John F. Puffer, Sr. Smile Scholarship

From the age of five, my ultimate dream was to be a doctor, not for the money, but instead for the ability to help others in a way that not only healed their physical wounds but also their emotional ones. My faintest memory of when my love for medicine started was when I was five. I remember taking a ziplock bag, opening it up, and spinning around in my living room, trying to inflate the bag with air. Then I would take a headband and wrap it around my friend’s arm. I would take the air-filled ziplock and put it close to the headband, squeezing my hands around the bag, pretending it was a blood pressure cuff. As I grew older, I held on to this memory as I took my dreams along with me. My parents would adorn my room with books about anatomy, a stethoscope that would hang by my bookshelf, and a white coat that was too big for my eight-year-old body. That dream stayed with me as I grew, but life didn’t always make it easy to hold on. When I started high school, I fell into a deep depression as my parents’ arguments filled the rooms of our apartment. The slams of doors, the raising of voices, and the loud footsteps became a weekly routine. As my tears engulfed my pillowcase, my life also began to drown. My grades started to slip, and my future started to vanish. On a cold December night in 2023, I decided that I wanted to take away my life. But I didn’t. God held me. In the darkest moment of my life, when my tears soaked the same pillow I had once dreamed on, He reminded me who I was. And maybe it was also that little girl with the ziplock blood pressure cuff, still alive somewhere inside me, begging me not to give up. So I picked up the broken fragmentations of my life and started to consistently study and write. Writing became my outlet for all my sorrow and pain. My writing helped me earn a 1st place award in my junior year of high school for my poem ‘Skins’ and two honorable mentions my senior year for my poems ‘Lady’ and ‘This is America’. I also began to excel in my academics as I started to maintain an unweighted GPA of 3.8 and took multiple rigorous classes as well as college courses at my local community college. My love for helping people also shined brighter as I founded my school’s first community service club alongside three of my friends. Our club has raised money for our community closet and the Dana-Farber Breast Cancer Clinic during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We have also collaborated with our local elementary school by bringing students from our school to volunteer to fold donated clothes, sort toys, distribute multiple items to different classrooms during the summer, and interact with students by playing board games and decorating their gym for dances. Through all the pain, I never let go of the dream that began with a ziplock bag and a headband. I used my struggles as fuel, not only to rebuild my life but to become a light for others. I want to be the first in my family to become a doctor, not just to fulfill a childhood dream, but to show my community, my family, and that little girl inside me that healing is possible. That even when life feels broken beyond repair, you can rise, piece by piece, with God’s strength and a heart that refuses to give up.

The crowd erupted, “Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!” This wasn’t a scene from a Hallmark movie. It was the finish line at the Arthritis Foundation’s Massachusetts Jingle Bell Run (JBR), a charity race where participants are encouraged to run in their finest holiday costumes. JBR is the original festive race for charity and the signature Arthritis Foundation (AF) holiday event. After being diagnosed with Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis With Systemic Features (JIA) at the age of ten, I was determined to learn everything I could about my disease and help myself and others like me. Volunteering with the AF was the ideal choice. Many people don’t realize that kids get arthritis, too. Not only does AF provide education about the various rheumatic diseases, but it also provides support and programming to patients and families, funding for research to find a cure, advocacy, and funding and training for physicians and other rheumatology healthcare professionals.   The year after my diagnosis, my father and I decided to raise money for AF at the New York City Marathon. He ran, and I fundraised. Together, we made a fantastic team and raised over $6,000. Over the following years, I became more involved with AF as I learned about JIA and the need for rheumatology health professionals. When I was fifteen, AF asked me to be the Youth Honoree for the JBR, where I raised an additional $5,000. For the last two years, I have been one of the Co-Chairs of JBR, raising $2,000 in my first year with a similar goal for this year's race.   Volunteering with AF has not been without its challenges, but the lessons I learned have helped to shape who I am and who I want to become as a future nurse practitioner and nurse faculty member. As the Youth Honoree and a Co-Chair of the JBR, I became more confident through speaking to hundreds of Pfizer employees at a kickoff event, media, other race teams, sponsors, and corporate teams about my experience growing up with JIA. I learned the value of perseverance by asking strangers for money while cold-calling countless people for donations. I became a more effective and mature communicator by collaborating with adults and medical professionals while planning the JBR.    In the fall, I will study nursing at the University of South Carolina. The lessons I learned through volunteering with AF will help me succeed and contribute to the campus community.  My experience as a Co-Chair of JBR and as a fundraiser will help me in a leadership role and as a volunteer. Finally, the perseverance I learned in overcoming challenges volunteering will help me stay balanced as I navigate my four years in college and my future career as a nurse practitioner and nurse faculty member.

In my family I am a first generation college student realizing my dream. I consistently excelled in Honors and Advanced Placement courses throughout my tenure at Mansfield High School earning placement in both National Honors Society and Spanish National Honors Society. Throughout my years of schooling, I have worked exceptionally hard to ensure college would be a possibility for me since neither of my parents attended college. I do not mention that disrespectfully. My Dad served honorably in the military and now serves our community as a firefighter and paramedic. My Mom went to beauty school and later earned her real estate license. They both work hard and have afforded me and my little sisters a life better than most. I just knew that my path would lead me to the ivory tower. I am a strong student with a love of learning yet I make sure to focus on important things other than solely school. In addition to my strong academic rigor I spent my spare time committed to many extracurricular, charitable and volunteer activities including: 4 years of Varsity Cheerleading, Best Buddies, Spanish Club, Environmental Club, coaching youth cheerleading and volunteering at various events hosted by the Mansfield Fire Department. I look forward to excelling in the same manner academically in my nursing program at the University of Alabama and becoming similarly involved on campus and in the community. I have put in countless hours of work to make sure I can attend college however, financially it remains a struggle. My Dad is a veteran struggling with documented Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He works hard to manage his everyday life outside of this constant internal battle. My Mother was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis almost ten years ago. During a time when any “extra” money should have been saved for my college education the priority was on my parents health. They have spent every extra dollar on out-of-pocket medical expenses and treatments so they could continue to provide financially and emotionally for myself and my two younger sisters. This had to be the priority and the expenses are on-going. Gratefully, they will contribute to the best of their ability to my education but due to these medical expenses the cost of attending a university is simply not doable. These unfortunate medical diagnoses had the fortunate effect of developing my desire to pursue a career in the medical field. I’ve been in the situation of having to call 911 or wait in an emergency room more times than I’d wish on anyone. I’ve had 911 dispatchers and medical personnel tell me on multiple occasions that I am destined for a career in the medical field. I think my bedside manner and calm demeanor come from my Dad who worked as a Combat Medic in the War in Afghanistan earning him a bronze star. I have this foundation to work from. I have a deep desire that has developed from my personal experiences and I know it will lead be to success, to be a first generation college graduate and nurse.

I was born with a rare and complex congenital heart defect called hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Having a lengthy and complicated heart bypass procedure exposed my brain to stress and the lack of oxygen is known to hinder brain function. My parents were informed by my surgeons to expect lifelong cognitive delays and impairment. My elementary school years consisted of my many developmental, physical, and educational challenges. I was a special needs student with autism, ADHD, and also required occupational, physical, and speech therapy routinely. I was constantly bullied for wearing a scoliosis brace, apparent speech issues, and inability to perform at grade level. By fourth grade, my parents moved to a new town in hopes that a fresh environment and change of school would turn the tide. This relocation brought a sense of hope and new beginnings. During my first year here, I struggled educationally but the community accepted me with open arms and understanding. My teacher, who became my mentor, was also the town’s Boy Scout troop leader. I joined the troop, made many friends, contributed to my community and gained self-confidence. I had many obstacles to overcome but I was determined to prevail. My teachers offered extra help during after school hours and I took the opportunity whenever possible. I spent many hours studying my curriculums outside of the classroom in order to improve my grades. Due to my learning disabilities this was a major challenge, but I had a strong will to succeed and be accepted. One of the most invaluable experiences has been giving back to my community by doing volunteer work. What I’ve learned from helping the homeless for several years is the importance of compassion and being kind in a world that often can be cruel. There are many people less fortunate than myself, and I find it rewarding to give others in need a helping hand. My father, who is a member of the Marine Corps, dedicated years of his life to help others, and he has inspired me to do the same. Immersing myself in my community and giving back to a place I call “home”, has given me a sense of purpose and identity. We all need to remember that everyone is fighting some sort of battle, and a simple gesture, or an act of kindness, can have a huge impact on someone. So many people feel hopeless, and many of us need a reminder that we're not alone. I give back to my community, but they have given me so much more in return. Through giving back to my community, I have learned the importance of fellowship, connecting with and supporting others. I contribute much of my personal growth to my community, and I am so grateful to now be accepted - just as I am. For years, I was burdened with shame, felt socially left out, but I fought tirelessly to achieve my goals and to feel valued by others. I refused to let my diagnosis define me. By the time I reached my high school years I began to reap the benefits of my work ethic. With diligence, determination, and proper study habits I was able to excel in honors classes and achieve exceptional grades. The road to success is not easy, it takes perseverance, hard work, commitment and most importantly believing in yourself. I am grateful to be one of the few that beat the odds by refusing to be a statistic. I hope my tenacity, determination, and love for my community will leave an impact on others.