A Helping Profession

Morgan – future nurse practitioner

Over the years I have considered many different careers. As a small child after visiting Sea World I wanted to become a marine biologist and care for and work with the whales. Early in school I wanted to be a veterinarian, that is until I learned that they have to put animals down. I loved my history teacher and the way she made learning fun and thought being a history teacher was the right choice for me. I considered being a school counselor like my mom or even pursuing a culinary career. Now my viewpoint and understanding of careers has evolved but one thing remains the same, my entire life I've always known that I wanted to work in a helping profession that brings joy or comfort to others be it animals or humans and whether it was through food, teaching, or caregiving. This dream has lead me to consider many careers, including becoming a nurse.

I'm interested in nursing for many reasons, but the opportunity to work with patients and bring them comfort and joy during their stay in the hospital or visit to the doctor is the most compelling. Almost three years ago my grandfather was diagnosed with cancer and that meant many visits to the doctor, treatments, unexpected emergency room visits, and hospital stays. I saw how the nurses could make a huge difference in how positive or negative a visit to therapy or the hospital became. If the nurses were kind and had a sense of humor when working with my grandpa, it would make all of us feel much better and ease a very difficult, scary, and emotional situation. I want to do that for others. I want to be able to bring a little joy to patients and make a difference however small when I work with them.

My grandfather eventually passed from his illness but we as a family tried to focus on what we had to be grateful for despite the pain and loss we felt at losing such a great man that we loved very much. One of the things we were most grateful for was the doctors and nurses that helped navigate us through this journey called cancer. It was truly amazing how one person could make a visit to the doctor extremely positive and provide grace and humor in a difficult situation or make an extremely difficult situation much more difficult. It was rarely about skill in caregiving as much as it was in attitude, kindness, and encouragement the hospital staff provided to my grandfather and our family. I know I would be able to lighten the burden of patients and their families as well. I want to make a difference in the world and I believe nursing would be a way I could most effectively use my strengths to do this.

I have recently applied to a collegiate high school that focuses on math and science and allows students to begin college level work as a freshman in high school and potentially graduate with an associate's degree from college simultaneously with high school graduation. It is a preparatory program to help students prepare for future careers in the medical field. When applying students must have good grades, have taken Algebra 1 as an eighth grader, and have letters of recommendation. In addition to meeting the requirements there is also a lottery system because there are limited spots available yearly. I'm hopeful that I will be chosen because not only will this high school prepare me to reach my goals of becoming a nurse but also will provide two years of college free which will also make it more likely for me to be able to afford higher education.

I want to take every opportunity provided to me whether it is attending [this high school] or applying for the Match the Promise scholarship to help me be in the best position of pursuing my goal of attending college and obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, securing a job as a nurse, and eventually going back to school and becoming a nurse practitioner. Thank you for considering me for this years Match the Promise Scholarship and helping my dreams to become more of a reality!