From Personal Pain to Public Purpose by Madison

From Personal Pain to Public Purpose by Madison - March 2026 Scholarship Essay

One of the most meaningful ways I have helped someone came from an experience that was very personal to my family. In 2023, my grandmother was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a rare form of blood cancer that disproportionately affects Black communities but is often not widely discussed. Watching someone I love face such a serious illness was difficult, but it also motivated me to take action instead of feeling helpless.
I decided to get involved with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Student Visionaries program and started a fundraising and awareness campaign called Mimi’s Legacy, named in honor of my grandmother. As the team captain, my responsibility was not only to raise money but also to bring people together around a cause that many of them had never heard about before. I recruited classmates, organized meetings, and coordinated outreach efforts to encourage others to get involved. We hosted fundraising events, reached out to community members, and shared information about multiple myeloma and blood cancers.
One moment that stood out to me happened during a conversation with a community member who had lost a family member to a blood cancer years earlier. They shared how meaningful it was to see young people advocating for awareness and research. Hearing that reminded me that the work we were doing was about more than fundraising; it was about giving people hope and making them feel seen. Knowing that our efforts could help patients and families facing similar challenges made every hour of planning and organizing worthwhile.
Through this experience, I learned a lot about myself. First, I realized that I have the ability to lead and inspire others when I care deeply about something. Leading a campaign required persistence, organization, and confidence. There were times when people did not respond to emails or when fundraising slowed down, but I learned how to stay motivated and encourage my team to keep going.
I also discovered how powerful community support can be. When people understand the impact of a cause, they often want to help in any way they can. By sharing my grandmother’s story, I was able to connect with others on a personal level and encourage them to become part of the mission. It taught me that vulnerability can be a strength when it helps bring awareness to important issues.
Most importantly, this experience taught me that even as a student, I have the ability to create meaningful change. Helping others does not always require a large platform; it starts with caring enough to take action. Whether it was organizing a fundraiser, educating someone about multiple myeloma, or encouraging a teammate who felt overwhelmed, every small effort contributed to something larger than me.
Looking back, helping advocate for my grandmother and others affected by blood cancer helped me grow as a leader and as a person. It strengthened my sense of purpose and reinforced my desire to continue serving others in my community. It also reminded me that when we turn difficult experiences into opportunities to help others, we can create lasting impact.