We all need that one person—the one who loves us unconditionally, and who is by our side no matter what happens. For me, that person was my mother. She was just more than my mother though- she was my caregiver, teacher, fiercest advocate, and the strongest woman I knew. My mother’s love was unwavering, knowing no bounds. The longest testament to my mother’s love came when I was diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy, a physical and cognitive disability. From the monthly appointments to Shriners Children's Hospital to my weekly physical therapy sessions, my mother’s presence was a constant reminder that I was never alone in my battle. She held my hand when the doctors were talking and spoke words of encouragement from the sidelines at therapy. In middle school. my mother put her career on hold to take care of me full-time as I recovered from an intensive surgery. In 2018, tragedy struck when my mother was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Over the next two months before her death, the roles had been sharply reversed. I was the one who stayed on top of her medical records, held her hand during every chemotherapy session, and tried to encourage her spirits. It was during this time that I came to understand just how hard it can be even to witness a loved one struggling. To know that no matter how much you do, you will not be able to stop the inevitable or cure the incurable. When my mother passed away, I felt trapped in a time loop that kept replaying all my memories of her. But it was also this reflection that made me realize a shadow that was always under the surface. My mother had been battling a lifelong addiction, something she had tried to hide in plain sight. From the wine glass that was always in her hand, never empty, to her frequent volatile episodes, these signs had been part of my everyday life since I can remember. Yet it was difficult to reconcile the image of the strong woman who had been my rock with the reality of her struggles. However, with time, I came to realize that her addiction did not undermine her as a person or mother. If anything, it made me understand just how much she had endured for me. She fought her own battles in silence so that she could be there for me. This revelation made me understand the lengths to which one can go to be there for someone they love, even at the cost of their own well-being. It also taught me that everyone has their struggles and that those struggles do not define their worth or their capacity to love and care for others. My mother’s story has given me a sense of purpose and direction with my priorities and aspirations. Her sacrifices for the sake of my education motivate me to work hard and persevere. I am determined to be a voice for people like my mother, who are fighting battles that others cannot see. This has inspired me to pursue a career in genetic counseling, where I hope to provide them with the same support and guidance my mother gave me, both medically and mentally. It is her immeasurable love that has shaped who I am today and continues to guide me towards my future.

When I was five years old, I was diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy, a rare neurological disorder that impairs crucial motor skills. From a young age, I was acutely aware of how people saw me, whether from a fleeting passing at the grocery store or the daily interactions with my classmates. They only saw the braces strapped to my legs, my limp when I walked without them, and the back brace fixing an otherwise visible hump. Since then, my life has been a constant battle against the perceived limitations of my disability. In every school I had ever attended, I was either the only physically disabled student or the only one who was not in a wheelchair. My classmates and teachers would always see the braces and the limp, and many doubted my potential academically. However, this only ignited a fire within me to disprove people’s misconceptions. I learned to advocate for myself and even as other obstacles presented themselves, I pushed through. My hard work and perseverance paid off when I graduated with an Associates of Arts degree and a high school diploma. My experiences have shown me the gaps in support for medical disabilities. We are perceived as less capable because of our differences and thus are not given the same opportunities. This realization has fueled my determination to advocate for those within the disabled community. I volunteered for two years at my local church's youth program every weekend. I specifically worked with special needs children so I could provide them with the understanding and empathy that is often limited to them in this world. Additionally, I have volunteered as a receptionist at a hospital where I had the opportunity to interact with patients and their families during some of their most vulnerable moments. This experience taught me that showing kindness does not need to be a grand gesture. It can be as simple and impactful as offering a kind word, a listening ear, and a comforting presence. I intend to pursue a career in medicine, specializing in either pharmacology or genetic counseling. I recognize the limitations and challenges that many medically disabled individuals, including myself, face when it comes to compassionate healthcare. Through pharmacy, I would advocate for accessible treatments that prioritize patients' lives over maximizing profit. As a genetic counselor, my priority would be to ensure my patients are understood, respected, and empowered to make informed decisions about their health based on their genetic profile. Regardless of my path, I hope to protect the voices of the vulnerable and ensure that honesty, compassion, and inclusivity are at the forefront of the medical field. It would be an honor to receive this scholarship as an acknowledgment of all the adversity I have overcome to create a legacy of love and kindness for future generations of people like me. Thank you for considering my application.

My name is Abigail Poulin, and I was born in the Guangdong province of China amid its one-child policy. Due to my unfavorable circumstances of being 1) a girl and 2) deformed, I was given up for adoption and confined to a three-story orphanage. From a small makeshift classroom on the first floor to being fed only a small bowl of rice every day, there was no possibility of a normal life in the future without adoption. In November 2010, though, I was blessed to be adopted by my parents who made the 20-hour flight from the United States to bring me home after a two-year-long adoption process. As soon as I arrived home for the first time, I was taken to Shriners Children's Hospital where I was diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy- a rare cognitive disorder impacting crucial motor skills. From a young age, I was acutely aware of how people saw me, whether from a fleeting passing at the grocery store or the daily interactions with my classmates. They only saw the braces strapped to my legs, my limp when I walked without them, and the back brace fixing an otherwise visible hump. Since then, my life has been a constant battle against the perceived limitations of my disability. In every school I had ever attended, I was either the only physically disabled student or the only one who was not in a wheelchair. My classmates and teachers would always see the braces and the limp, and many doubted my potential academically. However, this only ignited a fire within me to disprove people’s misconceptions. Despite the cognitive impairments posed by my disability, my determination never wavered. I learned to advocate for myself and even as other obstacles presented themselves, such as the sudden death of my mother during middle school, I pushed through. My hard work and perseverance paid off when I graduated with both an Associate of Arts degree and a high school diploma. My experiences have shown me the gaps in support for medical disabilities. This understanding has fueled my determination to advocate for those within the disabled community. I volunteered for two years at my local church's youth program every weekend. I specifically worked with special needs children so I could provide them with the understanding and empathy that is often limited to them in this world. Additionally, I have volunteered as a receptionist at a hospital where I had the opportunity to interact with patients and their families during some of their most vulnerable moments. This experience taught me that showing kindness does not need to be a grand gesture. It can be as simple and impactful as offering a kind word, a listening ear, and a comforting presence. I intend to pursue a career in medicine, specializing in either pharmacology or genetic counseling. I recognize the limitations and challenges that many medically disabled individuals, including myself, face when it comes to compassionate healthcare. Through pharmacy, I would advocate for accessible treatments that prioritize patients' lives over maximizing profit. As a genetic counselor, my priority would be to ensure my patients are understood, respected, and empowered to make informed decisions about their health based on their genetic profile. Regardless of my path, I hope to protect the voices of the vulnerable and ensure that honesty, compassion, and inclusivity are at the forefront of the medical field. I recognize that my journey will not be easy, but I am motivated by the change I will create for future generations of people like me.

My name is Abigail Poulin, and I was born in the Guangdong province of China amid its one-child policy. Due to my unfavorable circumstances of being 1) a girl and 2) deformed, I was given up for adoption and confined to a three-story orphanage. From a small makeshift classroom on the first floor to being fed only a small bowl of rice every day, there was no possibility of a normal life in the future without adoption. In November 2010, though, I was blessed to be adopted by my parents who made the 20-hour flight from the United States to bring me home after a two-year-long adoption process. As soon as I arrived home for the first time, I was taken to Shriners Children's Hospital where I was diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy- a rare cognitive disorder impacting crucial motor skills. From a young age, I was acutely aware of how people saw me, whether from a fleeting passing at the grocery store or the daily interactions with my classmates. They only saw the braces strapped to my legs, my limp when I walked without them, and the back brace fixing an otherwise visible hump. Since then, my life has been a constant battle against the perceived limitations of my disability. In every school I had ever attended, I was either the only physically disabled student or the only one who was not in a wheelchair. My classmates and teachers would always see the braces and the limp, and many doubted my potential academically. However, this only ignited a fire within me to disprove people’s misconceptions. Despite the cognitive impairments posed by my disability, my determination never wavered. I learned to advocate for myself and even as other obstacles presented themselves, such as the sudden death of my mother during middle school, I pushed through. My hard work and perseverance paid off when I graduated with both an Associate of Arts degree and a high school diploma. My experiences have shown me the gaps in support for medical disabilities. This understanding has fueled my determination to advocate for those within the disabled community. I volunteered for two years at my local church's youth program every weekend. I specifically worked with special needs children so I could provide them with the understanding and empathy that is often limited to them in this world. Additionally, I have volunteered as a receptionist at a hospital where I had the opportunity to interact with patients and their families during some of their most vulnerable moments. This experience taught me that showing kindness does not need to be a grand gesture. It can be as simple and impactful as offering a kind word, a listening ear, and a comforting presence. I intend to pursue a career in medicine, specializing in either pharmacology or genetic counseling. I recognize the limitations and challenges that many medically disabled individuals, including myself, face when it comes to compassionate healthcare. Through pharmacy, I would advocate for accessible treatments that prioritize patients' lives over maximizing profit. As a genetic counselor, my priority would be to ensure my patients are understood, respected, and empowered to make informed decisions about their health based on their genetic profile. Regardless of my path, I hope to protect the voices of the vulnerable and ensure that honesty, compassion, and inclusivity are at the forefront of the medical field. I recognize that my journey will not be easy, but I am motivated by the change I will create for future generations of people like me.

When I was five years old, I was diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy, a rare neurological disorder that impairs crucial motor skills. From a young age, I was acutely aware of how people saw me, whether from a fleeting passing at the grocery store or the daily interactions with my classmates. They only saw the braces strapped to my legs, my limp when I walked without them, and the back brace fixing an otherwise visible hump. Since then, my life has been a constant battle against the perceived limitations of my disability. In every school I had ever attended, I was either the only physically disabled student or the only one who was not in a wheelchair. My classmates and teachers would always see the braces and the limp, and many doubted my potential academically. However, this only ignited a fire within me to disprove people’s misconceptions. Despite the cognitive impairments posed by my disability, my determination never wavered. I learned to advocate for myself and even as other obstacles presented themselves, such as the sudden death of my mother during middle school, I pushed through. My hard work and perseverance paid off when I graduated with both an Associates of Arts degree and a high school diploma. My experiences have shown me the gaps in support for medical disabilities. We are perceived as less capable because of our differences and thus are not given the same opportunities. This realization has fueled my determination to advocate for those within the disabled community. I volunteered at my local church's youth program every weekend for two years. I specifically worked with special needs children so I could provide them with the understanding and empathy that is often limited to them in this world. Additionally, I have volunteered as a receptionist at a hospital where I had the opportunity to interact with patients and their families during some of their most vulnerable moments. This experience taught me that showing kindness does not need to be a grand gesture. It can be as simple and impactful as offering a kind word, a listening ear, and a comforting presence. My dream is to be a pharmaceutical scientist, creating new treatments prioritizing patients' lives over profit. I recognize the limitations and challenges that many medically disabled individuals face when it comes to accessing healthcare. Today's pharmaceutical industry prioritizes maximizing profits over whether or not it helps patients. This has left billions of people in an extremely vulnerable state- physically, mentally, and financially. I am determined to restore the voices of the vulnerable and ensure that honesty, compassion, and inclusivity are at the forefront of the medical field. I am now preparing to begin the next chapter of my life at the University of South Florida. I will be majoring in Biomedical Sciences where I strive to continue to push myself and explore new opportunities. By becoming a leader in medicine, I hope to serve as a role model for others, demonstrating that our potential is limitless and that we should be proud of who we are. I recognize that my journey will not be easy, but I am motivated by the support I have received from my family and the opportunities I have been given thus far. It would be an honor to receive this scholarship as an acknowledgment of all the adversity I have overcome to create a legacy of love and kindness for future generations of people like me. Thank you for considering my application.

In November 2010, my parents embarked on 20-hour flight to China to bring me home as their daughter after a two-year adoption process. Despite my physical disability, they showed me unconditional love and acceptance. Their dedication to my physical, mental, and educational needs have motivated me to give back the same care and compassion they have always shown me. From meticulously keeping track of my extensive medical records to helping me overcome my cognitive impairments when learning, my mother’s unwavering love went beyond being my mother. She was my caretaker, teacher, and best friend. She made from the smallest sacrifices, like waiting in the long pick-up lines of my elementary school, to the biggest ones, like quitting her job to homeschool me as I recovered from an intensive surgery middle school. Through my mother’s selflessness, I learned the importance of gratitude and being there for others in need. My father, on the other hand, has always been both my source of strength and laughter. While my mother stayed home with me, my father worked hard to provide for all of us and never wanted us to worry or see his exhaustion. Even though his dad jokes still need some work, I have always appreciated his efforts in turning challenging situations into moments of joy. His positive outlook on life has taught me the power of a smile and the importance of always having hope. Even in the face of adversity, my father’s support has been a constant reminder that I am never alone in my struggles. The sudden loss of my mother in 2018, after a short but intense battle with stage four pancreatic cancer, left a profound void in our lives. Amid his own grief, my father had to take on the roles of both mother and father, as well as caretaker and teacher. He managed to balance his career with the demands of taking care of me and ensuring that I continued to thrive academically and emotionally. His strength and resilience during this time is something I will forever be grateful for. My parents’ combined sacrifices have instilled a deep sense of responsibility in me to work hard in my education and always strive to be better. At the end of my sophomore year of high school, I was given an incredible opportunity to attend the College Academy program at Broward College, where I could graduate with my high school diploma along with an Associates of Art degree. Throughout my time, I battled with the insecurities of my cognitive impairments once again, as well as feelings of being inadequate compared to other students. However, my father reminds me every day to never compare myself to others and turn my perceived “weaknesses” into instruments for success. Despite not physically being with me, my mother’s actions have continued to inspire me to strive for a life that is both emotionally fulfilling but also creates a positive impact in the lives of others. This has led me to discover my passion for pharmacogenetics, a newer field of science that combines the innovation of pharmacology and genetics. Through pharmacogenetics, I hope to contribute to personalized care, ensuring that individuals receive the most effective treatments based on their unique genetic makeup. This aspiration is deeply rooted in the care and attention my parents provided me, and it represents my commitment to carry on their legacy with me of love and acceptance to future generations of people like me. Thank you for considering my application.

I thought I knew what addiction looked like. To me, addiction was the person on every street corner in Miami, hollow eyes begging for money to buy drugs. Or it was the empty bottles strewn across a table while the person was passed out on the couch. It was an image so cemented in my mind that I failed to recognize it right before me in my mother’s eyes. To me, my mother was a warrior who overcame her trauma and fulfilled her dreams of motherhood. In November of 2010, my parents made the 20-hour trip to China to bring me home after a two-year-long adoption process. A few months later, I was diagnosed with cerebral palsy- a rare cognitive disorder impacting crucial motor skills. Despite my disability, my parents have loved and supported me unconditionally. My mother, especially, was always there for me regardless of the sacrifices. Every month, we made the four-hour drive to Shriners Children's Hospital so I could see the best CP specialists in the state. In middle school, my mother sacrificed her career so she could homeschool me and be my caretaker while I recovered from an intensive surgery. However, beyond my mother's strength was a shadow lurking beneath the surface. It was not just a couple of glasses throughout the day; it was liters of bottles that my mother consumed from the moment she woke up. When we made our daily trips to Walgreens, I found myself role-playing with my mother. Instead of being the child, I had to act as the parent, pleading with her not to buy her favorite bottle of wine. My mother’s addiction was a war that my father and I had been deployed in ever since I could remember. It wasn’t until my mother’s sudden diagnosis of stage 4 pancreatic cancer that the truth unraveled before me. As the cancer weakened her body, I finally saw how frail her mind was and was hit with the difficult and painful truth; my mother was succumbing to the toxins she used to numb the pain of her past. She passed away only a month after her diagnosis, ending her life-long war with addiction. My mother's struggles gave me a new perspective on what it means to be resilient in the face of adversity. True strength lies in vulnerability and the courage to accept your emotions. This newfound understanding changed how I view every aspect of my life. I learned to embrace mistakes and to allow myself to feel whatever I need to. I worked to overcome my fear of reaching out for help, especially to my dad, with whom I have built a stronger relationship. My dad embarked on his own journey through his grief and having to take on more responsibilities as a single parent. He has stepped up in ways I will forever be grateful for. Even six years after her passing, my mother's story continues to inspire me to fight for what I want to achieve. Navigating this world with cerebral palsy has shown me the gaps in support for medical disabilities. We are perceived as less capable because of our differences and thus are not given the same opportunities. This realization has motivated me to advocate for those within the disabled community. For two years, I worked with special needs children at my local church's youth program so they had the support that is often limited to them in this world. Additionally, I have volunteered as a receptionist at a hospital where I had the opportunity to interact with patients and their families during some of their most vulnerable moments. This experience taught me that empathy does not need to be a grand gesture. It can be as simple and impactful as offering a kind word, a listening ear, and a comforting presence. My dream is to be a pharmaceutical scientist, creating new treatments that value patients' lives over profit. I recognize the limitations and challenges that many medically disabled individuals face when it comes to accessing healthcare. I am determined to restore the voices of the vulnerable and ensure that honesty, compassion, and inclusivity are at the forefront of the medical field. Additionally, I am passionate about advocating for mental health awareness and creating a more compassionate healthcare system that recognizes the importance of mental health on physical health. My mother's legacy is one of resilience and hope, and it is this legacy that I fight to carry forward in creating change in this world.

Growing up, mental health was always a one-sided conversation in my household. When I was five years old, I was diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy- a physical and cognitive disability. Realizing the difficulties I would have to endure, my parents tried to encourage a mindset of resilience and optimism. They wanted me to see my disability not as a limitation, but as a challenge to be met with perseverance and optimism. Their encouragement and high expectations were a double-edged sword. On one hand, it motivated me to overcome the perceived limitations of my disability. I put my blood, sweat, and tears into every physical therapy session, determined to be as strong as possible. In school, I worked hard to overcome the cognitive impairments that affected my learning, even if it meant staying after school for tutoring every day and studying past midnight every night. However, this pressure led to suppressing the natural insecurities that came with my disability, as well as the growing fear of falling behind and making mistakes. This fear was especially prominent in school as I felt I would never be as smart as other kids no matter how many straight A’s were on my report cards. It was not until tragedy struck my life in 2018 that I was forced to realize the dangers of being dishonest with my struggles. My mother passed away from stage four pancreatic cancer, only two months after her initial diagnosis, but after a lifetime of alcohol abuse. She hid her illness in plain sight, being able to drive the four hours to my monthly doctor’s appointments and homeschooling me when I needed to recover from major surgeries- all while consuming bottles of her favorite merlot. Her passing was a massive shock and forced me to confront the reality that even my family, which seemed invincible, struggled with their mental health. My mother's hidden battle gave me a new perspective on what it meant to be resilient in the face of adversity. It is not just about staying positive and pushing through. True strength lies in vulnerability and the courage to embrace it. This newfound understanding changed how I view every aspect of my life, from my relationships with myself and others to what I wanted for my life. I learned to embrace mistakes and allow myself to feel whatever I need to. I worked to overcome my fear of reaching out for help, especially to my dad, with whom I have built a stronger relationship. My dad embarked on his own journey with mental health through his grief and having to take on more responsibilities as a single parent. He has stepped up and been there for me in ways I will forever be grateful for. Now six years after my mother's passing, I am a more empathetic, determined, and compassionate person. I graduated with my high school diploma and an associate’s degree. In Fall 2024, I will embark on the next chapter of my life at the University of South Florida as a biomedical sciences major. My experiences have shaped my goals and aspirations profoundly. I am passionate about advocating for mental health awareness and creating a more compassionate healthcare system that recognizes the importance of emotional health on physical health. I hope my story is eventually able to open the conversation around mental health and show that vulnerabilities don't make us weak—it makes us human.

From next-door neighbors to extended family, my family seemed to be a source of inspiration and admiration to everyone around us. The heartwarming story of my parents opening their hearts and adopting a disabled orphan girl from China painted a picture of love, compassion, and strength. However, behind the façade of a picture-perfect family, was a constant darkness lurking in the shadows. It was not just a few glasses a day; it was bottles of her favorite wine that my mother consumed from the moment she woke up to throughout a single day. My mother’s emotional outburst, driven by her addiction, casted a dark cloud over our family. The unpredictable nature of her behavior created a volatile and tense environment, where fear and anxiety hid the unconditional love that existed. It wasn’t until my mother’s sudden diagnosis of stage 4 pancreatic cancer that the truth could no longer hide itself behind a rose-tinted picture frame. As the cancer weakened her body, I finally saw how frail her mind was. During that time, I was hit with a rush of different emotions – confusion, anger, sadness, and finally realization. My mother had never overcome her trauma and now her body had finally succumbed to the toxins she had poisoned herself all these years with to numb the pain. She passed away only a month after her diagnosis, finally ending her life-long war with addiction. The sudden and devastating death of my mother left a void in my life. Amid the grief and confusion, my father and I found ourselves navigating a distant relationship while processing our grief and adapting to our new reality. With my disability adding another layer of complexity, my father had to take on more medical and emotional responsibilities. Despite overcoming his own grief, my father stepped up to the plate in ways I will be forever grateful for. My mother’s struggles gave me a sense of purpose, and a drive to make sense of the chaos that had consumed my family’s life. I became interested in genetics and medicine as there was a clear history of mental illness and cancer in my mother’s family. Discovering the intricacies of addiction gave me the closure and understanding I had desperately sought in the wake of her death. I came to recognize the depth of her pain and the strength it took for her to face each day, despite her demons. Over time, my father and I were able to build the bridge to our bond and we leaned on each other for support. Together, we hold a mutual determination to honor her memory and create a legacy of love, compassion, and resilience.

In a world where everyone competes to be the best of the best, the top 1%, I have always strived to be average, to be part of the other 99%. But with a prominent hunchback and braces strapped to my legs, my ambition is quite ironic. Cerebral palsy has made my life anything but average. From navigating insecurities about my disability to overcoming learning difficulties, my personal and educational journeys have been marked with adversity. Standing out requires minimal effort on my part. Growing up, I was constantly asked “Why do you walk that way?” to which my autopilot response was always “I was born this way” before forming an escape plan to avoid further questions. Teachers would learn my name through monthly doctor’s notes excusing my absences as I had to make the four-hour car trips to Shriners Children’s Hospital for new braces and muscle relaxants. Cerebral palsy made me far from the average classmate, but I was still fortunate to have a mild form of it. Yet, in a society that often measures disability by its visibility, I have fought with the insecurity of not being “disabled” enough for my struggles to be validated. While I am not in a wheelchair or fully mentally handicapped, abilities that others have taken for granted require extra effort on my part. Similarly, my educational journey has been motivated by the desire to be average despite my challenges with cerebral palsy. As an advanced student, I have always excelled in my studies, continuously surpassing expectations from my parents and teachers. However, I have always had to work harder compared to my classmates to grasp the same material. The dissonance between my intellectual capabilities and my cognitive impairments often left me frustrated, but ignited a determination to bridge the gap between potential and reality. This has led me to outside opportunities to narrow the gap of support and resources for medically disabled people. I have worked with ESE children at my local church as a pre-k assistant and provided support to the patients and dedicated medical staff at Delray Medical Center. Cerebral palsy has been most vital in fostering my passions in genetics and medicine. I have had the opportunity to witness not only the intelligence and compassion of the medical profession, but also the strength and gratitude of patients and their families. This has led me on a life-long mission to advocate against the negative misinformation of the medical industry and restore the humanization of the people working behind it. As a high school senior at the College Academy at Broward College, I have undertaken rigorous courses that will allow me to graduate with my Associates of Arts with my high school diploma. Most recently, I have been admitted into the University of South Florida’s Biomedical Sciences program as a Presidential Scholar. After earning my bachelor's, I will decide my commitment to either genetics or pharmacy. But regardless of my choice, I intend to participate in research into advancements in biotechnology for under-represented medical disabilities. I am excited to begin this new part of my life and it would not have been possible without the resilience that my disability has instilled in me, along with the constant support from my family, doctors, and teachers. They have given me the mental strength to overcome my physical weakness and receiving the Joieful Connections Scholarship would allow me to show my appreciation towards those people and to carry on their legacies of love and acceptance to the future generations of people like me. Thank you for your consideration.