Marie Jean Baptiste Memorial Scholarship

Maya Angelou once said, “I have learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” This resonates with me from witnessing the impact of community through involvement in my Haitian church and my dedication to reform- justice and immigration. Growing up in a Haitian household, with both of my parents from Haiti, I have always felt connected to my roots and community. My father is a pastor, so I was surrounded by hard-working Haitian Christians who regard their community highly. Due to this upbringing, the importance of community and a support system is very valuable to me. Within my church, I have helped organize many events and banquets that unite the Haitian community in the Dacula/Lawrenceville area. Our biggest event is a Christian retreat. Many people from our church go, and we all drive together from Georgia to the Pennsylvania mountains. It is called the Blue Mountain Christian Retreat, and we have been going since I was 4. We worship, eat, talk, and fellowship together for a week. It is a week of baptisms, miracles, and joy. Haitians come from all over: New York, Rhode Island, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Georgia. I play the keyboard during each worship service hold, and the presence of the Lord can be felt. My major in college is political science, and I have plans to be a lawyer. As a black woman in America, I see and feel the unjust treatment of black people. So when I become a lawyer, I am leaning in between criminal law and immigration law. Criminal law has always had a hold on me. I know that the prison system and the justice system are unfair and ultimately fail so many people, but I want to be able to play a role in setting it right. After learning about the Central Park Five, I wanted to help free innocent black people in jail. As a woman, I also want to help convict rapists, especially those who have money and influence and would usually get away with it. However, nowadays I am leaning more towards immigration law. Both of my parents are immigrants from Haiti, and I know how long the immigration process is. It can take forever, and some people may not have that time due to their home situation. My mom and her siblings were in Haiti while my grandma came to America and dealt with more paperwork to bring her children over. I want to make the situation less stressful, show families a friendly face, and provide a helping hand. So many Haitians were able to come to America because of President Joe Biden, and in the future, my goal is to continue to help people cross the border safely and legally. The state of Haiti right now is not great—the political climate as well as the gang violence in the streets—so aiding people in their journey is a dream of mine.