Pursuing passion by Olivia

Pursuing passion by Olivia - February 2024 Scholarship Essay

Dear Scholarship Committee,

My name is Olivia Raya, a rising senior at yucaipa High School, California, who aspires to walk the noble path of nursing. As a diligent student securing a GPA of 3.2, I apply for the Varsity Tutors College Scholarship Contest, an opportunity that could not only ease my economic burden for higher education but significantly enhance my voyage to mold a successful career in the healthcare field.

Being Hispanic and Latina, I was raised in an environment where warmth, empathy, and generosity are not just socially appreciated virtues but intrinsic to our culture and shared humanity. Growing up, these cultural attributes instigated a keen interest in nursing, viewing it as a substantial platform to exercise compassion while making a positive impact on the world around me. Their value, combined with my academic aspirations, has led me to apply to California Baptist University, Simpson University, and San Bernardino Valley College while, more immediately, aim for this generous scholarship.

Nursing is not merely a profession to me but a solemn commitment, a promise to take care of others in their most vulnerable conditions. Throughout my life, I have always been driven to assist others, showing empathy, and treating everyone with the dignity that every human inherently deserves. However, the demands of a nursing career extend beyond sympathy and good intentions. Through my studies, I have learned that it requires a balance of technical skills, robust knowledge, emotional intelligence, and a never-ending commitment to learning. This harmony is what I aim to achieve in my journey as a prospective nurse.

My educational ambition is not just an individual aspiration, but it reflects the dreams of my resilient Latino community, which continues to surmount barriers and redefine boundaries despite underrepresentation in many higher education fields, particularly in healthcare.

As a woman, person of color, and a passionate aspiring nurse, I am eager to contribute to the equity, diversity, and inclusion agenda in the nursing profession. I aim to provide a comprehensive perspective, blending my cultural understanding with my professional nursing skills to offer holistic care to patients. I firmly believe that diversifying health professionals, particularly in nursing, can significantly improve patient outcomes, making healthcare more sensitive and representative of the communities they serve.

Ultimately, I apply for this Varsity Tutors College Scholarship Contest to lighten the financial load of an increasing college tuition burden. While my academic accomplishments verify my commitment to my studies, I need a financial backbone to transform my passion into a reality seamlessly.

This scholarship won't represent just a monetary gain for me, but a testament of faith in my abilities, a sign of confidence in my potential as a future nurse, a Hispanic woman, and a prospective change-maker.

Thank you for considering my application; I deeply appreciate your commitment to supporting students like me in our academic journeys.

Sincerely,
Olivia Raya