One year ago, pools of sweat filled the palms of his hands and his heart pounded out of nervousness -- this moment was about to change his life forever. Out of 1,000 scholarship applicants and 14 semifinalists, he was the only African-American male. He remembers uttering Philippians 4:13 and battling his own nervous thoughts with prayer. With high honor, he was awarded $90,000 to cover the costs of pursuing a doctoral degree.

This is the story of future DNP in Nurse Anesthesia, RN Fred Reed.

Lake Providence, Louisiana was named the poorest place in America by TIMES magazine in 2000. For many this title was a disappointment, but Reed decided he would use it as a challenge. As a child, he looked around his small town with a heavy heart as he noticed the shortage of successful and influential black men to model. But many of his family and teachers saw potential and pushed him to take advantage of every chance to be successful.

Being raised by only his mother, who has been a nurse since he was an infant, Reed was introduced to many opportunities to care for the elderly. It wasn't until he was 13 when he witnessed St. Jude's nurses care for his 17-year-old uncle who was battling Leukemia, that he officially decided he wanted to become a registered nurse. He said it would be his personal form of ministry.

Reed knew to obtain this dream he had to excel in school to secure scholarships for college. With a 25 on the ACT and valedictorian of his high school class, he was awarded full scholarships to Southern University and A&M college where he majored in nursing. He graduated Magna Cum Laude and as Valedictorian of his Nursing class. Later, Reed received his Masters in Nursing Leadership from Grand Canyon University.

During his Thanksgiving breaks, Reed and his grandmother (who passed away while he was in nursing school) would pick pecans and "she would make the best teacakes in the world," Reed claimed. She had so much wisdom and, though physically petite, was the strongest matriarch he had ever encountered. Reed believes it was memories of his grandmother that allowed him to look past how poor his family was because the poverty was overshadowed by unconditional love they have for each other.

With his feet pressed firmly to the floor and his eyes meeting their own reflection, he recited these words: "Excuses are a crutch for the uncommitted. I am closer to my dreams, but far from my destiny."

This is how Fred Reed meets the beginning of every new day.