A Legacy of Compassion through a Career in Nursing by Ella

A Legacy of Compassion through a Career in Nursing by Ella - April 2025 Scholarship Essay

A quick flip through my childhood memories would show that I have always been preparing to be a nurse. Whether it was nursing an injured pet back to health, wrapping pretend casts on my little sister’s arm, or sitting at my mom’s bedside after multiple surgeries, I have always been drawn to care for others. Now, as I consider my college aspirations and my future nursing career, it is my desire to leave a legacy of compassionate care , while also serving as an advocate for preventative medical care. This desire is built upon my personal family experiences, my recognition of my skills and interests, and the discipline to pursue an education and career that will serve my community, one person at a time.

The desire to leave a legacy is often rooted in experiences from the past.
For me, it began with my family story. At the start of my freshman year of high school, my mother received a letter in the mail informing her of the results of genetic testing. The initial reason for her testing was that in the three generations that preceded her, most of the females on her father’s side of the family had been diagnosed with either breast or ovarian cancer, some at an early age. A knowledgeable and caring provider picked up on the family history in a conversation and encouraged her to pursue genetic testing. The contents of her letter revealed that she was positive for the BRCA-1 gene, which has a strong link to both of these cancer types. Her doctor advised that based on her family history and genetic code, it was not a question of “if” but “when” she would join in the battle as a cancer fighter. In the year that followed, she courageously chose to undergo several aggressive preventative surgeries to significantly reduce and even eradicate some of her predisposed risks. During this season, my passion to use my skills and interests towards a career that would help support preventative medicine was born.

Building a legacy makes progress when we recognize the tools we have at hand.
As a student, I’ve always had an interest in science, but also desired to engage with a field that included my love for math. My calculus and statistics classmates will tell you that I am the unofficial homework tutor in my class and I enjoy the challenge of complex problems. My family will tell you that I also have a blend of a strong stomach and a compassionate heart. My childhood involves memories (and photos!) of me nursing pets back to health. It is this mix of academic pursuit, passion and personality that have often prompted people to encourage me towards a career in the medical field. I had an interest in nursing in the past, but during my mom’s year of surgeries, I began to learn more about the medical professionals that she was engaging with and developed an interest in the field of anesthesiology. The opportunity to work in surgical care and also in a role that requires accurate calculations for administering anesthesia fascinated me. The current demand for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) is high, and this role is a critical, yet often unrecognized, important part of each surgical procedure, patient comfort and overall care. Part of the demand for more professionals in this field is driven by the increase in aggressive, preventative healthcare procedures, which help extend life expectancies and allow people to live a life of a “pre-vivor”, instead of a survivor.

Leaving a legacy requires passion and a plan for moving forward.
The journey towards completing the coursework of a CRNA is often an extended process over the course of seven to ten years. This education begins with becoming a Registered Nurse (RN), then gaining hospital experience working as an Intensive Care Unit RN , and finally completing specific graduate work. While this is a lengthy and costly educational journey ahead, I view it not only as a fulfilling and rewarding career, but also as an opportunity to impact my community one person and one family at a time. It would be my goal and my joy to leave a legacy of compassionate care for patients, while providing support as part of an overall surgical care team. I also want to serve as an advocate for preventative care treatments for people living with genetic mutations, which predispose them to certain diseases. Education is powerful. I don’t think my mom had ever fully considered that she might have inherited BRCA-1, or “the breast cancer gene” as some call it, from her dad. For her, it took one knowledgeable person to consider her history, encourage her to test, help her weigh the options and pursue a plan. The impact it left with her, our family, and me continues to ripple forward.

Leaving a legacy of compassion, with a voice for courageous, preventative care, will help ensure a happier and healthier tomorrow for families in my community. Thank you for your consideration to help me pursue these passions and goals through the support of the Varsity Tutors Scholarship.