Parents: The Pillars of My Strength by Patricia Louise

Parents: The Pillars of My Strength by Patricia Louise - October 2019 Scholarship Essay

Growing up in the Philippines for seventeen years has inspired me to become a nurse because I have seen a lot of people who were in need of healthcare and could not afford it. I have tried to help with this situation little by little starting at the age of fourteen by volunteering for outreach programs held by my high school in the Philippines.

I have many experiences that have contributed to this goal such as volunteering in medical settings in the Philippines. While volunteering at various medical settings and activities, I realized that I have lots of patience and that I love communicating with people from an open, compassionate and supportive mindset. There is also a satisfaction that comes along when I am helping patients, having the opportunity to work in a variety of medical settings, and investing time in a medical industry that enriches the lives of many every day.

I went for a summer internship at a local skincare clinic to experience what it was like to work in a medical setting, little did I know that I was about to discover another reason to be in the medical field.

I discovered that I have effective communication skills to deal with an enraged patient and adjust to a new supervisor who had a different management style.

The patient was disappointed in her last treatment. She expected that the skin peeling would subside before her planned vacation. However, the reaction from the chemicals caused her to have breakouts. I let her vent and listened attentively to details. I used comforting words by putting myself in her shoes, communicating how willing I was to analyze and resolve issues promptly.

After listening to her attentively, I gathered all the pertinent facts and carefully explained our policy. Her face turned red with a suppressed range knowing that we could not do anything at that moment since having another treatment would only make things worse. In the end, I decided to give her creams for her breakouts and a discount for her next treatment (approved by the supervisor).

This skill has taught me that irate patients are more willing to listen and compromise after knowing that you feel for them and that it is important to accept differences and treat each other with respect and professionalism. It is vital because there is no room for any misunderstandings when it comes to the patient’s healthcare and it goes way beyond the patient’s chart, it extends to the way I interact with the patient’s family and friends.

Most importanty, I am inspired by the notion that having a degree is my ticket to a more secure future and aspiring to be a nurse definitely requires the kind of specialized training that only a college program can give. My personal goal is not only to help my parents with our financial needs but inspire others who are in the same situation.

This drive mostly comes from my parents; I can’t think of any other people in my life who motivate me to pursue college other than them. Both of them never missed a day without saying that education is important. For me, education makes me self-dependent. I am more motivated to excel in school when I see both of my parents struggling to wake up early in the morning to bring us to school and prepare our breakfast even when they are very tired from working the day before. Seeing how both of my parents work day and night and sometimes the weekends to provide us with our basic needs makes me want to give something back and I see college as a solution.

They always tell me that having a good college attendance is important because it leads to a high-quality college education. I agree because it will provide the baseline skills to survive as an adult in the world that I live in; it makes the difference between being able to perform a job accurately from being unable to perform the job at all. It turns my dreams into reality and it is the only thing that I possess that could never be stolen from me.

I also plan to have an on-campus job so I could use my earnings to help my family by buying my own school needs. I make it a point to have savings so I won’t need to ask my parents for money whenever there are school projects, class outings and even church donations during Sunday mass.

Awarding this scholarship would not only further my drive to pursue medical excellence as a nursing student but would also make a great contribution to my studies in the university that I am attending because this scholarship would allow me to work less and focus more of my time on passing my classes. If I am ever selected for this scholarship, I will continue to apply the same diligence to my studies as I have to this point, making my education as well as community service to others my top priority. I will also be happy to represent your organization well during my stay in college and beyond.

Thank you in advance for your consideration. I am now a step closer to obtain an opportunity to become the first person in my family to attend college in the United States.