Is it fair to call something an adversity if it happens while you are living your dream? And what do you do when that dream begins to feel like the very thing pulling your life apart? This question consumed me from December 2024 to May 2025. I remember the exact day it began, December 10th, 2024. I was in the middle of finals week during my junior year of college when my older brother called to tell me that my father had suffered a stroke. In that moment, everything felt like it stopped. Still, I held myself together on the phone, knowing panic would not help him or my brother. With exams still ahead of me, I had no choice but to keep going. I finished my exams, packed my bags, and rushed to Orlando. Walking into the hospital and seeing my father in that bed was one of the most painful moments of my life. He could barely speak, but I could see the frustration and exhaustion in his eyes. As a Haitian immigrant family that has always faced financial hardship, my father had worked tirelessly to support us. Even while I was away at school, he would send me small amounts of money whenever he could, often at his own expense. Sitting in that hospital room, I felt an overwhelming sense of guilt. I was the first in my family to attend college, something I had always dreamed of, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that my dream had come at a cost to him. While I was building a future for myself, my family was facing one of the hardest moments of our lives. When I returned to school, everything had changed. My father could no longer support me financially, and I became responsible for ensuring I could finish my education. During my senior year, I worked three jobs while maintaining a full-time course load. While many of my peers were enjoying their final year, I was focused on survival. My days were filled with classes, work shifts, and late nights studying. It was exhausting and, at times, isolating. But I refused to give up. My father had sacrificed too much for me to walk away from my education. I leaned on the discipline I had built through years of volunteering and leadership, serving in homeless shelters, animal shelters, and assisted living facilities, and leading philanthropic initiatives in college. These experiences taught me resilience, empathy, and the importance of showing up for others, even in difficult circumstances. In the end, I graduated with honors, earning my degree in business. What once felt impossible became a testament to my determination. More importantly, this adversity reshaped my purpose. Watching my father navigate life after his stroke inspired me to return to school to pursue a degree in health science, with the goal of helping individuals and families experiencing moments like mine. To someone facing similar circumstances, my advice is this: allow yourself to feel everything, but do not let those feelings define your outcome. You may not control what happens to you, but you can control how you respond. Lean on your support systems, even when it feels difficult, and remember that progress does not have to be perfect to be meaningful. Most importantly, do not lose sight of your “why.” For me, it was my family, my father, and the dream that started it all. That “why” carried me through my hardest days, and it continues to guide the person I am becoming.

I was self-centered when I was younger, always thinking about what was in it for me. However, my former kindergarten teacher taught me a valuable lesson in fourth grade. After helping out in her classroom, I asked her where my reward was. She explained that helping others should come from a genuine desire to make a difference, not for personal gain. Although I didn't fully grasp it then, I've learned the true meaning of selflessness through mentorship and life experiences. Selflessness can bring people together, heal wounds, and transform societies. In a world that often values individualism, I aim to embody selflessness through acts of kindness, sharing successes, providing emotional support, and dedicating myself to important causes. Furthermore, I strive to encourage those around me to do the same. During high school, I joined a service club called Oak Ridge Friends. As part of this club, I spent time with students with disabilities, engaging in various activities to make them feel welcome and included on campus. This experience helped me develop empathy and cultural competence, making me more aware and sensitive to diverse backgrounds and needs. Additionally, as an Oak Ridge Friend, I participated in writing letters to hospitalized children, hoping to bring some joy to their lives during challenging times. I understand the challenges of being a newcomer, especially in a new country with a different language. I took it upon myself to help a Haitian classmate, Junior, who didn't speak English, by translating and explaining assignments to him and providing support during his transitional period. Having experienced similar struggles with language barriers through my older brother, who was bullied because of it, I wanted to ensure Junior felt welcomed and supported in his new environment. To make an impact in my college town of DeLand, Florida, I joined a student philanthropy organization called Green, White, and You at Stetson University. Through this organization, I participate in community service initiatives, such as park clean-ups, toiletry donations, and volunteering at assisted living facilities. These experiences have inspired me to plan future initiatives to help those in need, including leading a school supplies drive for underprivileged students and creating a scholarship fund to support students pursuing undergraduate programs. Mrs. Moseley's words about selflessness didn't resonate with me as a fourth-grader, but now I sincerely appreciate their significance. I am committed to being a force for good in the world, using my resources, education, and influence to uplift and advocate for underprivileged and vulnerable individuals. I aim to be a helping hand to others and a voice for the voiceless.

The dream version of my future self is experiencing life, not just existing.

For a while, I didn't know my place in this world; I didn't see where I fit. Until I decided 10th grade would be the time to find a passion, help people, be more aware of the issues plaguing the world, and become more involved in my community. I decided to join a volunteering club on campus called "Oak Ridge Friends," which honestly changed my life trajectory. "Oak Ridge Friends" values human connection, trust, and dedication, and I carry these values with me, even as a sophomore in college. We spread these values through our community service projects. The most notable projects include making gift baskets for students with disabilities on campus, writing cards for terminally ill pediatric patients, and donating toiletries to families at the Ronald McDonald House in Orlando, Florida. These projects were important to me because they helped me connect with new communities. Volunteering has changed my mindset about life. For a significant portion of my life, I didn't feel like I mattered to the world and didn't think I had a purpose. I felt obsolete to the people around me until I found my passion: helping people. Volunteering allows me to meet people from different backgrounds, hear their stories, and see how I can do my part to improve the world. Since graduating from Oak Ridge High School in 2021, I've been attending Stetson University and majoring in Marketing with a minor in Communication. Since being at Stetson, I have joined a student philanthropy organization called "Green, White, & You." This organization has allowed me to align myself with like-minded individuals who want to see change, not only on campus but in the world. Our organization participates in many social causes in our college town, which has inspired me to own and operate a resource/community center for those in need someday. I also intend to have a scholarship program to help first-generation students like myself fund their college education. To accomplish these goals, I need to earn my degree. I am the first person to attend college in my family, so I struggle to pay my tuition every semester. I have to work multiple jobs and sacrifice sleep to barely make ends meet. My mother is a housekeeper at a hotel, and my father is a dishwasher at a restaurant. Because of their many bills and sick family members, they cannot contribute to my college education. This scholarship would alleviate my financial burdens and the stress of being a first-generation student. I want to be the change, I want to impact the world positively, I want people to know they matter, and I want to inspire volunteerism in the hearts of the people around me.