Throughout history, the most influential thinkers have not only been driven by curiosity but the bravery to question what others accept. Growing up in Haiti, I learned just how powerful that bravery can be, especially in communities where mental health and disability were often dismissed. I witnessed how silence and denial prevented many people from receiving the care they needed. In my own life, I saw how untreated health struggles, alcoholism and social pressures such as status, money, and lifestyle, led to deep divisions within my family and the loss of loved ones. I also knew a family friend who lost three children due to lack of adequate research, attention, and care for Black commmunities–an experience that revealed how systemic neglect have devastating consequences. These experiences shaped my understanding of service—not just as helping individuals, but as challenging the systems that fail them. Books became my refuge, teaching me that actions, whether in a sentence or a fleeting moment, comes from the choices we make. When I arrived at Loyola University, I discovered a culture that celebrates inquiry rather than suppressing it. My studies in psychology and biology have allowed me to better understand how environmental stressors such as racism, poverty, and displacement –affect both the mind and body, particularly within African Diaspora communities. This understanding of the mind-body connection has guided me towards a career in medicine with a focus in psychology, where I can help others navigate the intersection of mental health, biological processes, and the environment. My pre-med coursework has built a strong scientific foundation, but it's my service work that grounds my purpose. As a member of the Cities Mentor Program, I have supported children navigating academic pressure, social challenges, and environmental stressors—many of which are deeply tied to broader inequalities faced by communities of color. These experiences have shown me that service requires consistency, empathy, and the willingness to advocate for those whose needs are often overlooked. To address these challenges, I believe that expanding visibility and access to mental health care in underserved communities is essential. Growing up, I often heard that therapy “was for white people”, a belief that reflects the deep stigma and lack of representation within Black communities. Challenging this mindset is central to my mission. Increasing cultural competence, compassion–based support systems is necessary to bridge the gap between healthcare providers and the communities they serve. This meaningful reform must involve collaboration between healthcare providers, educators, policymakers, and community leaders to ensure that care is both accessible and equitable. Guided by the values of service, sacrifice, compassion, and bravery, I am committed to using my career in medicine to advocate for more inclusive and understanding systems of care, particularly for those within the African diaspora who have historically been overlooked. Ultimately my goal is to ensure that no individual is made to feel invisible in their struggle, and that care becomes a right rather than a privilege for marginalized communities. I hope my legacy contributes to a future where this becomes a global reality, beginning in my home country of Haiti.

Throughout history, the most influential thinkers have not only been driven by curiosity but the bravery to question what others accept. Growing up in Haiti, I learned just how powerful that bravery can be, especially in communities where mental health and disability were often dismissed. I witnessed how silence and denial prevented many people from receiving the care they needed. In my own life, I saw how untreated health struggles, alcoholism and social pressures such as status, money, and lifestyle, led to deep divisions within my family and the loss of loved ones. I also knew a family friend who lost three children due to lack of adequate research, attention, and care for Black commmunities–an experience that revealed how systemic neglect have devastating consequences. These experiences shaped my understanding of service—not just as helping individuals, but as challenging the systems that fail them. Books became my refuge, teaching me that actions, whether in a sentence or a fleeting moment, comes from the choices we make. When I arrived at Loyola University, I discovered a culture that celebrates inquiry rather than suppressing it. My studies in psychology and biology have allowed me to better understand how environmental stressors such as racism, poverty, and displacement –affect both the mind and body, particularly within African Diaspora communities. This understanding of the mind-body connection has guided me towards a career in medicine with a focus in psychology, where I can help others navigate the intersection of mental health, biological processes, and the environment. My pre-med coursework has built a strong scientific foundation, but it's my service work that grounds my purpose. As a member of the Cities Mentor Program, I have supported children navigating academic pressure, social challenges, and environmental stressors—many of which are deeply tied to broader inequalities faced by communities of color. These experiences have shown me that service requires consistency, empathy, and the willingness to advocate for those whose needs are often overlooked. To address these challenges, I believe that expanding visibility and access to mental health care in underserved communities is essential. Growing up, I often heard that therapy “was for white people”, a belief that reflects the deep stigma and lack of representation within Black communities. Challenging this mindset is central to my mission. Increasing cultural competence, compassion–based support systems is necessary to bridge the gap between healthcare providers and the communities they serve. This meaningful reform must involve collaboration between healthcare providers, educators, policymakers, and community leaders to ensure that care is both accessible and equitable. Guided by the values of service, sacrifice, compassion, and bravery, I am committed to using my career in medicine to advocate for more inclusive and understanding systems of care, particularly for those within the African diaspora who have historically been overlooked. Ultimately my goal is to ensure that no individual is made to feel invisible in their struggle, and that care becomes a right rather than a privilege for marginalized communities. I hope my legacy contributes to a future where this becomes a global reality, beginning in my home country of Haiti.

Throughout history, the most influential thinkers have not only been driven by curiosity but the bravery to question what others accept. Growing up in Haiti, I learned just how powerful that bravery can be, especially in communities where mental health and disability were often dismissed. I witnessed how silence and denial prevented many people from receiving the care they needed. In my own life, I saw how untreated health struggles, alcoholism and social pressures such as status, money, and lifestyle, led to deep divisions within my family and the loss of loved ones. I also knew a family friend who lost three children due to lack of adequate research, attention, and care for Black commmunities–an experience that revealed how systemic neglect have devastating consequences.These experiences shaped my understanding of service—not just as helping individuals, but as challenging the systems that fail them. Books became my refuge, teaching me that actions, whether in a sentence or a fleeting moment, comes from the choices we make. When I arrived at Loyola University, I discovered a culture that celebrates inquiry rather than suppressing it. My studies in psychology and biology have allowed me to better understand how environmental stressors such as racism, poverty, and displacement –affect both the mind and body, particularly within African Diaspora communities. This understanding of the mind-body connection has guided me towards a career in medicine with a focus in psychology, where I can help others navigate the intersection of mental health, biological processes, and the environment. My pre-med coursework has built a strong foundation on scientific knowledge, but it's my service work that grounds my purpose. As a member of the Cities Mentor Program, I have supported children navigating academic pressure, social challenges, and environmental stressors—many of which are deeply tied to broader inequalities faced by communities of color. These experiences have shown me that service requires consistency, empathy, and the willingness to advocate for those whose needs are often overlooked. To address these challenges, I believe that expanding visibility and access to mental health care in underserved communities is essential. Growing up, I often heard that therapy “was for white people”, a belief that reflects the deep stigma and lack of representation within Black communities. Challenging this mindset is central to my mission. Increasing cultural competence, compassion–based support systems is necessary to bridge the gap between healthcare providers and the communities they serve. This meaningful reform must involve collaboration between healthcare providers, educators, policymakers, and community leaders to ensure that care is both accessible and equitable. Guided by the values of service, sacrifice, compassion, and bravery, I am committed to using my career in medicine to advocate for more inclusive and understanding systems of care, particularly for those within the African diaspora who have historically been overlooked. Ultimately my goal is to ensure that no individual is made to feel invisible in their struggle, and that care becomes a right rather than a privilege for marginalized communities. I hope my legacy contributes to a future where this becomes a global reality, beginning in my home country of Haiti.

Throughout history, the most influential thinkers have not only been driven by curiosity but the bravery to question what others accept. Growing up in Haiti, I learned just how powerful that bravery can be, especially in communities where mental health and disability were often dismissed. I witnessed how silence and denial prevented many people from receiving the care they needed. In my own life, I saw how untreated health struggles, alcoholism and social pressures such as status, money, and lifestyle, led to deep divisions within my family and the loss of loved ones. I also knew a family friend who lost three children due to lack of adequate research, attention, and care for Black communities–an experience that revealed how systemic neglect have devastating consequences.These experiences shaped my understanding of service—not just as helping individuals, but as challenging the systems that fail them. Books became my refuge, teaching me that actions, whether in a sentence or a fleeting moment, comes from the choices we make. When I arrived at Loyola University, I discovered a culture that celebrates inquiry rather than suppressing it. My studies in psychology and biology have allowed me to better understand how environmental stressors such as racism, poverty, and displacement –affect both the mind and body, particularly within African Diaspora communities. This understanding of the mind-body connection has guided me towards a career in medicine with a focus in psychology, where I can help others navigate the intersection of mental health, biological processes, and the environment. My pre-med coursework has built a strong foundation on scientific knowledge, but it's my service work that grounds my purpose. As a member of the Cities Mentor Program, I have supported children navigating academic pressure, social challenges, and environmental stressors—many of which are deeply tied to broader inequalities faced by communities of color. These experiences have shown me that service requires consistency, empathy, and the willingness to advocate for those whose needs are often overlooked. To address these challenges, I believe that expanding visibility and access to mental health care in underserved communities is essential. Growing up, I often heard that therapy “was for white people”, a belief that reflects the deep stigma and lack of representation within Black communities. Challenging this mindset is central to my mission. Increasing cultural competence, compassion–based support systems is necessary to bridge the gap between healthcare providers and the communities they serve. This meaningful reform must involve collaboration between healthcare providers, educators, policymakers, and community leaders to ensure that care is both accessible and equitable. Guided by the values of service, sacrifice, compassion, and bravery, I am committed to using my career in medicine to advocate for more inclusive and understanding systems of care, particularly for those within the African diaspora who have historically been overlooked. Ultimately my goal is to ensure that no individual is made to feel invisible in their struggle, and that care becomes a right rather than a privilege for marginalized communities. I hope my legacy contributes to a future where this becomes a global reality, beginning in my home country of Haiti.

Throughout history, the most influential thinkers have not only been driven by curiosity but the bravery to question what others accept. Growing up in Haiti, I learned just how powerful that bravery can be, especially in communities where mental health and disability were often dismissed. I witnessed how silence and denial prevented many people from receiving the care they needed. In my own life, I saw how untreated health struggles, alcoholism and social pressures such as status, money, and lifestyle, led to deep divisions within my family and the loss of loved ones. I also knew a family friend who lost three children due to lack of adequate research, attention, and care for Black communities–an experience that revealed how systemic neglect have devastating consequences.These experiences shaped my understanding of service—not just as helping individuals, but as challenging the systems that fail them. Books became my refuge, teaching me that actions, whether in a sentence or a fleeting moment, comes from the choices we make. When I arrived at Loyola University, I discovered a culture that celebrates inquiry rather than suppressing it. My studies in psychology and biology have allowed me to better understand how environmental stressors such as racism, poverty, and displacement –affect both the mind and body, particularly within African Diaspora communities. This understanding of the mind-body connection has guided me towards a career in medicine with a focus in psychology, where I can help others navigate the intersection of mental health, biological processes, and the environment. My pre-med coursework has built a strong foundation on scientific knowledge, but it's my service work that grounds my purpose. As a member of the Cities Mentor Program, I have supported children navigating academic pressure, social challenges, and environmental stressors—many of which are deeply tied to broader inequalities faced by communities of color. These experiences have shown me that service requires consistency, empathy, and the willingness to advocate for those whose needs are often overlooked. To address these challenges, I believe that expanding visibility and access to mental health care in underserved communities is essential. Growing up, I often heard that therapy “was for white people”, a belief that reflects the deep stigma and lack of representation within Black communities. Challenging this mindset is central to my mission. Increasing cultural competence, compassion–based support systems is necessary to bridge the gap between healthcare providers and the communities they serve. This meaningful reform must involve collaboration between healthcare providers, educators, policymakers, and community leaders to ensure that care is both accessible and equitable. Guided by the values of service, sacrifice, compassion, and bravery, I am committed to using my career in medicine to advocate for more inclusive and understanding systems of care, particularly for those within the African diaspora who have historically been overlooked. Ultimately my goal is to ensure that no individual is made to feel invisible in their struggle, and that care becomes a right rather than a privilege for marginalized communities. I hope my legacy contributes to a future where this becomes a global reality, beginning in my home country of Haiti.

Throughout history, the most influential thinkers have not only been driven by curiosity but the bravery to question what others accept. Growing up in Haiti, I learned just how powerful that bravery can be, especially in communities where mental health and disability were often dismissed. I witnessed how silence and denial prevented many people from receiving the care they needed. In my own life, I saw how untreated health struggles, alcoholism and social pressures such as status, money, and lifestyle, led to deep divisions within my family and the loss of loved ones. I also knew a family friend who lost three children due to lack of adequate research, attention, and care for Black communities–an experience that revealed how systemic neglect have devastating consequences.These experiences shaped my understanding of service—not just as helping individuals, but as challenging the systems that fail them. Books became my refuge, teaching me that actions, whether in a sentence or a fleeting moment, comes from the choices we make. When I arrived at Loyola University, I discovered a culture that celebrates inquiry rather than suppressing it. My studies in psychology and biology have allowed me to better understand how environmental stressors such as racism, poverty, and displacement –affect both the mind and body, particularly within African Diaspora communities. This understanding of the mind-body connection has guided me towards a career in medicine with a focus in psychology, where I can help others navigate the intersection of mental health, biological processes, and the environment. My pre-med coursework has built a strong foundation on scientific knowledge, but it's my service work that grounds my purpose. As a member of the Cities Mentor Program, I have supported children navigating academic pressure, social challenges, and environmental stressors—many of which are deeply tied to broader inequalities faced by communities of color. These experiences have shown me that service requires consistency, empathy, and the willingness to advocate for those whose needs are often overlooked. To address these challenges, I believe that expanding visibility and access to mental health care in underserved communities is essential. Growing up, I often heard that therapy “was for white people”, a belief that reflects the deep stigma and lack of representation within Black communities. Challenging this mindset is central to my mission. Increasing cultural competence, compassion–based support systems is necessary to bridge the gap between healthcare providers and the communities they serve. This meaningful reform must involve collaboration between healthcare providers, educators, policymakers, and community leaders to ensure that care is both accessible and equitable. Guided by the values of service, sacrifice, compassion, and bravery, I am committed to using my career in medicine to advocate for more inclusive and understanding systems of care, particularly for those within the African diaspora who have historically been overlooked. Ultimately my goal is to ensure that no individual is made to feel invisible in their struggle, and that care becomes a right rather than a privilege for marginalized communities. I hope my legacy contributes to a future where this becomes a global reality, beginning in my home country of Haiti.

Throughout history, the most influential thinkers have not only been driven by curiosity but also by the bravery to question what others accept. Growing up in Haiti, I learned just how powerful that bravery can be, especially in communities where mental health and disability were often dismissed. I witnessed how silence and denial prevented many people from receiving the care they needed. In my own life, I saw how untreated health struggles, alcoholism, and social pressures such as status, money, and lifestyle led to deep divisions within my family and the loss of loved ones. I also knew a family friend who lost three children due to a lack of adequate research, attention, and care for Black communities–an experience that revealed how systemic neglect has devastating consequences. These experiences shaped my understanding of service—not just as helping individuals, but as challenging the systems that fail them. Books became my refuge, teaching me that actions, whether in a sentence or a fleeting moment, come from the choices we make. When I arrived at Loyola University, I discovered a culture that celebrates inquiry rather than suppressing it. My studies in psychology and biology have allowed me to better understand how environmental stressors such as racism, poverty, and displacement affect both the mind and body, particularly within African Diaspora communities. This understanding of the mind-body connection has guided me towards a career in medicine with a focus in psychology, where I can help others navigate the intersection of mental health, biological processes, and the environment. My pre-med coursework has built a strong foundation in scientific knowledge, but it's my service work that grounds my purpose. As a member of the Cities Mentor Program, I have supported children navigating academic pressure, social challenges, and environmental stressors—many of which are deeply tied to broader inequalities faced by communities of color. These experiences have shown me that service requires consistency, empathy, and the willingness to advocate for those whose needs are often overlooked. To address these challenges, I believe that expanding visibility and access to mental health care in underserved communities is essential. Growing up, I often heard that therapy “was for white people”, a belief that reflects the deep stigma and lack of representation within Black communities. Challenging this mindset is central to my mission. Increasing cultural competence and compassion–based support systems is necessary to bridge the gap between healthcare providers and the communities they serve. This meaningful reform must involve collaboration between healthcare providers, educators, policymakers, and community leaders to ensure that care is both accessible and equitable. Guided by the values of service, sacrifice, compassion, and bravery, I am committed to using my career in medicine to advocate for more inclusive and understanding systems of care, particularly for those within the African diaspora who have historically been overlooked. Ultimately, my goal is to ensure that no individual feels invisible in their struggle, and that care becomes a right rather than a privilege for marginalized communities. I hope my legacy contributes to a future where this becomes a global reality, beginning in my home country of Haiti.

Throughout history, the most influential thinkers have consistently been the most curious. Growing up in Haiti, I learned just how powerful that curiosity can be, even when asking “too many questions” was seen as risky. Books became my refuge, teaching me that meaning, whether in a sentence or a fleeting moment, comes from the choices we make. When I arrived at Loyola University, I discovered a culture that celebrates curiosity instead of shunning it. My writing responsibility, Professor once stated that “ writing was a series of choices”, a sentence that resonated deeply with concepts I learned outside of literature, particularly in the way the body reacts and expresses itself. Emotions can speed up our heartbeats, memories shape how we see things, and stress can alter the way we think. These experiences are not random; they are messages from our brain that translate our lives into physical reactions. This understanding of the mind-body connection led me to question how biological and environmental stressors shape cognition, steering me towards a career in medicine with a focus in psychology. My pre-med studies combine chemistry, biology, and psychology, but it's my service work that keeps my focus on the human side of things. As a part of the Cities Mentor Program, helping children navigate their social life, environmental stressors, and academic pressure has been the most fulfilling part of my journey into care. These experiences remind me that true care begins long before someone steps into a clinic, and I am eager to continue exploring the intersections of science and humanity in my future endeavors. Having moved frequently throughout my life, I have witnessed significant differences in awareness and attitudes toward disability and mental health. While living in Haiti, I observed how denial often shaped the medical field—COVID-19 was not taken seriously, and therapy was viewed as an unnecessary luxury rather than a vital form of care. These experiences opened my eyes to how individuals with disabilities and mental health conditions are often overlooked, misunderstood, or left untreated. Because of this, I am committed to raising awareness about the importance of visibility and proper care for those with special needs. In pursuing a career in medicine, particularly in psychiatry, I hope to advocate for more compassionate, informed approaches to treatment—ones that prioritize understanding and long-term support rather than dismissal or over reliance on medication. Through my work, I aim to help create a healthcare environment where individuals with disabilities are recognized, respected, and given the care they deserve.