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Dear Dean of Admissions,
My life experiences have helped me to realize that nursing is my calling. I feel the best about myself when I am given the opportunity to help and care for others, and It would be my dream to complete the Nursing Program at your incredible institution.
My first memorable experience working with nurses happened at 17 years old when I became pregnant. This time in my life was incredibly scary and I got through it with the help from my wonderful family and caring visiting nurse staff. I was so empowered by the nurses support, education, willingness to help and their positive influence that they helped me believe that I could be successful. I wanted to be the best mother that I could be and I needed the encouragement and reassurance that I was given. It was extremely challenging having a child when I was so young myself. Luckily the nurses were there to help me weekly with answering all my parenting questions . I would love the opportunity to impact another life as they did mine.

When my sister Kimberly was been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia she was faced with a stem cell transplant then later a bone marrow transplant. This had been my first experience with cancer or illness and I spent many hours researching it so I could learn as much as I could so I could understand what my sister was going through. We mentally and physically prepared her for chemotherapy and stem cell transplant .It was a long process but we were with her at each step of the treatment. It was wonderful nurses that made my sisters quality of life their mission. My family was so vulnerable and unsure as how to help Kimberly, we had to rely on competent, compassionate nurses who we knew would advance the best course of action possible.

It was heartbreaking for us to learn that the stem cell transplant was a failure and now she needed a bone marrow transplant. At this point I knew the importance of a bone marrow drive and how it can save someone’s life. My family members and I decided to organize and arrange a bone marrow drive so we could help her find a donor. Our drive was amazing and brought in over 500 people! It was a miracle.
Ultimately, My sister didn’t find a match at our drive but two other people did! There is no better feeling in the world than knowing because we had this bone marrow drive for my sister that two other people in the world got a second chance at living and keeping their loved ones around longer. My sister passed away exactly one year after her initial diagnosis. I feel that her illness and death made me who I am today and I know for certain what I want to do with my life. All this experience helped me realize that I was born to help people and it gives me great satisfaction when I am doing it. I am still actively volunteering for bethematch.org and I learned that every person makes a difference and I proved it!
As a caregiver for the Visiting Nurse Association I work in an apartment building with ten residents that are paraplegic or quadriplegic. The residents rely on me and my fellow coworkers for simple day to day activities such as toileting, showering, eating, dressing, cleaning, food preparation, and any personalized goals they have. This job sometimes is physically and emotionally draining but the rewards of putting a smile on a patients face is all worth doing it all again the next day. I have learned that some of the little things such as a smile or acknowledgement towards your patients is as important as the big things such as being there with patients emotionally and physically. This can make such a big difference in a patients life when they are dealing with an illness. I have great compassion and empathy for patients and their loved ones.
I have began taking courses at the Community College of Vermont in Burlington. I have thus far taken Anatomy and Physiology I and II , Nutrition, Psychology, Math Concepts, and Human Growth and Development and excelled in all of them despite the challenges of being a stay at home mom of three children ages 4,6 and 17. It was very challenging at times to balance parenthood and the intensive academics. It proves that I am determined when I set my mind on something.
I am hoping for the opportunity to fulfill my calling through completion of the Nursing Program at zxxxxxx. Among the many reasons, xxxxx stands out because the NCLEX pass rates are 96% which is much higher than the national average of 78%. In today’s economy it is impressive to have a placement rate of 100% after 4 months of school completion. I would also love to be part of the team and learn from the nurses and doctors at Fletcher Allen Healthcare. I have heard that VT Tech students have a reputation for being well educated and prepared for a career in nursing. I realize that this program is highly competitive but I think my ability to learn through my life experiences, my passion to learn new things and apply them to make someone else’s life better is a good indicator that I will successfully complete the nursing program and become an exceptional nurse. My first choice is to study at the xxxxx campus, but if there is an opportunity and openings in other locations in the state (especially St. Albans) I am willing to travel. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,