{"id":21482,"date":"2026-08-18T11:47:02","date_gmt":"2026-08-18T15:47:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/?post_type=news&p=21482"},"modified":"2026-08-18T11:47:03","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T15:47:03","slug":"youth-mentoring-scholarship-story","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/vi\/news-and-announcements\/youth-mentoring-scholarship-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Scholarship Winner Spotlight: Vicki’s Road to Nursing School"},"content":{"rendered":"

Finding the Confidence to Put Herself Out There<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Vicki joined Apex as an incoming sophomore, unaware of what opportunities were available to her. \u201cGrowing up, I often stayed within familiar environments and didn’t always feel confident putting myself out there,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s come. \u201cApex helped me realize I didn’t have to wait for opportunities, but actively go after them myself,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Reminder of Sacrifice<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For Vicki, winning this scholarship isn\u2019t just a personal milestone \u2014 it\u2019s one she\u2019s able to share with her whole family. \u201cWinning this scholarship is a reminder of how many people have supported me along the way,\u201d she says. \u201cFor my family, it represents the sacrifices they made to give me opportunities they didn’t always have themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not only is it a reason to celebrate her success with her loved ones, but it lifts a weight off her shoulders. \u201cIt also eases some of the financial burden of higher education and allows me to focus more fully on my goals,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learning to Advocate for Herself<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Apex was able to teach Vicki what school couldn\u2019t \u2014soft skills. \u201cThrough 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,\u201d she says. \u201cSchool taught me how to succeed academically, but Apex taught me how to advocate for myself and navigate the world with confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Her Mentor Liv Changed Her Perspective <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For Vicki, her high school mentor, Liv, had the greatest impact and inspired her most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cHaving someone outside of my family and school who genuinely cared about my growth gave me a different kind of support through a different perspective,\u201d she says. \u201cOur conversations helped me think more deeply about my goals.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Redefining Success<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Vicki\u2019s idea of success has changed a lot since joining Apex. \u201cI used to think success meant being the best at something or reaching a specific goal,\u201d she says. \u201cOver 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That reframing helped guide Vicki’s career decisions. \u201cApex helped me explore what I wanted from a career,\u201d she says. \u201cThrough 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"apex<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What Agency Means to Her<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Agency is a core value in Apex\u2019s mission, and Vicki defines it as: \u201cAgency means believing that your choices matter,\u201d she says. \u201cThat you have the ability to move forward despite challenging circumstances. This means taking initiative, asking questions, and advocating for myself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moments Worth Celebrating<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Vicki shared her reflections at Apex’s Graduation and Scholarship Celebration, hosted this year by Simon Kim at COTE<\/a>, America’s first and only Michelin-starred Korean Steakhouse. It\u2019s one of Apex\u2019s annual events held to celebrate graduating seniors, college graduates, and scholarship recipients like Vicki \u2014 another chance, alongside mentorship and scholarships, to show students their endless potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Vicki, it\u2019s moments like these that keep her moving forward. \u201cApex and events like COTE remind me that progress is worth celebrating, even when there’s more ahead,\u201d she says. \u201cSeeing the accomplishments of other students motivated me to pursue opportunities that once felt out of reach.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As she looks forward to what comes, that mindset is exactly what she holds on to. \u201cNext, I hope to make the most of my time as a nursing student and of future opportunities,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Apex for Youth<\/a>, we are committed to watching young people thrive in every stage of life\u2013 even beyond graduation. Our college access program<\/a> exists to help youth navigate all parts of the college application, financial aid, acceptance, and scholarship search process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 They help students see a new version of themselves \u2014 one that goes after opportunities instead of waiting for them, asks questions, and speaks up first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more about our high school mentoring program here: https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/high-school-programs\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Become a mentor with Apex high school youth: https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/high-school-volunteer\/<\/a>
<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Alumni scholarship winner Vicki shares how Apex mentorship shaped her path to nursing school, self-advocacy, and personal growth. Read her story. <\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":21483,"template":"","class_list":["post-21482","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nScholarship Winner Spotlight: Vicki's Road to Nursing School | Apex for Youth<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Vicki shares how Apex's mentorship program shaped her path to nursing school. 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