Scholarship / Won the admiration of many ; Intro Scholarship Essay [NEW]

And she kissed me. Brimming with innocence, I pushed her away and jumped back into the soccer game which had been set up with two brick goal posts and an empty soda can as a ball. In my vicinity, this was golden. Suddenly, there was chaos; a student had collapsed. It was Priscilla, the girl who kissed me. I ran to the scene drenched in sweat and the adrenaline surge through my veins was immense. In the midst of the chaos, I placed my tiny right palm over my left hand and performed what I later on learned to be "chest compressions". On the third push, Priscilla made a huge gasp for air followed by a cough. She was alive. Till this day, I do not fully comprehend what happened but knowing that the naively performed methods I had read from my sister's First-Aid handbook had revived Priscilla gave me goose bumps. I was stunned.

Fourteen years later, the events of this day continues to inspire me and gave birth to my unquenchable dream to save lives. Born and raised in a conventional, middle-class Ghanaian family in Atwima Boko, one of the poorest towns in Southern Ghana, where dreams are crushed and the devastating effects of poverty remain paramount, I have learned that the ability to dream and follow one's goals is a privilege. In fact, I count myself fortunate to be attending a university in the United States. From walking several kilometers to and from school, going to bed on an empty stomach, to being denied access to portable water, and education, the road to success has been beyond rough. In spite of these difficulties, my dream began after I realized that I wouldn't be able to obtain the quality well rounded research-focused education I desired if I schooled in Ghana. After earning an SAT score of 1910, I was excited at the prospect of studying in the United States. However, the astronomical figures required for yearly attendance relegated my quest to mere wishes. But Jacksonville University (JU) offered me a safe haven and in the Fall of 2010, my journey began. And although it has been difficult soliciting funds to tend my educational bills every semester, the future benefits remain unquestionably greater.

Here at JU, I am on the right track to bettering myself and making the most of the opportunities I never imagined possible. Currently a junior year nursing student in the Honors Program, I am humbled to have qualified for the President's List two consecutive semesters and made the Dean's List for other semesters. Being actively involved on campus, I have participated and helped set up multiple programs on campus including Relay For Life, and represented the school at the 2011 Florida International Leadership Conference and the 2011 Southern Regional Model United Nations. Having worked in the capacity as a Residential Assistant and a Tutor, for TRiO Student Support Service and The Learning Center, I have played an integral role in helping other students excel academically. This coming year, I intend on undertaking a research internship and to bringing to completion my undergraduate research project aimed at determining registered nurses' assessment of pain in psychiatric patients. Opportunities abound and with each step, my dream of becoming a doctor moves from the corridors of impossibility to the stairwells of success.

My father, being a traditional leader and a great motivator, taught me that winning isn't everything, but wanting to win is everything. His philosophy emphasized that as long as I wanted my dream more than wanting to breathe, tried my level best and made the necessary sacrifices, I could achieve any personal goal. I made sacrifices by leaving Ghana, leaving my family to start a new life. I changed my friends, my people. Everything. But everything I did, I did for love, to be able to look back at the eight year old me who revived the school girl and say, "I made it". For, in a world of immense possibility, I'm only poor for not trying.

Scholarship / Professor Hoax - Nursing Student Scholarship - Why you are a qualified candidate? [6]

Please give me your honest opinion. I am mostly concerned with content. I really need this scholarship. What do you think?

Write a brief essay (250 words maximum) on your goals and aspirations as they relate to your education, career, and future plans. Explain why you are a qualified candidate and should be considered for the scholarship.

I looked back at my professor wishing it was a hoax. I refreshed the webpage and rechecked my score. I shook my head in disbelief. I had failed my nursing exit exam. A retake was inevitable but my sense of pride as a "good student" was gone. I was crushed. My fighting spirit was all I had.

I am not new to failure and this, and many other failures, hasn't deterred me from achieving my goals. Coming from a family in Ghana that prides itself in hard work, I carry the hopes of a village at the mercy of preventable diseases. Having witnessed the death of many, I desire to become a Nurse. As a nurse, I will be able to help save lives through education, prevention and, counseling while providing patient centered care in the place I call home.

Currently a nursing student, I consider my passion and determination my greatest assets. I always strive to achieve my goals and it's not surprising that I am in the Honors Program with a GPA of 3.76, multiple community service hours and heavily involved on campus. My practice in the clinical setting speaks for themselves and this my clinical instructors can attest to.

Therefore, I am qualified because I possess the qualities worthy of an outstanding scholarship leader. With this scholarship, I can gain a career that I am passionate about and help save lives. Most importantly, I will be able to impact the world doing what I love.

Graduate / On the verge of rounding off what I would consider a successful undergraduate nursing education [3]

What are your professional and educational goals as they relate to the Master's program to which you are applying?

The stage was set, the years had flown by, and I was on the verge of rounding off what I would consider a successful undergraduate nursing education. I was filled with ecstasy at the prospect of returning to my beloved country XXXX, reuniting with my family, contributing my quota as a Nurse and being there for mother during those dreaded Asthma attacks. However, few weeks before graduation, I received a call that my supportive mother had been rushed to the hospital in critical condition and pronounced dead two hours after arrival. Within that two-hour window, not a single physician was available to attend to her and as her conditioned worsened, she lost the fight. I was shattered and, as the days rolled by, more angered by the circumstances preceding her death.

However, the weeks after her demise played an enormous role in shaping my educational and professional goals, and accelerated the need to pursue my dream of becoming a Nurse Practitioner. As an undergraduate nursing student at XXXXX, I purposed to build a formidable nursing foundation and utilize the educational resources at my disposable to become an excellent care-giver and patient advocate. Also, I participated in research and leadership roles to harness my potential and fulfill my quest to obtain an overall well-rounded education. During this process, I discovered that I greatly thrive in situations that require leadership and will appreciate the enhanced nursing scope, knowledge, autonomy and independence that is afforded a nurse practitioner.

The absence of skilled professionals to intervene prior to my mother's death has served as an impetus to be the most effective nurse practitioner I can be. It has become my life's statement. This involves being present for the patient. Being present to assess, diagnose, prescribe and having the professional latitude to administer prescribed care plans with compassion and sensitivity to patient needs. It also encompasses possessing a strong skill set to remain relevant in a dynamic healthcare field. In my opinion, the concept of the "patient" is complex and entails more than a person with an illness requiring treatment. The holistic approach treats the whole person and promotes optimal lifelong health. As an aspiring Nurse Practitioner, I would utilize my platform to promote a holistic approach to healthcare that focuses on health promotion and disease prevention. It entails being abreast of the best healthcare practices and participating in research to determine the most effective ways to ensure optimal health. Coming from a third world country, I have seen firsthand the disparities in healthcare among diverse economic environments and would incorporate this holistic approach more specifically to the disadvantaged and medically under-served population.

The circumstances preceding her death included multiple visits to the hospital and returning with only a prescription of "rest". Of course, access to the best healthcare facilities would have proved pivotal in changing the narrative for my family. Or perhaps, the presence of an advanced degree nurse could have proved vital. The patient to doctor ratio in XXXX is a far cry from the needed ratio to sustain a population of over 25 million people. It is my goal to partake in the nursing revolution in my country, that would ensure an increase in more nurses taking up advanced practice roles to meet the growing demand. This is essential to expand the population of skilled advanced health workers, in XXXX and other third world countries, and I'm particularly intrigued with University of XXXX efforts in doing this. My vision for a healthier world involves healthcare takers having a true patient-centered experience that intercepts in the primary and secondary stages before a disease becomes critical. It is my hope that I would be able to contribute greatly during, and after my education at UNIVERSITY of XXXX to give other families the chance for a longer, healthier life. I owe that to my mom, my community and the world at large.