The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is the largest philanthropy in the United States dedicated solely to health and health care. Based in Princeton, New Jersey, the foundation aims to assist people in the U.S. to lead healthier lives and get their needed health care.

RJWF is devoted to programs that incorporate racial, cultural and economic diversity. With its New Careers in Nursing scholarship program, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation looks forward to lessen the national nursing shortage. It plans to improve the diversity of nursing professionals by assisting hundreds of students to start on their nursing careers through accelerated education and financial assistance. RWJF New Career in Nursing scholarship holds a national essay contest where winners receive $10,000 scholarship money.

In their September contest, Mary Cockey, a student from Salisbury University, is one of the eight winners at SU of the “I Believe This about Nursing” national essay contest. Cockey said she did not expect to win the contest and grab the scholarship. Although the scholarship is a huge financial assistance, she simply wanted to share her experience honestly.

Her decision to pursue a career in nursing is a result of a life-changing experience their family had five year ago when her sister suffered from liver cancer, which developed to jaundice yellow before her sister slipped into a coma and died at the age of 24.

She will never forget the kindness and humility of her sister’s nurses. They gave her comfort and dignity, and showed compassion and empathy. She saw how these nurses treated their patients with utmost respect and care. Their actions influenced her to become a nurse.

Mary Cockey finished high school at James M. Bennett High School and earned her first degree in philosophy at St. John’s College. She is currently enrolled in a three-semester accelerated second-degree nursing program at Salisbury University. Although Cockey has not decided which area of nursing she will specialize, she definitely wants to be a compassionate and caring nurse.

Her essay is published on RJWF website, http://www.rwjf.org. Aside from the $10,000-prize, she was also rewarded with a gift bag.