Essay # 1
As a child growing up in Liberia, I saw the importance of having experienced medical
professionals in your community. My mother had polio when she was younger. Because of
polio, my mother’s right leg is shorter than her left leg. She had trouble walking around our
village and had chronic pain in her right leg. Fortunately, my family was blessed to see a
specialist to help my mother relieve the pain from her leg. Our lives changed dramatically once
my mom was able to walk out of that hospital pain free. Seeing her face truly made me want to
help and care for others for the rest of my life. I want to pursue a career in nursing to create that
same feeling for other families.
My plan is to graduate from the nursing program from North Hennepin Community College
May of 2022. Once I graduate, I’m going to become a medical surgical nurse. Nursing school
will equip me for this field by teaching me assessment, prioritization, organizational and
communication skills. I will also learn disease processes and how to provide care and treatment
to ill or injured clients. I want to be a medical surgical nurse because I want to play an important
role in helping people prepare or recover from surgery. This nursing speciality involves diverse
patient care, which would prepare me for nurse practitioner (NP) school. I plan to go to NP after
a couple years of working as a nurse.
I have had some challenges and setbacks along the way, but I was still able to get into the
nursing program. I was able to successfully complete my first semester of nursing school, which
was a huge accomplishment for me. As my second semester of nursing school approaches, I’m
one step closer to accomplishing my short term goal. I’m excited to become a medical surgical
nurse soon because I want to make a positive impact in people's lives by providing them with
the best care in their time of need.
Essay #2
My mother has positively influenced my educational goals. She has pushed me to pursue higher
education. I’m a first-generation student. Although my mother wasn’t able to further her
education, she has taught me to value education. She was 1 or 36 children and my grandfather
couldn’t afford to send his children to school. When my mother came to the United States, she
was not able to go to school because she had to support me and my siblings and her family back
home. As a single mother, my mother worked very hard to give me the life she didn’t have. My
mother has been my cheerleader, and she has empowered me every step of the way to further my
education.
I have faced many challenges throughout my college career, and yet she has been by my
side.The difficulty I experienced affected my education. I was diagnosed with a medical
condition, which led me to take a year off school. Taking a year off was a difficult decision
because I wanted to be in school.When I came back to school, I developed major test anxiety. I
had trouble finishing tests and assignments on time. Due to this, I had to seek assistance from the
disability resource center at my school, which I sought out help from them for a year. This
condition has taught me to persevere by overcoming obstacles.
I have had a lot of setbacks whether it was from a medical diagnosis or being rejected from
programs. Upon completing my prerequisites for the nursing program at Metropolitan State
University, I applied to three nursing schools. All three schools denied me due to noncompetitive Teas scores. Although I was very disappointed, I knew what I needed to do to get
accepted, so I studied harder for the Teas. I focused and studied the Teas for 6 weeks. During
that time, I made a study schedule to keep myself accountable and organized. My Teas score was
four points away from my goal score. Because of my new score, I was able to get into the
schools I applied to previously. Throughout this process, I have learned to be resilient in the face
of adversity. I value education due to what my mom has taught me. I want to make my mom
proud by accomplishing my educational/career goals by taking advantage of opportunities she
never had.
Essay # 3
I have worked as a home health aide for over a year now. This job has been very beneficial to
me. With this job, I have had the opportunity to care for people. It relates to my career goal
because it’s a healthcare field. My job has taught me how to administer medication and how to
interact with clients. I’m able to improve my vital sign-taking skill. Most importantly, This job
has helped me realize what career I’m most passionate about; my passion lies with helping others
and making an impact in people’s lives. Other responsibilities that are associated with this job
involve helping clients cope/manage their illness, cooking, lighthouse keeping, and keeping my
clients company.
Besides working hard at work, I’ve also worked hard in school. So far, one award I’m most
proud of is graduating high school with high honor. I graduated high school with a 3.9 GPA and
I received a medal and a cord for my hard work. I ran track in high school and I received
countless awards for that. I’ve also had a leadership role in school. When I attended the
University of Minnesota, I was treasurer for the African student association. Currently, I’m a
member of the young adult ministry at my church. For that ministry, bible study is held twice a
month and one member is chosen to lead each bible study. All these activities I have participated
in and things I have accomplished have equipped and given me skills that will be beneficial to
my career.
Essay # 4
Becoming a nurse would be a life-changing experience. I’m a first-generation student and I’ll
be the first nurse in my family. I believe this scholarship will give me the opportunity to pay for
my schooling in order to achieve my goal of becoming a nurse. My passion for becoming a nurse
has driven me and motivated me to study and understand the needs of people, and to make
myself useful to humanity. My mom is a single mother and can’t fully support my college career
financially. Also, financial aid can’t cover everything as well. I deserve this scholarship because
it will be used to positively impact my educational goals. Receiving the fund from this
scholarship would be very beneficial and a good financial assistance. I have overcome many
obstacles to be where I am today. Through a great deal of effort, I was able to get into the
nursing program. I’ve made many sacrifices for the love of becoming a nurse, and this will be
one more helping hand to get me to the ultimate goal.
Nursing school is very expensive. With having to buy textbooks and supplies, it is sometimes
hard to afford everything. During the semester, I have to reduce my hours at work significantly
or not work at times to focus on school. Nursing school is challenging academically and coupled
with the expense that comes with attending nursing school, it can get very overwhelming. With
this scholarship, I would be able to cover the cost of my textbooks, supplies, and other nursing
school-related items.
When I become a nurse practitioner, I want to open up a clinic in Liberia. I’m Liberian and I
want to help out. The healthcare system there needs a lot of improvement. I want to open up a
clinic to provide affordable healthcare to people. If possible, I would like to build a hospital as
well. I know that it is a long way away, but that is how I plan to give back to society. Getting this
scholarship would give me the financial support I need to cover some things I have to pay out of
pocket for nursing school. In a way, this would help bring me one step closer to accomplishing
my goals because it would provide me with financial support that is very much needed to help
cover the cost of nursing school.
Essay #5
My mother plays a huge role in my higher education. She has taught me the value of education
and how important it is to pursue higher education. My mom wasn’t able to further her education
due to a lack of opportunities. She brought my siblings and me to America for us to have access
to opportunities she didn’t have back in Liberia. Having to raise four children by herself, my
mom had to work two jobs at times to support my siblings and me. Also, she had to support her
family back home. She couldn’t give me everything I wanted; however, she taught me valuable
things and gave me advice that I will use/hold on to forever.
Being a first-generation student is very hard. Coupled with that, I have had many obstacles
along the way. I had to take a year off from school due to a medical reason. Also, I’ve been
rejected from programs. Thankfully, I was accepted into the nursing program at NHCC.
Throughout my journey, my mom has been by my side. When I wanted to give up, she told me
not to quit. She has encouraged me throughout my college career. I’m the last born of four
children and I’ll be the first to graduate college when I graduate in May of 2022. When I
graduate, I’ll be the first nurse in my family.
My mom is truly my rock. She is strong and I pray to God that I would be as strong as she is
one day. My mom struggled financially to provide for 4 children. She doesn’t want me to endure
the things she went through, so she motivates me to continue my education. My mom wants the
best for me and is very involved in my educational journey. Truly, she is my cheerleader. She
has cheered me along the way and has wiped my tears during difficult times. It is my hope and
dream to make my mom proud by graduating college and becoming a nurse. With all she has
taught me and the support she provides, I’ll be able to accomplish all the things I’ve planned to
do.
Essay questions
Essay 1: Describe your interest in your NHCC major/program and how it relates to
your future goals.
When preparing your personal statement, you may wish to consider the following
points:
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Why did you choose your major/program?
What are your short-and-long-range educational goals?
What are your employment or career goals and how do they relate to your
major/program?
What accomplishments have you achieved related to your major?
Essay 2: Describe any life experiences that have influenced your personal growth.
When preparing your Life Experiences statement, you may wish to consider the
following points:
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Who or what in your past has most positively influenced your educational and
career goals and how?
What difficulties or challenges, if any, have you experienced and how have you
overcome them in order to pursue your academic, career, and personal goals?
Essay 3: Describe your involvement in activities or in service to others.
When preparing your Activities statement, you may wish to consider the following
points:
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What responsibilities do you have in your family, work, school, civic
organizations, Etc., and how do they relate to your educational and career
goals?
What, if any, groups and organizations are you a member of?
What leadership roles, if any, have you had?
What awards, honors, or recognition have you had?
If you have not been involved in activities as listed above, please describe why.
Essay 4: Describe what makes you deserving of an NHCC Foundation Scholarship.
When preparing your statement, you may wish to consider the following points:
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How would receiving an NHCC Foundation scholarship benefit you?
Once having accomplished your goals, how do you see yourself giving back to
society?
Essay 5:
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An essay about how your mother played a role and motivated you in your
higher education.