Senior 08

After hours of research, I finished my presentation as an intern at the Unified Government of Wyandotte County. It was time to show everyone in the room my idea for improving health in shelters for unhoused people. Not long after, I sat as I heard everyone’s applause. I then listened to a lady congratulate me from behind. When I turned around, I saw a big smile that warmed my heart. The committee leader continuously talked about how excellent and detailed my presentation was. I instantly knew this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. The lady’s face of gratitude and satisfaction is what I want to see for the rest of my life from people I interact with. The internship’s final presentation was one of my most significant leadership experiences as I spoke for the community’s health needs for those unhoused people who need assistance but do not have the opportunity to be heard by a vital audience who can work together to make a change happen. Like many alums who come back and inform the community of their career and experiences, I want to do the same. Once I become an anesthetist nurse, I plan to return to the career and event fairs hosted by 20/20 Leadership. I believe what I’ve learned can be passed on to the younger generations in my community.  I want to serve as a connection for the future generation who aspires to become someone in life. I want to be a guide for all the minorities in this program and in the community who do not know how or where to start. I want to be a leader for all the younger people who plan to be part of the 20/20 Leadership program, like me right now. I know a lot of other students are nervous and scared of the steps to take and what the future holds for us. I need to be brave and be the first-generation college graduate in my family to then come back and reflect on the barriers I crossed. I desire to reduce the frustration in students who also want to pursue a healthcare career and hopefully be part of that bridge that connects the students to internships or other opportunities that can bring them closer to the medical community. I want to have an immense impact directly on individuals. One by one, I want to help future 20/20 Leadership students who dream of working in healthcare. Now, I am a student who attends them, but within the next ten years, I want to be on the other side and be one of the professionals who help attending students with resources, answers, and connections. I want to change the younger generations’ lives one by one by supporting them and guiding them into college, especially helping the students interested in healthcare with a chance to shadow, intern, or connect with me and others as a nurse. As I speak to the future new students attending these college and career fairs, I want to leave an impact on those students who I will eventually come across. Through my journey as a future nurse reaching out to new aspiring students, I will never forget about the rest of the community. I will be a caring nurse looking out for everyone in or out of the hospital setting. We are all at different stages of our lives, and we all deserve a chance in the school system and in life generally.