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I was asked to 'prepare a few words' to share... here is what I came up with:
Thank you. It truly
is an honor to receive this scholarship.
The decision to return to school to pursue a career in
nursing was not one I took lightly. I
knew it would be a challenge to be able to balance school, family, and my
current job. I am seeking a nursing
career not only for myself, but for my family.
I have been blessed with three beautiful daughters and I want to instill
in them a strong work ethic and the belief that anything is possible through my
example.
Over the years I have served roles in various medical
fields. These have included a volunteer
EMT and firefighter in Brown County Indiana, a pharmacy technician, and in the
health center at a residential summer camp.
All of these positions strengthened my interest in the medical world,
but it was my personal experience caring for family members that ultimately led
me back to school.
My grandmother played a large role in my upbringing. I was lucky enough to have her live with us
as I grew up. When she became ill and
required full time care, I was happy to be able to return and care for the
grandmother who had taken such good care of me as I grew up. My oldest daughter was only a few months old
when we began our daily routine of care for my grandmother. At times, I must have looked crazy balancing
the care of an infant and insuring my grandmother’s comfort as I helped her
with everything from hygiene, to eating, to cleaning and maintaining her new
trach. I am very thankful I was able to
spend so much time with my grandmother in the last year of her life. She passed away at the age of 89 surrounded
by her family at home. Unfortunately,
immediately after she had passed, my uncle received a devastating medical
prognosis. I also had the privilege of
helping with his care and comfort as he quietly passed away at home. I returned to work at an office job and
welcomed two more daughters into our family.
My youngest daughter, Molly, came into this world and was
immediately adored by her big sisters, Becca age four and Piper age two. We quickly learned that our little Molly was
facing some major medical challenges. Although
a bit overwhelming and difficult at first, we established a routine of chaos
navigating tube feedings, endless appointments with specialists, and multiple
surgeries. Even her big sisters wanted
to help feed Molly through her “special straw” as they called her feeding tube. Her continued challenges exposed me even
further to the medical world, and specifically nursing. I knew that I would continue to care for
Molly’s medical needs as she grew up, but I also felt called to explore the
option of a career in nursing to serve others as well.
Although easy is never a word I would use to describe
nursing school, it has been an incredible opportunity. There are points where there just doesn't seem like there are enough hours in the day to complete all the tasks of being
a student, mother, and working. But I
have found a balance that I never imagined possible before. I take great pride in being able to maintain
a very high grade point average and still spend time with and support my
family. Due to the increasing demands of
school and insuring that I have enough time to dedicate to my studies, I have
cut back on the hours that I work.
Decreasing work hours and increasing tuition and childcare costs have
put me in a situation of facing difficult financial decisions. I am dedicated to completing my degree in
nursing at Marian University and receiving the aid of the Lynne O’Day
Scholarship has helped to alleviate some of the financial strain.
I don't think I can say thank you enough to
the Executive Women in Healthcare organization for presenting me with this
scholarship. I have read and heard
stories about what an incredible woman Lynne O’Day was. I am honored to receive this scholarship
named in her memory. The goal of this
scholarship is “to assist the development of young, female professionals who
are pursuing a career in healthcare leadership” and I hope to be able to be
able to live out these ideals.
It is true that individual students must be fully committed
to dedicating themselves to their education to be successful. But no matter how passionate I am about
becoming a nurse and female leader in health care, the bottom line is that
tuition is expensive and inevitable.
Being provided financial support to further my education is something
that I will be forever grateful for.
Being named the Lynne O'Day Scholarship Recipient has strengthened my dedication to a career in health care and has created a personal desire to help others reach their personal potential as well. I want to thank the corporate sponsors, each individual donor, and the Executive Women in Healthcare organization for making this opportunity possible for me. I am very proud and honored to be recognized by this incredible organization. Thank you.
