Scholarship Paper

I am applying for the Lansing Community College Occupational Program Award. Currently I am in my second semester of the Lansing Community College Registered Nursing Program. I believe that becoming a registered nurse will allow me to achieve my dream to help others, to expand my knowledge base, and to give back to my community. The culture of nursing has positively shaped my life in so many ways. I wish to continue to be part of that culture for as long as possible.

My journey to become a registered nurse has been a long but persistent one. Education has always been an important aspect of my life. I have wanted to become a registered nurse since completing my high school's Certified Nursing Assistant Program. After high school, I moved to Michigan and graduated from a Medical Assistant Program. In order to support myself, I worked full-time which only allowed me to take 1-2 classes per semester. It has taken me 6 years, but I am finally in the Lansing Community College Nursing Program and I only have one more year to go.

Although education plays a substantial part in my life, I am involved with many other activities. I belong to the Lansing Community College Student Nurses Association and volunteer for some Sparrow Health System functions. I also volunteer to help assist with activities of daily living for a friend's grandmother, who is currently in home hospice.

My work experiences as a Certified Nursing Assistant and a Certified Medical Assistant have also supported my educational success by giving me the additional knowledge and skills that I have used along with the lessons that I have learned at Lansing Community College to help me understand the foundation of a registered nurse. Continuing my education here at Lansing Community College will help bridge the gap between my future careers. My positive experiences at Lansing Community College have resulted in my desire to complete the Registered Nursing program and then transfer to MSU's Nurse Practitioner program. I know that graduating from Lansing Community College as a registered nurse will allow me to give back to my community and provide excellent care to all patients.