My Mission to Heal by Leah

My Mission to Heal by Leah - August 2025 Scholarship Essay

This year, I'm diving headfirst into my nursing prerequisites with the determination of someone who's seen what happens when mental healthcare fails our communities. My biggest aspiration? To absolutely crush my science courses while building the foundation for my dream of becoming a psychiatric nurse who bridges cultures and saves lives.
What gets me out of bed every morning isn't just coffee, though let's be honest, that helps too, it's knowing that every anatomy flashcard I memorize, every chemistry equation I master, and every psychology concept I grasp brings me one step closer to preventing another family from experiencing what mine did. When my South Sudanese family lost someone to untreated depression, dismissed as "demonic possession" in our community, I made a promise that no one else would suffer that silent agony on my watch.
This year, I'm planning to join the Pre-Health Society and volunteer at local refugee support centers, because textbook knowledge means nothing without real-world connection. I want to start conversations about mental health in immigrant communities, even when it's uncomfortable, even when people think I'm "too young" or "too American" to understand our traditions.
My motivation is beautifully messy and deeply personal. It's my grandmother's worried face when I mention therapy. It's my little cousins asking why their friend's dad "acts strange sometimes." It's the weight of being the first in my family to pursue higher education, carrying not just my own dreams but the hopes of everyone who came before me.
I'm not just studying to get good grades, I'm preparing to become a cultural translator in healthcare, someone who can explain to a Sudanese mother that medication isn't witchcraft and help a Western doctor understand that healing sometimes requires honoring ancestors alongside prescribing antidepressants.
Sure, organic chemistry is going to try to humble me, and I'll probably have a few breakdowns over microbiology, it's practically guaranteed, but every challenging moment reminds me that my family member never got the chance to fight for their mental health because the system failed them. I refuse to let that happen to anyone else.
This school year isn't just about earning credits, it's about earning the right to stand between two worlds and save lives that traditional healthcare might miss.