Kellycha Santos

I was twelve when my grandmother first began to tell me stories of her days as an
emergency room nurse. I recall her description of the adrenaline and excitement she felt rushing
through her as she diligently worked to save the life of a man who had been stabbed. Fast
forward thirty years from her experience and I was now feeling the same rush of adrenaline as a
man burst through the front door of the doctors office I interned at. In his arms was his daughter
with droplets of blood falling from her foot as he ran. While I bandaged the young girls wound
after she received ten stitches, I felt at home; it was in that instant that I knew I was in the right
profession.
That aforementioned incident occurred after I made the decision that would ultimately
open doors for me in the medical field. I chose to attend the Professional and Technical High
School, allowing me to earn a certification in Medical Assisting alongside my high school
diploma. Upon completion of this program, I was given the opportunity to complete an
internship at a doctors office. I treated people from all walks of life who, along with their health
problems, also brought their unique stories. My patients were my biggest motivation and the
reason why I was so dedicated then, and why I am still dedicated today. The laughter and tears
shed, in addition to all that I learned, gave me the will power and determination to make it in the
nursing world.
One of my patients, a middle aged woman who regularly visited the office, had the
greatest impact on me. It was a busy Friday morning and I was told to triage patients as fast as
possible to be seen by the doctor. As I was taking her blood pressure she was informing me how
rude and indifferent the front desk staff was; it was then that I made it my mission to change her
outlook. In the short amount of time I spent with her I made sure to listen to her and make her
smile, as I believe the personal care I give the patient goes close at hand with the medical care
the doctor bestows. This woman left the office with a smile on her face, telling me, You have
great potential and you genuinely care for the well-being of your patients. Keep up the good
work! Her kind words humbled me and motivated me to do better and to be greater.
My second semester at USF I hit a rough patch as I struggled to balance my very
demanding schedule. I could have let that one semester discourage me and hinder my progress,
however, I took it as my chance to restructure my usual schedule and isolate my mistakes. I
began to make detailed to-do lists of each of the tasks I needed completed; I made sure to
complete tasks with enough time as to not be overwhelmed by piled up work. I tried numerous
methods of studying and became accustomed to the one best suited for me. By developing skills
such as time management and organization I managed to turn my weaknesses into strengths
which will ultimately aid me in my success in the nursing program. Aside from academics, I
have also maintained a healthy lifestyle in order to remain stress free. Furthermore, I have
worked part time jobs during holiday breaks and recently began a work study job to save money
for my expenses. I know it is very difficult to maintain a job and attend nursing school and for
this reason, I have planned ahead. With my savings I can comfortably say that I feel financially
stable enough to focus solely on the program.
Throughout my high school years I volunteered at many different places which taught me
a variety of skills that I will take with me into the nursing profession. Working with Give Kids
the World, a program which provides services to children with life-threatening diseases, I was the
greeter for the children and their families. I was the bridge between the organization and the

people, similarly to how a nurse would represent a hospital. I also participated in fundraisers
such as March of Dimes, Haiti Relief, and Education in the Park. In these events, I walked to
raise funds and actively campaigned and collected money with my peers in the name of a good
cause. When I entered USF I made sure to continue volunteering and I became involved with the
renovation of the American Cancer Society office in Land O Lakes and the feeding of the
homeless in Project Downtown.
One of the lessons my high school mentor taught me is that a good leader learns while
teaching others. In the nursing profession I will have the opportunity to fulfill both roles; in the
early stages I will be the one absorbing information and learning, however as time goes on, I can
be the one to share my knowledge with prospective students and even fellow nurses. Being vice
president of the Interact Club, a club based on community service, I was able to teach my peers,
both younger and older. I taught them how to set up events in their communities, how to
communicate with different people and how to grow as a leader so that they too could have the
same opportunities I did. I found that as I was teaching them I was learning and maturing myself.
I strongly believe my past experiences will help me immensely in the nursing profession.
Being a part of different clubs and volunteering in my community prepared me to understand and
cope with people of various socioeconomic statuses, races and religions. From my internship I
learned a vast array of things that I will carry on with me, such as how to develop relationships
with my patients and their families and also how to reassure them during their most vulnerable
times. For instance, I comforted the father who burst through the door thirty years after my
grandmothers story by reassuring him that his daughter would be okay after she received the
needed stitches. I also put into practice all the procedures I learned while in the Medical
Assisting program; I was entrusted with administering injections, withdrawing blood, assisting in
a biopsy and performing X-rays and EKGs independently.
When I envision myself getting accepted into the nursing program I feel overwhelming
feelings of joy, happiness, excitement and anticipation. My aspirations to become a nurse date
back to when I was a child spending most of my time in the balcony of my home bandaging and
curing my "sick patients", who were in actuality my toy dolls. As I got older, my passion only
intensified, and I have vowed to be the best nursing student I can be and later on in life, the best
nurse. At the age of seventeen, I became a certified Medical Assistant and it is my mission to be
able to say that at twenty one I became a Registered Nurse. For these reasons, if I were to get
accepted into the nursing program, the program would gain a dedicated and ambitious student
with an undeniable love for nursing.