Scholarship Winner Spotlight: Vicki’s Road to Nursing School

Finding the Confidence to Put Herself Out There

Vicki joined Apex as an incoming sophomore, unaware of what opportunities were available to her. “Growing up, I often stayed within familiar environments and didn’t always feel confident putting myself out there,” she says.

Three years later, she is a nursing student, pursuing coursework and clinical experiences that challenge her both personally and professionally. In retrospect, she credits Apex for how far she’s come. “Apex helped me realize I didn’t have to wait for opportunities, but actively go after them myself,” she says.

A Reminder of Sacrifice

For Vicki, winning this scholarship isn’t just a personal milestone — it’s one she’s able to share with her whole family. “Winning this scholarship is a reminder of how many people have supported me along the way,” she says. “For my family, it represents the sacrifices they made to give me opportunities they didn’t always have themselves.”

Not only is it a reason to celebrate her success with her loved ones, but it lifts a weight off her shoulders. “It also eases some of the financial burden of higher education and allows me to focus more fully on my goals,” she says.

Learning to Advocate for Herself

Apex was able to teach Vicki what school couldn’t —soft skills. “Through mentorship, workshops, and community events, I learned that I am capable of stepping into unfamiliar situations and building meaningful connections with people from different backgrounds,” she says. “School taught me how to succeed academically, but Apex taught me how to advocate for myself and navigate the world with confidence.”

How Her Mentor Liv Changed Her Perspective 

For Vicki, her high school mentor, Liv, had the greatest impact and inspired her most.

 “Having someone outside of my family and school who genuinely cared about my growth gave me a different kind of support through a different perspective,” she says. “Our conversations helped me think more deeply about my goals.”

Redefining Success

Vicki’s idea of success has changed a lot since joining Apex. “I used to think success meant being the best at something or reaching a specific goal,” she says. “Over time, I’ve realized that success is more personal than that. Now, success means continuing to learn and less about comparison and more about growth.”

That reframing helped guide Vicki’s career decisions. “Apex helped me explore what I wanted from a career,” she says. “Through workshops and mentorships, I learned that I wanted work that involved human connection. Those experiences supported my decision to pursue nursing and showed me that a career can be about impact, not just achievement.”

What Agency Means to Her

Agency is a core value in Apex’s mission, and Vicki defines it as: “Agency means believing that your choices matter,” she says. “That you have the ability to move forward despite challenging circumstances. This means taking initiative, asking questions, and advocating for myself.”

Moments Worth Celebrating

Vicki shared her reflections at Apex’s Graduation and Scholarship Celebration, hosted this year by Simon Kim at COTE, America’s first and only Michelin-starred Korean Steakhouse. It’s one of Apex’s annual events held to celebrate graduating seniors, college graduates, and scholarship recipients like Vicki — another chance, alongside mentorship and scholarships, to show students their endless potential.

For Vicki, it’s moments like these that keep her moving forward. “Apex and events like COTE remind me that progress is worth celebrating, even when there’s more ahead,” she says. “Seeing the accomplishments of other students motivated me to pursue opportunities that once felt out of reach.”

As she looks forward to what comes, that mindset is exactly what she holds on to. “Next, I hope to make the most of my time as a nursing student and of future opportunities,” she says.

At Apex for Youth, we are committed to watching young people thrive in every stage of life– even beyond graduation. Our college access program exists to help youth navigate all parts of the college application, financial aid, acceptance, and scholarship search process.

 They help students see a new version of themselves — one that goes after opportunities instead of waiting for them, asks questions, and speaks up first.

Learn more about our high school mentoring program here: https://apexforyouth.org/high-school-programs/

Become a mentor with Apex high school youth: https://apexforyouth.org/high-school-volunteer/