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.