5:30am Wake Up by Grace

5:30am Wake Up by Grace - February 2025 Scholarship Essay

As a small child, my best friend was diagnosed with a brain tumor and lost most of her sight during brain surgery. At the age of 7, I began helping her navigate this new world she was forced into. Not realizing how serious her health situation was, I adapted easily guiding her through the school halls and somehow knowing when to offer assistance and when to let her do things on her own. This exposure caring for a close friend started my path towards a nursing degree. We remain close friends to this day and attend the same high school. I credit her presence in my life as a guide to my future career.

I have always enjoyed science classes and was chosen by my teacher to take a double science class in 8th grade. My school offered the 9th grade science class after school four days a week, which allowed me to take the Living Environment regents a year early. This class also helped the trajectory of my education and focus on the medical field.

In the winter of 2024, I was also fortunate enough to be chosen for a new Health Science program at my High School. It is a comprehensive program that introduces various health fields to students pursuing a career in medicine, nursing, and other health related vocations. It met during "zero period" starting at 7am, which meant a 5:30am wake up for a year. Having just completed the course, I can now say the early start was worth it. This course allowed me to visit different colleges, learn how to take vitals, work on the new high tech mannequins found in nursing schools, and sit in on college lectures. The additional education I got during this class provided me with a clearer picture of what would be entailed in a career in Nursing. This class along with other aspects of my life have been guiding me towards a life of helping people.

Thank you for taking the time to read about me and my unique experiences with life and school, all of which has contributed to the person I have grown into today.