks & Recreation
      2016 – 20204 years
    • Waitress

      Olga's Kitchen
      2019 – 20212 years
    • Certified Nurse Assistant / Patient Care Technician

      OSF Saint Anthony's Hospital
      2022 – Present2 years

    Sports

    Basketball

    Junior Varsity
    2016 – 2016

    Soccer

    Junior Varsity
    2016 – 20171 year

    Awards

    • Scholar Athlete

    Volleyball

    Varsity
    2016 – 20204 years

    Awards

    • Scholar Athlete Award
    • Acedemic All Conference
    • Alton Invitational Tournament MVP

    Public services

    • Volunteering

      Multiple Sclerosis Society — Finish Line Volunteer
      2019 – 2019
    • Volunteering

      Community Hope Center — Food Transporter
      2016 – 2018
    • Volunteering

      Mu Alpha Theta — Math tutor
      2019 – 2020
    • Volunteering

      Missouri State Campus Gardens — Gardener
      2021 – 2021

    Future Interests

    Advocacy

    Volunteering

    Philanthropy

    @normandiealise National Scholarship Month TikTok Scholarship
    Mental Health Importance Scholarship
    Just because you can't physically count their ribs or see their collarbone through their shirt, does not mean someone isn't struggling with an eating disorder (ED). I am one of those people. Eating disorders can look different for everyone, so it can be really difficult to tell if someone is struggling. Our society often only portrays eating disorders as a lifestyle choice, when they are in fact mental disorders. I developed my ED in high school. I actually did not even know it was an ED at the time because no one ever talked about it. I struggle with an ED called binge eating disorder. Now, if you look at me at first glance, you probably wouldn't guess I have an eating disorder because I am relatively normal in height and weight for my age. However, that's not what defines an eating disorder. An eating disorder is about control. At the beginning of high school, many things that were out of my control happened to me. But what was something I could control? Food. So that became my way of taking back the reigns on my life. Although not actually, because the thing I felt I could control eventually would control me. Living with an eating disorder has taught me the importance of prioritizing it. I now know how to look for things that trigger me and know when I need to take a step back. One of the biggest tools that have helped me with my specific illness is the idea of balance. After analyzing past patterns, I have learned that my binges are often followed when I restrict myself. By completely allowing myself to have food freedom, I have significantly decreased my binge cravings. Being educated about your struggles and learning coping mechanisms that work for you is so important with mental illness. Maintaining my mental health is important to me so that I can focus on more important aspects in my life. For example, there were times when I would turn down an opportunity to go to dinner with friends because I didn't like the idea of not knowing what kind of food was going into my body. Doesn't that sound silly? I don't want my struggles to hinder the experiences and opportunities in my life. Because this topic is so important to me, I have decided to become a mental health nurse. I want to be a nurse because I want to have these types of conversations with patients and see their lives change for the better. As nurses, we see people on some of the worst days of their lives. Just recently, I had a clinical rotation at a mental health facility where I got to talk to a girl who attempted suicide. Being able to talk with her and understand the roots of her mental illness was very eye-opening to me. It made me realize that we all have similar struggles in our lives. We just need support and the right tools to be able to take those next steps to turn our lives around.
    Ethel Hayes Destigmatization of Mental Health Scholarship
    Just because you can't physically count their ribs or see their collarbone through thier shirt, does not mean someone isn't struggling with an eating disorder (ED). I am one of those people. Eating disorders can look different on everyone, so it can be really difficult to tell if someone is struggling. Our society often only portrays eating disorders as a lifestyle choice, when they are infact mental disorders. I developed my ED in high school. I actually did not even know it was an ED at the time because no one ever talked about it. I struggle with an ED called binge eating disorder. Now, if you look at me at first glance, you probably wouldn't guess I have an eating disorder because I am fairly normal height and weight for my age. However, that's not what defines an eating disorder. An eating disorder is about control. In the beginning of high school, a multitude of things happened to me that were out of my control. But what was something I could control? Food. So that became my way of taking back the reigns on my life. Although not actually, because the thing I felt I could control eventually would control me. Now, I could go on and explain all the darkness of my eating disorder, but I would like to focus more on how it has changed my life and the career I want to pursue. Having an eating disorder has taught me the importance of seeking help and talking to people in your life when you are struggling. This is way harder said than done for people with a mental illness. It's extremely difficult to be vulnerable and share this side of yourself, especially with the stigma surrounding mental health. However, when you do make that decision, you realize it is the best one you will ever make because you learn you are not alone. Sharing your story allows you to connect with so many others who have been in a similar situation to yourself. I have made some of my closest friends by being able to relate on some of the darkest times in our lives. Being able to discuss these struggles with others and see the positive change has given my life a whole new purpose and meaning. I know I want to be a nurse because I want to have these types of conversations with patients and see their lives change for the better. As nurses, we see people on some of the worst days of their lives. Just recently, I had a clinical rotation at a mental health facility where I got to talk to a girl who attempted suicide. Being able to talk with her and understanding the roots beneath her mental illness was very eye-opening to me. It made me realize that we all have similar struggles in our lives. We just need support and the right tools to be able to take those next steps to turn our lives around. Being able to be a key part of that change in people's journeys is the sole reason I am becoming a mental health nurse.
    Manuela Calles Scholarship for Women