I am Jorden Bostic—a rising college sophomore and aspiring physician. While I find joy in photography, nature, and binge-watching early 2000s comedies, my deepest passion lies in serving others. I come from a large family of seven. My childhood was shaped by constant change and, above all, resilience—as we moved between hotels, stayed with family, and watched my parents work tirelessly to provide for us on a single income. However, I never saw our struggles as limitations—I saw them as the fire that lit my determination to create change. From the young age of four, I knew I wanted to become a doctor. Being placed in special education classes during elementary school made my dream feel nearly impossible. But my parents never gave up on me. They believed in the power of education and in my potential—even when I couldn’t yet see it myself. Through their encouragement and my determination, I tested out of special education and into the gifted program. It was the first of many moments that taught me the importance of drive, vision, and never giving up—especially when no one around you has done it before. That foundation led me to be the first in my family to graduate high school with honors and attend college. But my journey to medicine isn’t just academic; it’s personal. As the first to attend college, I desire not only to continue breaking generational barriers within my own family but also to extend hope, healing, and equitable healthcare to underserved communities just like the one I was raised in. In 2010, my family’s life changed forever during the traumatic birth of my youngest brother. Due to delayed medical care and the lack of physicians, my brother became stuck in the birth canal and lost oxygen for over nine minutes. He was born with a broken arm and declared brain dead. And for my mother, she nearly lost her life to a severe internal infection from her emergency C-section. Watching my family navigate hospitals and continuous therapy appointments, showed me the harsh inequities within our healthcare system. It was in those moments I realized my purpose wasn’t just to be a doctor but to be the advocate and voice for families like mine. My brother’s story has shaped not just my future career but my purpose. I am deeply committed to serving underprivileged communities and advocating for those underrepresented in healthcare. One initiative close to my heart is my involvement in the Buds for Buddies program at Kendrick Middle School, where I support students with disabilities—children who, like my brother, are often unseen. I also mentor peers through Mercer’s Biology Mentorship Program and actively participate in HOSA and SNMA-MAPS. Through these organizations, I’ve volunteered with the American Red Cross Foundation, provided bedside support to cancer patients at Piedmont Macon, and taken part in a range of community outreach initiatives. As the first in my family to attend college, I hold both the honor and privilege of transforming not only my family’s future but also the lives of underserved communities like mine. I look forward to stepping into a lifelong mission to create equitable, reliable, and accessible healthcare, which stands as a right for all.

Imagine nurturing life before being able to experience the fullness of life for yourself. This was the reality of my teen parents, who had me during their junior year of high school. Though it was an unprecedented situation, my parents gave their all to raising me and their future family. They never missed “a first”, a parent-teacher conference, track meet, no matter the cost. Committed to being the present parents they didn’t have; they sacrificed their high school and collegiate careers to raise me. During this time, my mother was offered a full-ride academic scholarship with the hopes of becoming a judge, a dream she placed on pause for her family. Rather than viewing this "disappointment" as a roadblock, my mom used it as fuel to push me to do what she couldn’t. Raising a family as a teen presented many challenges financially and emotionally. As the oldest child to young parents, I grew up quickly, governing and sometimes taking care of my younger siblings. Being the first in my family to attend college has felt like a whirlwind, filled with new challenges I had to learn and overcome on my own. I didn’t know much about FAFSA, how to apply for college, or even how to pay for college. Navigating this monumental milestone has been challenging for my family, as my parents raise my four younger siblings on one household income. The financial strain has caused me to attain an on-campus job to remain in school. I use these funds to pay for my tuition and to cover my everyday living expenses. However, this experience not only allows me to gain work experience but also grow in time management, communication skills, and understanding of others. I witnessed my parents continuously defy the odds and overcome countless obstacles faced in life. Their resilience, perseverance, and drive gave me the endurance to overcome my own struggles and to even do what has never been done in my family. The words of my mother that give me motivation every day are, “You’re going to be the one who finishes." Without having a formal education of their own, my parents deeply instilled in me the importance of an education. My parents’ story has inspired me to succeed in my undergraduate career to be the change that both my family needed and wanted to see. Though I have encountered challenges in life, it doesn’t reach the magnitude of the healthcare challenges faced by the world today. Healthcare disparities are deeply embedded within society and tremendously affect the lives of others, including my family. April 11, a day I will never forget, my mother went into labor in the absence of doctors. As my mother went into labor, my baby brother was stuck in the birth canal and was losing circulation by the second. Due to his position, he was trapped, and an emergency C-section was performed. The baby was delivered but was lifeless. After constant CPR and respiration by the nurse, I was relieved when I heard the heart monitor begin to speed up. Unfortunately, while he was alive, he was brain-dead, leaving him with plausible future disabilities. One week after delivery, my mom suffered from a near-fatal infection that almost killed her. As a child, I didn’t fully understand what was going on or the implications for the future. Reflecting as a teenager, I now see the impact of disparities not only impacted the life of my family but countless others. I experienced healthcare disparity firsthand and saw its tremendous impact. Though this event not only holds value for my family but has also defined my career and life goals. One is that it is deeply rooted in serving those in underprivileged communities. I’m committed to being the voice that people like my mother didn't have and standing up for patients who feel voiceless or unheard within the healthcare system. Given that many people lack access to adequate healthcare and some lack the necessary medical knowledge to survive, I am committed to bringing about lasting change. Aspiring to become a general surgeon, I plan on establishing mobile healthcare centers and research hubs to combat socio-economic healthcare inequalities in impoverished communities. By participating in research that highlights socioeconomic disparities and their relationship to human health and services, I hope to devise cures and insight for illnesses that are prevalent in certain races and communities. I aspire for my impact to be far greater than helping others but developing change that saves lives in a system that should support effective health. I look forward to engaging in research that not only advances medicine but the human health experience to create systematic change within the healthcare industry. Science quinches our ongoing pursuit of knowledge. Whether we’re researching deadly diseases or developing cures, science doesn't just create; it reveals. And that’s what I love most about science. It brings about real-life change that impacts the lives of millions. I hope that my research has the opportunity to advance and improve human health and our conditions worldwide. With the consideration of this scholarship, I plan to make my dreams become reality. Not only will I be able to finish my undergraduate education but continue my educational and research career to impact the lives of thousands throughout the world.

Who am I? Well, I am Jorden Bostic. Someone who is determined and goal driven. Someone who doesn’t back down from challenges and who loves to learn. I have a bubbly personality. I love not only to laugh but also to bring joy and laughter to others. That could be me cracking a joke, making prank videos for YouTube, or giving a compliment to make someone’s day brighter. I'm an avid movie lover! I enjoy watching movies ranging from early 2000’s comedies to action- and thriller-packed films. That passion has inspired me to create some films of my own as I attend a college and career academy in the film pathway. I enjoy nature and photography, and I have a subtle obsession with flowers. I’m the oldest of five, so you will most likely see me playing with young children wherever I go or even finding ways to help anyone I can. Oh, and yes, I am a Christian. My beliefs and morals shape me today and have influenced my activities in my church and community. It's in my nature to give and help others. Even before I could spell my full name, I knew at the age of four that I wanted to be a doctor, and at 17, I have not given up on that desire. A day that I will never forget, and one that further encouraged me to join the medical field, was the birth of my brother. In the absence of doctors, my mother began giving birth. As she was delivering the baby, he became stuck within the birth canal and was losing circulation. Due to his position, he was trapped, making it nearly impossible for the doctors to deliver him safely. An emergency C-section was conducted, but unfortunately, while he was born, he was lifeless for almost ten minutes. Because of this, he was brain-dead, leaving him with plausible future diagnoses and disabilities. My brother's experience not only holds value for my family but has also defined my career and life goals. One is that it is deeply rooted in serving those in underprivileged communities and being a voice for those who are underrepresented in healthcare. With many minorities and communities lacking accessible and adequate healthcare, and some who solely don’t have the medical answers needed to live, I knew I wanted to bring forth lasting change. I plan on establishing mobile healthcare centers and research hubs to combat socio-economic healthcare inequalities in impoverished communities. I hope to do this by targeting demographic illnesses, improving medical technology, and extending affordable services worldwide to communities that need them most. I am driven to create change within my community and worldwide to limit healthcare disparities for minorities and create accessible and reliable healthcare. As an aspiring surgeon, I'm committed to caring for and serving others. As a member of HOSA and previously taking a Harvard Neuroscience course, I've been getting closer to fulfilling my dreams. My nomination for the Congress of Future Medical Leaders award is a testament to my drive and passion for the medical field. My passions and goals for life are driven to make healthcare a better place for families like mine. A place where we can trust and rest without doubt in the capability and safety of our system. This scholarship will invest in my goals and aspirations for plans that are larger than mine.