For a long time, I was the quiet kid in every room, the kid who knew the answer but never said it out loud, the kid who sat in the back of the class and never stepped out of her comfort zone. It wasn’t because I didn’t care about school or because I didn’t have anything to say. I just didn’t think my voice mattered. I spent so much time waiting for something to happen that would make my life feel different. Over time, I realized that if I wanted my story to be special, I had to be the one to make it that way.
My junior year, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and join student government. It wasn’t something I would’ve normally done, but I cared about my school and wanted to help make it a better place. At first, I was nervous just speaking up in meetings, but the more I showed up, the more I realized I actually enjoyed it. I loved going to conferences, sharing ideas, and working with other students. That experience gave me the confidence to run for Student Government Secretary my senior year. Winning that position showed me that my voice really did matter.
That experience is one of the biggest reasons I want to become a registered nurse. Nursing isn’t just about treating people when they’re sick. It’s about making people feel heard, cared for, and supported during some of the hardest moments of their lives. I know what it feels like to stay quiet because you don’t think your voice matters, and I never want my future patients to feel that way.
One challenge a lot of people face is missing doctor’s appointments. I don’t think it’s usually because they don’t care about their health. Life just gets in the way sometimes. Some people don’t have reliable transportation, can’t get time off work, don’t have childcare, or simply forget because they’re juggling so much. I think healthcare providers could help by sending text reminders, offering more flexible appointment times, and helping connect patients with transportation when possible. Even small changes like that could make a significant difference.
I also think requiring people on Medicaid to reapply every six months instead of every year could make things harder for a lot of families. Missing a deadline or not getting the paperwork in on time could cause someone to lose their health insurance, even if they still qualify. That could mean missing doctor’s appointments, medications, or important treatments. Healthcare should be easier to access, not harder.
Priority Partners has made a positive impact on my family by making it possible for us to get the healthcare we needed. Having reliable health insurance meant we could go to the doctor when we needed to without worrying as much about the cost. Seeing how important that support is has made me even more excited to become a nurse and hopefully give that same comfort to other families one day.
I believe I’m a good candidate for this scholarship because I’ve worked hard to grow into someone who isn’t afraid to speak up and help others. Between balancing school, Student Government, work, and preparing for college, I’ve learned how important it is to stay determined and keep pushing myself even when things feel difficult. This scholarship would help me continue working toward my goal of becoming a registered nurse, so I can make a difference in people’s lives the same way others have made a difference in mine.