Fostering a Better Environment: Arianna Nunez-Conley’s Story
Tragedy struck when her grandfather suffered a heart attack, but watching healthcare workers assist his recovery showed Arianna Nunez-Conley that she could do the same. Her resilience during those formative moments would set her on the path to a career in nursing.
Entering foster care in her teenage years, she learned the importance of self-advocacy early. Nunez-Conley enrolled at Schoolcraft College in 2022, but as a full-time student supported by loans, her dreams were uncertain until she discovered the Foundation Scholar award, which provides $6,000 to one outstanding student each year who represents the Foundation’s mission to support education.
She submitted a scholarship application, told her story in front of a committee that was impressed by her inspiring experience as a child and her enduring resilience as a teenager, but didn’t expect to achieve such an accomplishment.
“Having people support me in mentorship, like people at Schoolcraft, that believe in me is really important,” Nunez-Conley said. “It’s different than believing in yourself. Knowing that other people do too is nice. Luckily, I’ve been able to get through the first year. So just the fact I’ll have a scholarship now, and I’ll be able to work goes a long way.”
When she was 17, she worked in long-term care, where she provided memory care and assisted living services for senior patients. She also worked in classrooms as a paraprofessional supporting children. These experiences further established her stewardship for others. As a result, she intends to work in pediatrics or geriatrics as a nurse or continue her paraprofessional career. Whichever path she takes, helping others is her number one priority.
“Growing up, I learned how much kindness, patience, and consistency from adults can impact a child,” Nunez-Conley said. “I want to be the kind of nurse who not only provides medical care, but also creates an environment where children feel safe and understood. Even small moments of reassurance can make a lasting difference in a child’s life, and that’s the kind of impact I hope to have.”
She took another leap toward spreading this impact when she began working part-time as a nurse technician at Corewell Health in August. She’ll gain vital clinical experience through shadowing registered nurses, becoming accustomed to the medical field and learning the tricks of the trade as she works toward her degree. In this role, she’s one step closer to living her life in service to others,
“I’m excited. I feel like it’ll give me experience,” Nunez-Conley said. “It’s good being that person of support when family’s not there. I really like working one-on-one with patients. Clinicals are really good too. We are only there one to two days a week, so it’ll be more hands-on practice. They told me that if I do end up liking the unit and want to work there, I’ll have a job.”
Now that she has won the Foundation’s most prestigious scholarship, Nunez-Conley can comfortably focus on her future. She will graduate from Schoolcraft in May 2027 and intends to enroll at Oakland University for their seamless integration with Schoolcraft. Her long-term goal is to obtain a master’s degree in nursing, and like the nurses who made an impact on her grandfather, she hopes to carry that legacy forward by making a difference in the lives of others, just as the Foundation has done for her.