By Jessica Brkljacich ’25

The woman I admire most in my life is my grandma Lynn. My grandma grew up in Chicago on the east side area. In one house there were her parents, her four brothers and her two sisters. She had to share a room with her sisters. She went to school at Jane Adams Elementary School and went to high school at St. Francis De Sales where she met my grandpa at. Growing up my grandma was a good student, a good softball player, but her biggest responsibility was helping her mom take care of her sister who has a mental disability. After my great grandmother passed away my grandma cared for my Aunt Lori which she still does to this day. She found my great aunt a nice home to live in with 24 hour care. It is two hours away and my grandma goes and sees her every other weekend. She talks to Aunt Lori on the phone everyday. She orders her a pizza every Friday and makes sure she has everything she needs like clothes and snacks. This is just one reason I chose my grandma as the person I admire.

Another reason I chose my grandma Lynn as the person I admire is because she is the most loving person I know. She has always been a big part of my life,my brother’s life and my sister’s life. When I was younger her and grandpa would come visit us all the time. They would sit and play games,  read, tell stories and take us to many places. We went to the Smoky Mountains , St. Louis, Branson and many other places. Everytime any of us had a problem or needed anything she was always there to help. She says I love you all the time and I know she means it. My mother passed away in 2017. After my mom died, my grandma would drive to our house everyday in the morning and get us ready for school and take us there. Then at the end of the day, she would be there to pick us up. 

In March of 2021 my grandpa passed away of cancer. When he got really sick , him and my grandma moved in with us. On top of taking care of my grandpa, my grandma would still find the time to help us. After he passed away we moved into a bigger house and my grandma moved in with us. Everyday she still makes sure we get up for school and takes us. She picks us up from school. Sometimes she makes dinner. She takes us to doctors appointments or dentist appointments if my dad can’t. She takes us to many places. She helps me with girl issues that my dad can’t help me with. My dad always says he would be lost without his mom and I feel the same way. I would be lost without my grandma. Still to this day she finds the time to help us, take care of her sister and spend time with my aunt Katie who is married and has a son Noah. Grandma Lynn always puts other people before herself. She never asks for anything from anyone. She is caring, loving, hard working and selfless. She will give you the shirt off her back.

I love my Grandma Lynn so much and I appreciate everything she has done and is doing for us. That is why I chose my grandma as the woman I admire the most in life.