Losing someone so close to you is one of the hardest things someone can go through. I lost my 16-year-old sister, Lorelei, on January 19th, 2025. Reading about Kalia reminded me so much of Lorelei. Kalia and Lorelei both had an amazing work ethic and were always doing their best in everything. Lorelei was also the most encouraging and supportive person I have ever met. Her friends, teammates, and classmates knew they could always go to her for a laugh or a big smile. I started volunteering with the Big Brother Big Sister program in November 2025. Being a big sister to Lorelei was such a huge part of my life. I saw an ad for the Big Brother Big Sister program in the summer of 2025 and started thinking about volunteering. I wanted to get started with my second year of college and get settled in before I started. I was also conflicted because I didn’t want it to seem like I was replacing Lorelei. Because nothing could ever replace her. But eventually, I decided to become a Big Sister for BBBS, and it has been such a rewarding experience. My Little Sister’s name is Harper, and she is 8. We have had a great time together these past few months. It has been amazing seeing Harper’s growth since I met her. It’s been great being her mentor and “big sister.” Lorelei was the brightest light and strongest person I have ever known. I know everyone always says, “they lit up the room” when someone passes. But when I say that, she truly did. Lorelei brought a presence to every room that could not be ignored. Lorelei was always happy, giving out hugs and smiling so big with her dimples at everyone. I will never forget the time I spent with Lorelei and everything we did together. I started doing theatre and plays when I was 7. As younger siblings usually do, Lorelei copied me and started doing plays with me as soon as she could. At first, I was annoyed because she was “copying me,” but looking back, I know it’s because she wanted to spend time with me and be like me. Lorelei also joined volleyball because I did too. Lorelei fell in love with it and joined so many other sports as well. She was in powerlifting, basketball, volleyball, and her favorite, softball. I loved watching Lorelei at her games, whether it was on a softball field, a court, or a gym. I loved watching Lorelei do what she loved. Whenever I feel discouraged or feel like giving up, I think of Lorelei and how strong she was. Going back to college after Lorelei died was one of the hardest things I’ve done. I was 2 ½ hours away from my parents and the rest of my family, I didn’t have many good friends in college yet, and I was grieving so much. But I kept thinking about Lorelei and how she would tell me to suck it up and do my best. Reading about Kalia reminded me of Lorelei and how the joy both of them brought to this world is too big to measure. Kalia’s ambition, drive, and heart are what really led me to apply for this scholarship. It connected with Lorelei’s ambition, drive, and heart as well. Thank you for considering my application for this scholarship.

Social work. That is my career of choice. I’ve always had a deep desire to help others. Even during times when I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do with my future, I always knew that I wanted to make a positive impact on people's lives. Social work offers a unique opportunity to do that, with countless paths to help individuals and communities. Whether it’s providing support to those experiencing mental health challenges, helping families navigate difficult times, or advocating for people in need, social work provides endless avenues to make a difference. This is what I love most about it: there is no one-size-fits-all path, and I am constantly inspired by the variety of ways I can contribute to bettering someone’s life. However, the road to pursuing my dream hasn’t come without its sacrifices. One of the hardest decisions I've made in my journey toward becoming a social worker was returning to college after a devastating personal loss. Over winter break, just a week before I was supposed to return to school, I was working lots to earn some extra money. I was preparing for work one morning when I received the terrifying news that my sister might have been in an accident. I waited anxiously for my parents to come home, hoping and praying they would tell me it was a minor incident, that she was okay. But it wasn’t okay. My sweet, beautiful 16-year-old sister had died. It was the worst day of my life, a day I will never forget. In the aftermath, I felt completely lost and unsure of what to do, especially with college just around the corner. For days, I struggled with the decision of whether I should return to school. It felt like the weight of the world was on my shoulders. Ultimately, I decided to reach out to the dean of students to explain my situation. After some back-and-forth, we came to the conclusion that I would take the first two weeks of the semester off to grieve and be with my family. Returning to school after that time away has been incredibly difficult. Every day has been a reminder of the deep pain I carry, but I also know my sister would have wanted me to keep moving forward. She was always so supportive of my dreams, and I carry her memory with me as motivation to push through the tough days. The biggest sacrifice I’ve made in pursuit of my education has been the emotional cost of leaving my family. I’m not extremely far away, but the distance between us sometimes feels unbearable. I miss the comfort of being with them, and it’s hard to find my footing without them nearby. But even in the face of such hardship, I am determined to continue on this path because I know that by becoming a social worker, I will honor my sister’s memory by helping others the way she would have wanted me to.

Gummy Candies Worms Berries Sharks Peaches Types of milk Whole Oat Almond Raw Different Types of Donuts Hole Cake Apple Cider Filled Foods that are also baby names Sage Kale Graham Brie Gummy Candies: Gummy worms Gummy berries (Haribo) Gummy sharks (Favorite Day, target) Gummy peaches (Haribo) Types of milk: Whole milk (cow milk that hasn't had its fat removed) Oat milk (dairy-free alternative to milk made from oats) Almond milk (dairy-free alternative to milk made from almonds) Raw milk (milk from an animal that has not been pasteurized) Different Types of Donuts: Hole (small round donut in shape of a ball) Cake (donut made from a cake-like batter) Apple Cider (cake/buttermilk donut infused with apple cider and typically spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg) Filled (a donut with filling such as jelly/jam, or a pastry cream) Foods That Are Also Baby Names: Sage (a unisex name, although typically it is a girl name, that means wise or prophet. Also a culinary herb in the mint family that is used to flavor dishes) Kale (a unisex name, although more commonly given to males, meaning affectionate or calm. Also a leafy, green vegetable belonging to the cabbage family) Graham (a Scottish boy name meaning "gravelly homestead. Also a type of cracker (graham crackers) Brie (A French girl name deriving from an old French word "bri" meaning brick or warmth. Also a soft cow's milk cheese named after the Brie region of France)

It was a morning, Sunday, January 19th, 2025, when my 16-year-old sister, Lorelei, unexpectedly died in a car accident. Lorelei was one of the happiest people you would ever meet. She had so much passion for everything. She was very, very involved in theatre and drama club, played volleyball, did powerlifting, and absolutely loved softball. Lorelei was artistic and creative in the band and the choir. She touched the lives of so many people. Even though it hasn’t been too long without her, her absence has greatly impacted me. The amount of community members who were there for me and my family was so heartwarming. Hearing all the stories of how Lorelei touched people’s lives was comforting. When it happened, I was on my winter break from college and was supposed to go back the following week. I took the first two weeks of the semester off and am now back. It has been a huge adjustment, and it’s really hard. But I know Lorelei would want me to keep going. Navigating my grief has been very difficult, I have never experienced a loss this great before. I have lost some friends and family members, but I never imagined I would lose my baby sister this early. My grief has helped me continue the career path I am choosing, social work. After my loss, I just wanted more and more to be able to help people. Lorelei touched so many lives and helped people, and I want to continue that for her. I want to continue Lorelei's legacy and spread her love for people. Navigating my grief is making me stronger because Lorelei was one of the strongest people I knew and I will continue to be strong for her. Someday, I do want to use my grief to help others. I want to be able to share what I have gone through and help people go through things at their own pace. I am not quite ready to use my grief to help others, because I need to help myself first before I am able to help others the way I would like to. Whenever I want to give up and go home, I remind myself to be strong and keep going for my sweet baby sister. She was the brightest, most beautiful light who lit up every room she was in. I am doing this all for Lorelei. A little backstory about the picture I have chosen: The night before Lorelei passed away, we went out to have a fun little night. We went to Target and TJ Maxx (two of our favorite places to go together), and we went out to eat and got Crumbl cookies. The picture is Lorelei and me in TJ Maxx. It is the last picture I have with her. I will forever cherish that picture and the memory of that night.

Social work. That is my career of choice. I’ve always had a deep desire to help others. Even during times when I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do with my future, I always knew that I wanted to make a positive impact on people's lives. Social work offers a unique opportunity to do that, with countless paths to help individuals and communities. Whether it’s providing support to those experiencing mental health challenges, helping families navigate difficult times, or advocating for people in need, social work provides endless avenues to make a difference. This is what I love most about it: there is no one-size-fits-all path, and I am constantly inspired by the variety of ways I can contribute to bettering someone’s life. However, the road to pursuing my dream hasn’t come without its sacrifices. One of the hardest decisions I've made in my journey toward becoming a social worker was returning to college after a devastating personal loss. Over winter break, just a week before I was supposed to return to school, I was working lots to earn some extra money. I was preparing for work one morning when I received the terrifying news that my sister might have been in an accident. I waited anxiously for my parents to come home, hoping and praying they would tell me it was a minor incident, that she was okay. But it wasn’t okay. My sweet, beautiful 16-year-old sister had died. It was the worst day of my life, a day I will never forget. In the aftermath, I felt completely lost and unsure of what to do, especially with college just around the corner. For days, I struggled with the decision of whether I should return to school. It felt like the weight of the world was on my shoulders. Ultimately, I decided to reach out to the dean of students to explain my situation. After some back-and-forth, we came to the conclusion that I would take the first two weeks of the semester off to grieve and be with my family. Returning to school after that time away has been incredibly difficult. Every day has been a reminder of the deep pain I carry, but I also know my sister would have wanted me to keep moving forward. She was always so supportive of my dreams, and I carry her memory with me as motivation to push through the tough days. The biggest sacrifice I’ve made in pursuit of my education has been the emotional cost of leaving my family. I’m not extremely far away, but the distance between us sometimes feels unbearable. I miss the comfort of being with them, and it’s hard to find my footing without them nearby. But even in the face of such hardship, I am determined to continue on this path because I know that by becoming a social worker, I will honor my sister’s memory by helping others the way she would have wanted me to.

It was a Sunday when my 16-year-old sister, Lorelei, woke me up for work an hour early. My mom thought I worked at 8, but I didn’t work until 9. Usually, when Lorelei wakes me up, I yell at her, but that morning I didn’t. Lorelei woke me up right before she left for her softball winter workout. I lay in my bed for a while until I decided I wasn’t going to be able to fall back asleep, so I got dressed for work. I went out into the living room and teased my mom because she had Lorelei wake me up too early. She seemed very off. She told me that Lorelei's Life360 wasn’t updating and that my dad went to check the spot it showed she was at (which was about a 3-minute drive from our house). I was still sort of calm, thinking that Life360 doesn’t update sometimes, and it would be okay. My mom was getting dressed to go meet my dad there. A few minutes later, my dad’s truck pulled into the driveway. I ran out to the car and asked if Lorelei was okay. He was crying and said there had been an accident. I’ve only ever seen my dad cry twice in my life before—once when he took me to his father’s grave, and again for his uncle’s funeral. I was trying to hold it together. I hugged him, and I started crying, repeating, “It will be okay, she will be okay.” He told me I probably shouldn’t go to work. My mom came out to go with my dad, and then my dad told me I should stay home. I went inside and started sobbing, repeating, “Please be okay, Lorelei.” I went to her room, grabbed her childhood bear, and started praying. I don’t pray often. I was pacing around the house, waiting for my parents to come home and tell me Lorelei would be okay. When they came home, I ran to the door. “She’s gone.” I collapsed on the floor and started screaming “No” over and over again. I found out that she had been driving and swerved for something (probably a deer, as there are usually lots of deer on that road) and hit a tree. It was instant. This happened on January 19th, 2025. Lorelei was 16 years old and one of the happiest people you would ever meet. She had so much passion for everything. She was very, very involved in theatre and drama club, played volleyball, did powerlifting, and absolutely loved softball. Lorelei was artistic and creative; she was in the band and the choir. She touched the lives of so many people. Even though it hasn’t been too long without her, her absence has made a huge impact on me. The amount of community members who were there for me and my family was so heartwarming. Hearing all the stories of how Lorelei touched people’s lives was comforting. When it happened, I was on my winter break from college and was supposed to go back the following week. I took the first two weeks of the semester off and am now back. It has been a huge adjustment, and it’s really hard. But I know Lorelei would want me to keep going. Whenever I want to give up and go home, I remind myself to be strong and keep going for my sweet baby sister. She was the brightest, most beautiful light who lit up every room she was in. I am doing this all for Lorelei.

It was a Sunday when my 16-year-old sister, Lorelei, woke me up for work an hour early. My mom thought I worked at 8, but I didn’t work until 9. Usually, when Lorelei wakes me up, I yell at her, but that morning I didn’t. Lorelei woke me up right before she left for her softball winter workout. I lay in my bed for a while until I decided I wasn’t going to be able to fall back asleep, so I got dressed for work. I went out into the living room and teased my mom because she had Lorelei wake me up too early. She seemed very off. She told me that Lorelei's Life360 wasn’t updating and that my dad went to check the spot it showed she was at (which was about a 3-minute drive from our house). I was still sort of calm, thinking that Life360 doesn’t update sometimes, and it would be okay. My mom was getting dressed to go meet my dad there. A few minutes later, my dad’s truck pulled into the driveway. I ran out to the car and asked if Lorelei was okay. He was crying and said there had been an accident. I’ve only ever seen my dad cry twice in my life before—once when he took me to his father’s grave, and again for his uncle’s funeral. I was trying to hold it together. I hugged him, and I started crying, repeating, “It will be okay, she will be okay.” He told me I probably shouldn’t go to work. My mom came out to go with my dad, and then my dad told me I should stay home. I went inside and started sobbing, repeating, “Please be okay, Lorelei.” I went to her room, grabbed her childhood bear, and started praying. I don’t pray often. I was pacing around the house, waiting for my parents to come home and tell me Lorelei would be okay. When they came home, I ran to the door. “She’s gone.” I collapsed on the floor and started screaming “No” over and over again. I found out that she had been driving and swerved for something (probably a deer, as there are usually lots of deer on that road) and hit a tree. It was instant. This happened on January 19th, 2025. Lorelei was 16 years old and one of the happiest people you would ever meet. She had so much passion for everything. She was very, very involved in theatre and drama club, played volleyball, did powerlifting, and absolutely loved softball. Lorelei was artistic and creative; she was in the band and the choir. She touched the lives of so many people. Even though it hasn’t been too long without her, her absence has made a huge impact on me. The amount of community members who were there for me and my family was so heartwarming. Hearing all the stories of how Lorelei touched people’s lives was comforting. When it happened, I was on my winter break from college and was supposed to go back the following week. I took the first two weeks of the semester off and am now back. It has been a huge adjustment, and it’s really hard. But I know Lorelei would want me to keep going. Whenever I want to give up and go home, I remind myself to be strong and keep going for my sweet baby sister. She was the brightest, most beautiful light who lit up every room she was in. I am doing this all for Lorelei.

The first time I saw Wicked on stage, I was 5. My parents took me to Appleton, Wisconsin, to see it. I have always had a love for musical theatre, so I was very excited to see it. I remember being mesmerized by the monkeys flying above the stage. After the show, I wanted a Wicked birthday party so bad. My parents said nobody my age would know what that is, so I settled with a Wizard of Oz birthday party. Surprisingly, not many kids knew what The Wizard of Oz was. But I was still extremely happy with my party. Wicked is such an extraordinary production, every time I see it, I get goosebumps. I could talk for hours about how fascinated I am with Wicked. I am lucky enough to have been able to see Wicked while in New York City on Broadway twice. The first time was July 2022. My Mom and I went, and it was such an amazing experience. I felt like a kid seeing the monkeys flying for the first time again. There’s really no word to describe this show other than magical. The Dragon is also such an iconic set piece. I was able to see it again in August 2023. That time I got to see it with my little sister and my parents. After that show my family got to meet the guy who was playing Fiero. He was so kind and talked to everyone for a bit. We learned that right before COVID hit, he was supposed to be playing Fiero on tour in Madison, Wisconsin. My family was supposed to go where he was going to be. Another reason I love Wicked is because I have always felt a connection with Elphaba. She was teased for something she couldn’t control. And I have always been teased in school because I have a circular birthmark on my forehead. I always felt a little connection with her because of that. Like her, I have also had some trouble making friends, but I have eventually found some great ones. I also love Galinda because I love pink. Every time I have seen Wicked, I love it even more. I have been waiting for this movie for years. There used to be rumors all the time about a Wicked movie, and I am overjoyed that it’s finally happening. From the music to the acting, to the set and production itself. Wicked is such a magical show. Whenever someone asks my favorite show, or what show they should see, I always recommend Wicked. It is a beautiful production I think everyone should be able to see at least once in their lives. Now that the movie is coming out, that makes it so much easier for people to see this magical show.