Fall 2025 Winner of the Caregiver Scholarship

Kailee Hughes

Kailee’s journey of experiencing both sides of caregiving has shaped her passion for supporting others in similar situations. Drawing strength from her mother and grandmother, she is committed to making a lasting difference for those who have chronic illnesses or are caregivers themselves. Congratulations, Kailee — we admire your resilience!

Read her essay here

Caregiving is often described as a labor of love, an invisible thread of sacrifice, compassion, and resilience woven into the lives of those who give and receive it. For me, this thread runs deep, beginning when I was diagnosed with lupus in 2016. As a teenager, I found myself navigating a complex and chronic illness that disrupted my daily life. Through this, my grandmother became my caregiver and my anchor. She managed my doctor’s appointments, medication schedules, and unpredictable flares, all while nurturing my emotional well-being and encouraging my academic ambitions. Her presence during one of the darkest times of my life showed me what it meant to truly show up for someone else, even when the world doesn’t always notice. My grandmother never asked for recognition. She never once complained, even when her own body was tired. Watching her move through the demands of caregiving with patience and grace instilled in me a profound respect for caretakers and a desire to live my life in service of others. At the time, I didn’t fully understand the depth of her strength. I just knew that without her, I wouldn’t have been able to stay on track in school, let alone believe that I could pursue college and a professional career.

However, in 2021, our roles shifted once again. My mother, who had always been a source of emotional support for both of us, fell seriously ill. It was a devastating transition. Suddenly, my grandmother and I were responsible not just for managing my lupus, but for caring for her as well. This time, I wasn’t just a patient I became a caregiver too. I helped coordinate my mother’s medical care, assisted with her physical needs, and offered emotional support as her health declined. All of this occurred while I was an undergraduate student, striving to earn my degree and build a foundation for my future.

Balancing school and caregiving wasn’t easy. There were moments when I felt torn between two worlds, one that demanded academic performance and one that required emotional strength and maturity beyond my years. I studied in waiting rooms, submitted assignments in between medical appointments, and often chose caregiving responsibilities over sleep or social activities. Yet through it all, I kept going. I knew that the sacrifices I was making were meaningful, both for my family and for the person I was becoming. These experiences changed my priorities in ways I could not have anticipated. While many of my peers were focused on internships or campus activities, I was learning how to advocate in hospitals, how to navigate insurance systems, and how to manage a household under the weight of illness. I came to understand that health is not just a medical issue it’s emotional, psychological, and deeply personal. Caregiving opened my eyes to the gaps in our healthcare system and the emotional toll chronic illness takes on both patients and families.

As a result, I found my purpose. My long-term goal is to become a licensed health psychologist, with a focus on chronic illness and caregiver support. I want to serve as a bridge between clinical care and emotional healing. I want to help families like mine, those who are quietly holding everything together behind the scenes, find the support, resources, and understanding they need. Living both sides of the caregiving experience has given me an empathy that cannot be taught in textbooks and a determination that fuels everything I do.

Being a caregiver has made me more resilient, more focused, and more committed to a life of service. It has shifted my perspective from self-centered ambition to purpose-driven work. I now approach every goal, academic, personal, or professional, with the mindset of someone who has been in the trenches and comes out stronger. I know how to prioritize what truly matters. I know how to show up, even when it’s hard. And I know that I want to spend my life helping others do the same. As I look toward the future, I carry with me the lessons passed down by the two strongest women I know, my grandmother and my mother. Their love and strength have shaped me into a woman who refuses to give up, who leads with compassion, and who is determined to make a difference. The caregiving journey has been painful, beautiful, and transformative, and it is the foundation upon which I will build the rest of my life.