Servela Theodore Memorial Scholarship

I have always been someone who cares deeply about helping others and making a positive impact in my community. Growing up, I witnessed firsthand how challenges like substance abuse and family struggles can affect people’s lives. These experiences motivated me to pursue a career in human services, where I can support individuals and families who are facing difficult circumstances and help them find hope and healing. One personal experience that shaped my passion for human services involved my stepfather’s battle with alcohol addiction. Living with someone struggling with substance abuse was incredibly hard, and it created a lot of tension and uncertainty in our home. I saw how addiction can affect not only the person using substances but also everyone around them. This experience made me realize the importance of compassion, support, and access to resources for people going through similar struggles. It also inspired me to want to be part of the solution to help others find the support they need before situations escalate. In addition to this personal motivation, I have actively served my community in various ways. I volunteered at local shelters and food banks, where I worked directly with individuals and families experiencing homelessness and food insecurity. These experiences taught me the value of patience, empathy, and active listening. I learned that small acts of kindness can make a big difference in someone’s life, and that building trust is essential when helping people overcome challenges. I also participated in community outreach programs that focused on raising awareness about mental health and substance abuse. By helping organize events and distribute educational materials, I was able to contribute to breaking down the stigma that often surrounds these issues. It was rewarding to see people become more open to seeking help and talking about their struggles. What motivates me most to work in human services is the chance to be a positive force in people’s lives to provide support, guidance, and resources that can help them rebuild and thrive. I want to use my experiences and education to create safe spaces where individuals feel heard, respected, and empowered to make changes. Ultimately, my goal is to continue serving my community by becoming a professional who can advocate for vulnerable populations, improve access to care, and promote healing. I believe that everyone deserves compassion and the opportunity to overcome their challenges, and I am committed to making that a reality through my work in human services.

Being born to two immigrant parents means a few things. First, I would be raised to take pride in where my parents came from, I would learn to value education, something my parents sacrificed for me, and I would learn first hand what life without higher education looks like. My parents immigrated to the United States from Haiti, a third world country that lacks a strong government, no promises of quality education and unfortunately is ridden with poverty. Knowing this, they made their way to the United States leaving behind the only life they had ever known and began their family in what was advertised as the land of opportunity but for years after being there, learned that those opportunities may not apply to everyone. My parents had to give up hopes of obtaining the education they dreamed of in order to provide a life, from the very beginning of it, that they never had for my sisters and I. In America, there are very few jobs for those who do not have college or even complete high school education that allow people to support themselves and their families. Due to the life lasting effects child labor can have on a woman, my mother lost her ability to work, leaving the pressures on my father alone to provide for himself, his wife and his four children as well as his family members still in Haiti. Because of this, I have never met a more hard working, determined man than my father. He alongside my mother gave the ultimate sacrifices, putting their children before any dreams they had. I know stories like these are not one in a million, as it is the reality of many first generation students. But, what makes my story different is the motivations I acquired from it. Knowing the amount of hard work immigrant parents put into their lives so that their kids may gain the opportunity to do all that they have dreamed of has inspired me to go into the field of Public Relations. It is a field that my parents may not completely understand, but I know I can make an impact. Being the voice of people under represented and over worked is what I am hoping to do. Non profit organizations are probably the reason I am where I am today. Without the support I gained through The Steppingstone Foundation, there is no telling what and where I would be. My goal in the future is to become a Public Relations Specialist for non profit organizations so that they can gain the recognition and support that they deserve for offering all that they do for kids like me. Children whose parents didn’t know everything about navigating America but knew that it was the best choice for their children. Working with nonprofit organizations is a dream of mine that will become tangible after completing my degree and hopefully, all that my parents sacrificed for me will be worth it.