As the youngest of five children, I had a very close relationship with my mother. At seven years old, I witnessed firsthand my loving, caring mother spiral into alcoholism. For two years, I watched my mother's actions tear apart my family before she left to start a new one. My father had to support five children on a limited income while working long hours every week. Even so, my father always made sure to instill good values in us. Growing up without a mother, I learned to be independent and resilient. These qualities became vital when all four of my grandparents were diagnosed with cancer. I saw how devastating this illness could be when I lost my grandmother to it. This made me realise the importance of these diagnoses as I witnessed the effects that they had on the people I loved. These experiences pushed me to strive for greatness both academically and in my future aspirations. As a student, I participated in sports all four years, as well as being a member of the student senate, the Philanthropy Board in Jackson County, Business Professionals of America, and the National Honor Society. In the fall of my sophomore year, I began working towards two degrees through the Eastern Iowa Community College while completing my high school education. In May of 2026, I will graduate from the Eastern Iowa Community College with both an Associate of Arts degree and an Associate of Science degree, as well as graduating from Maquoketa High School with my high school diploma. In the fall of 2026, I will begin attending the University of Iowa, majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. I will begin taking the courses required for my degree, as well as the prerequisite courses for admission to medical school. My personal experience with serious illnesses and how large an impact they can have on people's lives has propelled me on a path toward medical school. Seeing how these illnesses affect people has shown me the importance of healthcare and inspired me to work towards a career in medicine. I intend on participating in undergraduate research at the University of Iowa, as well as working at the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital to gain experience in the field. This scholarship will help to ease the financial burden that my education has put on me, as a student pursuing such a difficult career I understand the level of effort that I will have to put forth to succeed, and I am aware that this will require a large amount of time. This scholarship will allow me to focus on my education as well as my future rather than stress about finances.

As the youngest of five children, I had a very close relationship with my mother. At seven years old, I witnessed firsthand my loving, caring mother spiral into alcoholism. For two years, I watched my mother's actions tear apart my family before she left to start a new one. My father had to support five children on a limited income while working long hours every week. Even so, my father always made sure to instill good values in us. Growing up without a mother, I learned to be independent and resilient. These qualities became vital when all four of my grandparents were diagnosed with cancer. I saw how devastating this illness could be when I lost my grandmother to it. This made me realise the importance of these diagnoses as I witnessed the effects that they had on the people I loved. These experiences pushed me to strive for greatness both academically and in my future aspirations. As a student, I participated in sports all four years, as well as being a member of the student senate, the Philanthropy Board in Jackson County, Business Professionals of America, and the National Honor Society. In the fall of my sophomore year, I began working towards two degrees through the Eastern Iowa Community College while completing my high school education. In May of 2026, I will graduate from the Eastern Iowa Community College with both an Associate of Arts degree and an Associate of Science degree, as well as graduating from Maquoketa High School with my high school diploma. In the fall of 2026, I will begin attending the University of Iowa, majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. I will begin taking the courses required for my degree, as well as the prerequisite courses for admission to medical school. My personal experience with serious illnesses and how large an impact they can have on people's lives has propelled me on a path toward medical school. Seeing how these illnesses affect people has shown me the importance of healthcare and inspired me to work towards a career in medicine. I intend on participating in undergraduate research at the University of Iowa, as well as working at the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital to gain experience in the field. This scholarship will help to ease the financial burden that my education has put on me, as a student pursuing such a difficult career I understand the level of effort that I will have to put forth to succeed, and I am aware that this will require a large amount of time. This scholarship will allow me to focus on my education as well as my future rather than stress about finances.