The nursing profession has been a dream of mine since I was a child. I watched my father, an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), provide health care to community members during and after work. His hard work and dedication inspired me to want to do more and give back to my community. After becoming a Registered Nurse (RN), the disparities between underserved communities and the lack of high-quality healthcare became clearer. It wasn’t until my own mother was diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma of her lower leg. The physician’s only treatment plan was amputation without considering any other options, and I realized furthering my education would allow me the opportunity to close that gap in healthcare. Like my mother, everyone who couldn’t afford treatment still deserved better healthcare.

In 2017, with the help of several local Black nurses, I co-founded the Greater New York City Black Nurses Association (GNYCBNA) chapter, which was created to advocate for the greater good of underserved communities and invest in the professional growth of Black and Brown nurses and nursing students. While attending a GNYCBNA meeting, one of the panelists stated, "Sometimes the help you need is staring in the mirror looking back at you." So, I decided to stop waiting for help and become the change agent my community needs. I enrolled in a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program to be both a provider and translational expert that influences change systems-wide.

After earning my FNP and DNP degrees, my goal is to open a primary care clinic that provides affordable, high-quality healthcare in high-poverty areas with access to resources to reduce healthcare disparities. The objective is for caregivers to take their time when treating patients and not just see them as a diagnosis but as the community members they're familiar with from being so integrated into the community. I also aim to continue being involved with the National Black Nurses Association (NBNA), as I currently serve on both the local and national levels. As a member, I participate in a program where we adopt local New York City schools and take the students to Colombia School of Nursing's simulation center, where they partake in fake patient scenarios and act as nurses for the day. As a co-founder and membership committee chair for the GNYCBNA chapter and the co-chair of NBNA's men's health committee, I conduct routine health talks in barbershops advocating for men's health. Additionally, I help facilitate an elegant NBNA Men’s Bow Tie event to educate, mentor and provide additional resources related to men's health. I am looking to uphold the motto, "lifting as you climb," to be a positive role model for our youth and to inspire future generations to pursue careers in nursing.

As a father of two young children, a husband, and the oldest sibling of ten, not only did I have to set an example for them, but I understood the importance of being present to ensure an excellent quality of life. I am a young Black man who struggled with insecurities because of my race and economic standing. I want to motivate others like me to feel empowered that their Black and Brown faces belong in these spaces. My growth is only possible if I can pay it forward with my skills and advancement in the nursing field. This scholarship will allow me to continue providing for my family and still focus on my program.