Scholarship Essay Entry – Shari W.

Making a difference is an integral part of whom I am. Through volunteering and education I have become the person I am today. In my community I have tutored elementary and junior high school students, accompanied a school choir on piano, instated the Terry Fox run at a school, and given water conservation lessons to grade 4 students. Abroad in a small Caribbean community in Costa Rica I have spent time interacting with elementary school students, helping the local ladies with a plastics weaving initiative, and working alongside locals conducting Leatherback Sea Turtle research through WIDECAST. For me, every opportunity has been an exceedingly rewarding experience and I know that the aforementioned will be only the tip of the iceberg for the lasting impact that I will have on my community locally and at large.

I recently obtained my degree in Biological Sciences specializing in Animal Biology at the University of Alberta. Not only did I learn a tremendous amount but I was presented throughout with great opportunities to make a difference in my community and abroad; opportunities that I jumped at and reveled in. I knew even before completing my degree that I was by no means done; I applied to, (and was accepted to), the After Degree program through the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta. I am highly anticipating the next two years.

The opportunities for me in nursing are endless and I plan to exploit as many as I can. The vast amounts of knowledge to be obtained will at times be tedious, as I am well aware, however not in vain. The volunteer opportunities that will arise will be truly extraordinary. Within my local community I want to interact with school children through community nursing initiatives. I want to be that nurse that the children look up to and remember as the individual who taught them proper nutrition, how to wash their hands, and even the nurse that put a colourful Band-Aid over an immunization injection site. I want to be that nurse with impeccable bedside manner that helps a patient and his or her family through a difficult time. I want to be that nurse with incredible problem solving skills that consistently goes above and beyond. I love to travel and being able to incorporate my love for travel and my newfound healthcare education will create endless opportunities to live and work abroad. I strive to help others in any way I can; doing so to better one’s overall health will be truly rewarding not only through volunteering, an integral part of my life, but as my chosen career path.