Madeline Grace Memorial Scholarship

Pursuing a degree in mental health nursing is about more than just acquiring knowledge and clinical skills - it is about embarking on a journey to change the world, one compassionate interaction at a time. As a woman with this specialized training, I will be uniquely positioned to tackle one of society's greatest challenges: breaking down the stigma surrounding mental illness and ensuring that all individuals have access to high-quality, comprehensive care. One of the most powerful tools I will wield is understanding. Through my studies, I will gain invaluable insights into the complexities of the human mind and the myriad factors that can contribute to mental health struggles. This deeper comprehension will allow me to approach each patient interaction with empathy, free from judgment or preconceived notions. In a world where mental illness is still so widely misunderstood, this capacity for genuine understanding has the power to transform lives. Furthermore, as a mental health nurse, I will have the opportunity to serve as an advocate and educator, both for my patients and for the broader community. Too often, those grappling with mental health issues feel isolated and alone, their struggles exacerbated by societal stigma and a lack of awareness. By openly discussing these topics, providing accurate information, and working to dispel harmful myths and stereotypes, I can help create a helpful and encouraging environment. As a mental health nurse, I will also play a pivotal role in destigmatizing and raising awareness about mental illness within the healthcare system itself. Too often, mental health is treated as an afterthought or viewed through an antiquated lens. By integrating mental healthcare into broader treatment plans and advocating for parity between mental and physical health services, I can help drive meaningful change from within the medical field. Underpinning all of these efforts will be my passion for patient-centered, holistic care. I will strive to treat each individual as a whole person, not just a diagnosis or set of symptoms. This means considering how mental health intersects with physical, emotional, social, and spiritual wellbeing. It means developing personalized treatment plans that empower patients to be active participants in their own healing journeys. And it means fighting for equitable access to mental healthcare, regardless of a person's background or circumstances. Of course, changing deeply entrenched societal attitudes and overhauling complex systems is no small feat. There will be obstacles and setbacks along the way. But armed with perseverance, compassion, and an unwavering belief in human potential, I am confident that I can be an agent of positive transformation. Each life touched, each mind opened, each barrier dismantled will propel us closer to a world where mental health isn't overlooked, voices will be heard. Disorders will be known.

As a young black woman, I believe that there are not enough black doctors in the healthcare industry. Historically, black bodies have been treated as experimental objects, from slavery to the Tuskegee experiments, and even today. Even today, African American women often experience substandard medical care, as evidenced by documented health crises of celebrities such as Beyonce and Serena Williams. Tensions remain between the black community and the healthcare industry. Learning about these things frustrated me and broke my heart. However, by watching doctors in my family advocate for the black community, my passion for medicine grew. By seeing their example, I too wanted to become a doctor so I could make a difference in the healthcare industry. I’ve channeled this passion into my schoolwork, and plan to continue this work as I pursue my undergraduate degree. In college, I plan to major in biology or biochemistry and graduate with a Bachelor of Science with a minor in business. After my bachelor’s degree, I hope to attend medical school and get my medical degree. My first choice school is Spelman College, an all-girls HBCU in Atlanta, Georgia. Spelman‘s mission embodies everything that I value – unity, empowerment, faith, and intersectionality. I hope that through my experience attending a women's college, I can be molded and empowered into the community-minded leader that I intend to be. After I graduate from Spelman, I hope to attend medical school at Duke, Emory, or Columbia. By obtaining both my bachelor's and medical degrees, I will be able to complete my medical residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology. As the political climate in this country is so turbulent, I want to be a woman who protects and advocates for women's health. Because black women are three times more likely to die in labor than white women, I also hope to become an OBGYN so that I can advocate for the proper treatment and healthcare for black women. As a doctor, I will be able to pursue my interests in science, while gaining the power to bridge the gap between the black community and the healthcare industry. I hope to use some of my education in business to eventually open my medical practice in an African American community. I’m excited to take strides in my community, improving the quality of life for as many women as I can while fighting for the healthcare industry to be something that supports and helps everyone equally. I want to use my intelligence and work ethic to save lives and change lives through medicine. I also aspire to be a woman in my community that encourages younger girls. I hope that my example will inspire other young women to become leaders of change in their communities. I want my impact to be an inspiration to women all over the world, showing them that they have the power to infiltrate spaces where they want to make a difference.

I can personally relate to Madeline's family through the death of my older sister. January 12 should have been a day of tremendous joy for my parents but instead, my oldest sister Lilli was stillborn. The incredible team of nurses helped my parents through the entire process of losing a child and has influenced my decision to become a nurse. That same team of nurses later aided in the delivery of me and each of my four siblings over the course of a decade. While I wasn't alive at the time of her death, it has shaped my family and how we were raised. On the anniversary of Lilli's death for the past twenty-five years, we celebrate her life together as a family. We all take the day off to spend time together in celebration of her impact on our lives and how our family has evolved since then. My family donates to the labor and delivery ward each year and visits the nurses. I hope that when I become a nurse I am able to have the same impact that these nurses had on my family. I plan to attend Ohio State University in the fall to pursue my BSN. After graduation, I hope to work in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit while furthering my education with a PhD in nursing to become a nurse practitioner. This summer, I intend to shadow a nurse in the NICU to get hands-on experience working in a hospital. During the pandemic, I crocheted over 25 newborn hats and gave them to a close family friend who is a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner at Rainbow Babies Children's Hospital in Cleveland Ohio. As well, I participate in a church-led program called Breathe where we give the families of special needs children a night out while providing safe and appropriate care for all of their children. I have been paired with children with a variety of disabilities, one year working with six-month-old twins on the autism spectrum and another time using my knowledge and fluency in American Sign Language to work with an older, nonverbal participant. While I have loved every child I worked with, babies have always had a special place in my heart. When faced with the decision between going to nursing school and taking the pre-med track, it was apparent nursing school was the best fit for me. While doctors work with the illnesses it is the nurses that are with the patient through the duration of their hospital stay. I decided to become a nurse to make connections with patients and help them through the most difficult parts of their lives. I want to be able to connect with families and help them in the same way the nurses did with my family. I appreciate your consideration for the Madeline Grace Memorial Scholarship. It would be a privilege to honor Madeline and my sister Lilli through the use of these funds in pursuit of my nursing career.