Rush by Braden

Rush by Braden - May 2018 Scholarship Essay

The word "rush" means many things to me. It describes so many aspects of my life. As a senior, I am "rushing" around trying to wrap loose ends up and prepare for my next chapter in life. As an 18 year old adventure seeking guy, I love an adrenaline "rush" from cliff jumping, hiking new trails or kayaking. Then there is the "sugar rush" that people often reference when I have a low blood sugar that needs to be treated. When I was four years old I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Throughout the last 14 years, everything has been a balancing act when living with a chronic medical condition. Even though I have always achieved academically, sports and day to day activities were impacted by the need to wear an insulin pump, worry about high and low blood sugars and carry supplies around with me to stay alive. I had to be more cautious than other kids and my parents worried more than other parents when it came to sleep overs, driving a car and going on trips with friends. With my diagnosis, my volunteerism began. I was team leader of Vaughn's Victory Team for JDRF's Walk for a Cure throughout my childhood. As a person living with Diabetes, I became aware of other causes and organizations that supported efforts to raise awareness for various childhood illnesses. During my junior year of high school, I gathered a group of friends with like interests and we formed Kayak for Kids to support a Cure for Childhood Cancer. We sold shirts, met with Cure in Atlanta and raised a good bit of money for the organization. Our overall goal is to train and obtain sponsorship for a Kayak trip from Atlanta to Florida, to "paddle for the battle" and give more towards the fight of childhood cancer. Additionally, my drive to participate in philanthropic events led me to join Global X this past summer traveling to Costa Rica on a mission trip team. There I served the local community by interacting with the school children, painting classrooms and making improvements to their daily learning environment. The children poured out so much love and I feel like I truly walked away from that experience having gained more from the people of Costa Rica than they gained from our mission efforts there. That trip changed my life and made me desire to travel and do more mission work around the world. I decided that I could use my medical history and my love of travel to set me career goals to Travel Nursing. I plan to attend the University of Mississippi in the fall of 2018 to obtain my Bachelor's of Nursing. I hope to use my skills to help others who are less fortunate and who have medical needs that I can assist with. Volunteering at such a young age, helped shaped my career goals and I hope to make a positive impact in the lives of others.