Scholarship /
Sharing my desire to pursue nursing/personal statement for gks scholarship [2]
Your honest feedback matters alot to me thanks for your time and effort. Pls no plagiarism this is my hard work.
FORM 2. PERSONAL STATEMENT
There are moments in life that freeze us in place. Situations so overwhelming that they leave us feeling immobile and helpless. I found myself in one of those moments, standing in the middle of the hospital emergency room, my heart pounding wildly in my chest. Yet, on the outside, I must have looked like the calmest person in the world. Inside, my heart ached with pain and frustration as I watched my mother writhing in agony, her moans slicing through the sterile hospital. I stood frozen, watching in awe as her doctor and the nurses rushed to relieve her suffering. When they administered IV painkillers, her trembling body slowly calmed, and for a moment, I could breathe again. She was later diagnosed with cholecystitis, inflammation of the gallbladder.
It was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life. I remember the helplessness so vividly, how all I could do was cry alongside her. But through that fear, something else stood out to me. The nurses. Each time they came to check on her, they didn't just provide medical care-they offered gentle, comforting words that made my mother smile even in her discomfort. Until that moment, I never truly understood the power of nursing. I had grown up with a limited view of nursing, seeing nurses as solely supportive roles for doctors. However, this experience transformed my perspective on nursing; I realized that nursing is not merely a profession; it is a calling to provide care, support, and healing during moments of vulnerability while also forming a critical bond with their patients.
After witnessing the care nurses provided my mother during her hospitalization, I knew I wanted to become a nurse. At the time, I was just 12 years old and still in middle school studying in an arts-focused program with plans to pursue theatre arts once I was done with high school. However, driven by my newfound passion, I made the significant decision to switch to a science curriculum to better prepare for a nursing career. This choice required intense effort to catch up with my peers in subjects like biology and chemistry, but it also reaffirmed my commitment to nursing.
During high school, I struggled to balance academic excellence with the heavy responsibility of caring for my sick mother. As the only child living at home-while my siblings stayed with other relatives-I had to take on caregiving duties while my father went to work. As a 12 year old the experience was emotionally and physically exhausting. Looking back, however, it shaped me into the hardworking and determined person I am today. Despite these challenges, I graduated at the top of my class. Unfortunately, my school recognized high-achieving students not with certificates or formal awards, but with practical items like notebooks. While these gifts were appreciated, they cannot be reflected in an academic profile. Even so, the lack of formal recognition never discouraged me. Instead, it taught me to pursue impact, not applause. These experiences taught me how to work under pressure, to stay strong in the face of adversity, becoming more resilient and empathetic.
From the deep-rooted empathy and desire to make a difference-born from caring for my mother-I sought an opportunity to serve my wider community. I volunteered in the yearly WHO-sponsored oral polio vaccination campaign held in underserved areas like mine. My role involved going from house to house with a team of health workers, administering OPV (oral polio vaccine) to infants and educating parents on the importance of immunization. Although I received no formal recognition, the experience was deeply rewarding and eye-opening. It also taught me vital skills such as public communication, teamwork under pressure, and the humility of serving quietly, yet meaningfully.
Through this work, I gained firsthand insight into the harsh realities of Nigeria's healthcare system, especially in marginalized communities. I witnessed the emotional and financial burden many parents face due to a lack of access to proper medical care. Moreover, the shortage of qualified healthcare workers is deeply troubling. As of 2024, over 15,000 nurses had left Nigeria in search of better working conditions and proper compensation. Even more concerning is the trend of some health centers training unqualified individuals to serve as nurses after only a year or two of instruction. This puts the lives of patients at risk and undermines the integrity of healthcare delivery. As someone passionate about quality care, this situation leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.
Another pressing issue I observed is the absence of organized emergency medical teams. In many underserved areas, there are no trained medics who can respond to urgent cases on-site or during patient transportation. I still shudder at the thought of what could have happened to my mother if her illness had been life at that moment. Sadly, many lives in Nigeria are lost not because help doesn't exist, but because it arrives too late or not at all.
These experiences have solidified my resolve to become a well-trained nurse and a voice for reform in my country. I see South Korea as a model for what Nigeria's healthcare system could become. In just a few decades, Korea has achieved remarkable advancements in healthcare and medical technology. Its system is efficient, highly trained, and values human life deeply-principles that align with my own.
More over, compared to Nigeria, Korea's educational system offers a more advanced and outstanding curriculum, equipped with state-of-the-art medical laboratories and research facilities. During my exploration of nursing education and career opportunities in Nigeria, I observed that while there are options for specialization, they lack structured pathways and diverse training opportunities. Fields such as Adult nursing and critical care nursing, which require advanced clinical training and research opportunities are not as accessible or comprehensive as I aspire them to be.
The high-quality skills and clinical training I would gain from studying in Korea, including rigorous internships and hands-on practice, will equip me to provide exceptional care to patients and contribute to improving healthcare standards in my country. The combination of advanced education, cutting-edge facilities, and specialization opportunities makes South Korea an ideal destination for acquiring nursing skills that will benefit both my home country and Korea.
This realization has motivated me to seek education in a country like Korea, where the nursing profession offers a broader spectrum of specialization, advanced technology, and a strong emphasis on professional development. Universities such as yonsei university offer strong clinical partnerships with major hospitals giving students like me the opportunity to learn directly from experienced professionals. Given my family's financial constraints, I explored scholarship opportunities and discovered the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) through a YouTube channel called 'A Fangirl's Heart', hosted by a former GKS-G scholar.
The GKS scholarship stood out to me among many others because its goals align closely with my own dreams and purpose. GKS values global partnership, rural community development, and cultural exchange - all of which are things I deeply care about. These values are also the foundation of my vision for contributing to Nigeria's healthcare system. I believe that forming strong global partnerships, especially with a country like South Korea, can play a key role in improving healthcare delivery and driving meaningful development in underserved communities. That's why I truly hope to become part of a program whose mission doesn't just reflect my goals but strengthens them - so I can grow, give back, and create impact that reaches beyond borders.
Looking ahead, I hope to play a role in building a strong healthcare connection between Nigeria and South Korea - one where both countries grow by learning from each other. There's so much Nigeria can adapt from Korea's system. From its nationwide health insurance and efficient emergency response system to its investment in rural care and medical technology, Korea has built a model that could really help improve healthcare delivery in underserved parts of Nigeria. I dream of contributing to projects that bring this kind of structure and compassion into Nigerian healthcare, especially for communities like mine where access is still a major challenge.
However, I also believe that this collaboration can be beneficial for South Korea. Nigeria, with its large population and diverse healthcare challenges, offers a rich ground for research, international outreach, and medical humanitarian partnerships. As a nurse trained in Korea, I hope to become a bridge between both countries-facilitating global health initiatives, joint research, and medical volunteer programs that allow Korean professionals and students to also gain cross-cultural experience and insight into global health disparities. After completing my studies, I plan to contribute to Korea's healthcare system by sharing the perspectives I've gained, volunteering in local public health programs, and supporting Korean efforts in medical outreach to developing nations. In doing so, I aim to give back to the country that invested in me, while using my skills to build a future where care, innovation, and compassion transcend borders.
My journey toward nursing has been shaped by personal experience, a commitment to learning, and a desire to make a meaningful impact on patient care. Being able to give the same care and comfort those nurses gave my mother is what drives me the most. Therefore, with the support of this scholarship, I am eager to bring my dedication, resilience, and cross-cultural perspective to the field, ultimately contributing to healthcare in both Korea and my home country.
