Inspiring Graduate | Mackenzie Sydow

Enter the Sydow home in Albuquerque and the powerful and loving bond between Mackenzie Sydow and her brother Michael is immediately noticeable. A large canvas photograph of the siblings hugging and smiling greets visitors as they enter the home and photos of the two dot the wall next to a sign that proclaims, "This is us. Our life. Our story. Our home."

Sydow will graduate this month from The University of New Mexico with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Community Health. The path to her diploma has been a tumultuous one.

Originally, Sydow had planned to become a nurse. Her mother was in nursing school and her grandmother was a nurse.

"So that kind of influenced me to become a nurse as well so that's what I initially went to UNM for since they have a great program for that."

Circumstances in her family life upended those plans.

In 2016, their mother was found murdered in rural New Mexico when Sydow was a young teen and her brother was a child. Michael is autistic and nonverbal and requires intensive care. Then, in 2018, she came home from school and found their father on the patio, dead from a heart attack. She had just turned 18.

"So, after my father passed away, and it was just me and my brother, I think it was kind of a flight or fight response," Sydow said. "I knew that I didn't want anybody else taking care of my brother, because we're a unit and we're the package..."

"I was not only being his sister, but a mom, I guess you could say, and then also a teacher. And so, with all of those things, it's definitely exhausting, but nothing a good Red Bull and some faith can't fix."

Inspiring Graduate Mackenzie Sydow, UNM Class of 2024

Despite her youthful age, Sydow went to court to become Michael's guardian and succeeded. Their story was told on the local TV news.

"There was not a dry eye in the courtroom," recalled grandmother Christine Sydow, who now lives with the siblings and helps care for Michael.

"I think I was always prepared to take care of my brother… And with God's timing and God's plan, I think when I had turned 18, it was almost like, 'OK, well, I'm gonna finish high school. I'm not gonna let this stop me, and I'm gonna take care of my family, because he needs me, and I wouldn't let any stranger take care of him…' I was able to walk him at his graduation, and I was able to do my graduation during COVID. And also, I was doing homeschooling with him during COVID too. I was not only being his sister, but a mom, I guess you could say, and then also a teacher. And so, with all of those things, it's definitely exhausting, but nothing a good Red Bull and some faith can't fix."

Mackenzie choked up when talking about her brother and their special bond. Becoming his caregiver meant re-prioritizing her life as a teenager. Instead of attending after-school activities, Mackenzie came home to be with Michael.

"The bond that we have is unlike any other. I think it's always been us against the world and he's taught me so much understanding and patience. I don't know what I'd do without him and I'm sure he'd say the same about me."

After their story aired on the local news, UNM reached out to Sydow to extend an invitation to become a Lobo.

Mackenzie had to change her plans for a nursing degree. Taking care of her brother meant that she couldn't do the in-person clinical courses the program required so she pivoted to Psychology, which gave her the flexibility to take more online classes and care for her brother at the same time.

"I think it's nice that UNM understands that there are outside daily things that students face other than pursuing their education… All my instructors and professors were super understanding… I appreciated that so much because I think when the professors and instructors actually connect with you and can empathize with you, that's what makes a stronger student in being able to achieve their goals. UNM has always done that for me…"

Sydow was in the news again this summer when she was crowned Miss New Mexico USA. She uses the platform to advocate for Special Olympics, the athletic program for individuals with intellectual disabilities for which she is a coach. Michael is one of the athletes she coaches and one of the fastest swimmers on the team.

On top of being a student, her brother's caregiver, and Miss New Mexico USA, Sydow has a modeling career that takes her around the state.

"I love modeling. I get to venture out and make a lot of new connections… It definitely makes me feel like people are looking up to me as a role model and I definitely just want to influence while also inspire the younger generation… that no matter what challenges come your way, you can always overcome them by keeping faith and just really chasing your goals… When you are determined and disciplined in achieving those goals, I think it makes it really easy to accomplish anything you want in life."

Sydow advised future and fellow Lobos "to always ask their peers for help and never be ashamed of the things you've gone through because your challenges and your tribulations show strength and show what your strengths are. I think that helps you navigate what you want to do in life..."

Mackenzie brushes aside any praise for taking care of her beloved brother. She is his rock, she said, but he is hers too. "It certainly hasn't been easy, but I think we've gotten through it together. It's nice being recognized for this, but, truthfully, I couldn't do it without him either."

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