The moment that changed everything for me was quiet. There was no applause, no ceremony, no one watching. I had just walked into my grandfather's hospital room. He has cancer, and most days he cannot get out of bed on his own or feed himself. But when he saw me come through the door, his face lit up. He smiled. In that small, silent moment, I understood something I had not fully grasped before: sometimes the most powerful thing you can do for another person is simply show up. That moment shapes everything about who I am and who I want to become. I visit my grandfather as often as I can now. Somedays I help him eat, other days I just sit beside him and hold his hand. He cannot always tell me how he feels, but I know my presence matters. Being there for him has taught me that care is not always about having the right medicine or the right words. It is about making someone feel seen, supported, and never alone. I carry that lesson with me because I know what it feels like to be overlooked. My family relies on a single income, and my dad works multiple jobs just to keep us afloat. My parents have always told me that debt is like an anchor that can drag you down for a lifetime. Student loans are not an option for me. While some of my classmates see college as a given, I have learned to build my future in small ways that most people never notice: walking neighborhood dogs, selling crocheted stuffed animals to friends, and saving every dollar I can for an education that sometimes feels out of reach. That drive pushed me to become a dual enrollment student at Florida Gulf Coast University while still in high school. I am the first in my family to take this path. My parents and grandparents never had this opportunity. At sixteen, I was the youngest person in every class, surrounded by students in their twenties. I often felt invisible. But I pushed myself to show up anyway, introduce myself, and find people to connect with. Just like with my grandfather, I discovered that showing up is what matters most. Caring for my grandfather has also made me aware of how frightening healthcare can be for families like mine. My biggest fear when going to the doctor is not receiving bad news. It is worrying that my parents' credit card will be declined or that we cannot afford the health care we need. That fear fuels my dream of becoming a family doctor. I want to be a doctor who treats patients with dignity, who takes time to listen, and who never makes anyone feel like their health matters less because of the size of their bank account. I want to be there for my patients the way I show up for my grandfather. My commitment to being present for others extends into my community. Since 9th grade, I have volunteered with Make-A-Wish Southwest Florida's Youth Leadership Committee, planning fundraisers and bringing hope to children facing critical illnesses. During one of the events, I met a wish kid who talked about how she overcame her critical illness and how everyone's contribution made her wish possible. She said it was that wish that made her darkest moments manageable not only her, but her family too. After some tears, I realized she was as much an inspiration to me as her with bringing her family hope. My involvement has led to the granting of wishes to families who need those moments of light and hope so that they can persevere during life's darkest moments. At FGCU, I discovered another way to turn compassion into action. I saw a student crocheting plastic grocery bags into a sleeping mat. I asked them what it was for and they explained it was a project for the Lee County Homeless Coalition. Crocheting had always been my way to relax, but in that moment I realized it could be something more. I started making my own mat, and soon my neighbors and family were saving their bags for me. Over my winter break, I completed two full sleeping mats, each measuring approximately 3 feet by 6 feet, with arm straps and carrying handles, all made entirely from plastic bags and my creativity. I was not doing it for recognition. I was doing it because I knew that somewhere, someone would sleep a little warmer because of something I made with my own hands. Compassion and showing up does not always look the same, but the intention behind them never changes. I do not have a perfect transcript or a polished path. I am a student who worries about money, cares for her grandfather, runs a small neighborhood dog walking side job, and turns plastic bags into hope. Andrea Worden saw the heart, grit, and authenticity someone may have that is overshadowed by other students with polished resumes. She invested in people the world often overlooks. That quiet moment in my grandfather's hospital room taught me what it means to truly be there for someone. It is the foundation of who I am, and it will guide me as I pursue medicine, lift others up, and keep building my future one step at a time, even if some of those steps are walked with a dog or two beside me.

My name is Juliette Desrosiers, and I am a high school senior and dual enrollment student at Florida Gulf Coast University. When I am not studying, I like to crochet stuffed animals for friends and family, walk my three rescue dogs, and read on quiet afternoons. My passion for health and wellness started with the children’s show Doc McStuffins, which taught me that kindness can help someone feel safe and whole. That childhood idea has grown through my four years volunteering with Make-A-Wish Southwest Florida, where I have worked alongside other volunteers to support families facing medical hardships. Seeing children and their loved ones navigate difficult circumstances showed me how compassion, paired with community effort, can make a real difference during vulnerable moments. More recently, my grandfather was diagnosed with cancer. I visit him often, helping with small things he can no longer do on his own. His face lights up when I walk through the door, and being present with him has taught me that meaningful care is often about simply showing up. These experiences have shaped my belief that young people like me have an important role in reimagining healthcare to be more compassionate, accessible, and human. To me, empathy is the willingness to care deeply for another person, even when you have not walked in their shoes. It is not about having all the answers, it is about being fully present, listening without judgment, and offering compassion when someone needs it most. I believe empathy is a skill that young people can develop and share with others, and it is central to how I want to approach both my education and my future career. Empathy is essential for the career I hope to pursue as a primary care family physician. Patients are not diagnoses or data points, they are people navigating fear, uncertainty, and vulnerability. A doctor who leads with empathy can transform a clinical visit into genuine human connection. I have witnessed this through my volunteer work with Make-A-Wish Southwest Florida. I have seen how small acts of kindness can ease a difficult journey. Working alongside team members and fellow students to support families has taught me that healthcare is not just about individual effort. It takes a community of people committed to lifting others up. As technology rapidly changes healthcare, I see artificial intelligence as a valuable diagnostic tool. However, I am concerned that over-reliance on AI could diminish the human connection at the heart of healing. A machine can analyze symptoms, but it cannot hold a patient's hand, notice the worry in a loved one's eyes, or offer reassurance during a frightening moment. Empathy requires flesh and blood. It requires one human being truly seeing another. As a young person entering medicine, I believe my generation has a responsibility to advocate for keeping humanity at the center of healthcare, even as technology evolves. Ensuring human-centered care will take continuous effort and awareness. I am learning American Sign Language, inspired by my deaf uncle and my aunt who is a professional interpreter. They showed me how communication access is essential for patients to advocate for themselves. I want to be a physician who removes barriers, whether financial, linguistic, or emotional, and who helps patients understand their health so they can make informed decisions. I also hope to pursue global health opportunities to serve underserved communities where compassionate, accessible care is needed most. I carry with me a personal understanding of healthcare anxiety. My biggest fear at the doctor's office is not receiving bad news, it is worrying that my family cannot afford the care we need. I never want a patient to delay treatment because of financial pressure. Human-centered care means treating the whole person with dignity, educating patients about their options, and advocating for their wellbeing beyond the exam room. Right now, I am focused on becoming a primary care family physician who builds lasting relationships with patients across every stage of life. I am drawn to the continuity and trust that family medicine provides. I believe that young people entering healthcare have the opportunity to reconceive what compassionate, patient-centered medicine looks like, and I am committed to being part of that change.

I have always been drawn to supporting others and my interest in medicine began long before textbooks and lab classes. When I was young, I watched the show Doc McStuffins, where a little girl fixes her stuffed animals as patients, and it made me believe that kindness could help someone feel safe and cared for. As I grew older, that idea became a real interest in healthcare. I am now a senior in high school and a dual enrollment student at Florida Gulf Coast University, and since the beginning of high school I have volunteered with Make-A-Wish Southwest Florida. Through this experience, I have seen how compassion can lift the spirits of families facing medical hardship, especially young girls and mothers, and these moments helped shape the type of doctor I hope to become. My interest in medicine grew even stronger when I enrolled in a Health Science course in high school. At first, the class focused on basics like hand-washing techniques and medical abbreviations for coding. I was not sure it was for me, but as the course continued, it became one of my favorite parts of the day. My teacher, a female physical therapist, showed me what it looks like to be a woman helping others through a medical career. My mother, a retired dietician, also encouraged my interests in promoting healthier lives. Seeing strong women leading with empathy helped me understand that medicine aligns with who I am and who I want to become. Outside of school, I enjoy caring for others in small and thoughtful ways. I crochet stuffed animals for friends and family, walk my rescued dogs, and read on quiet afternoons. I also run a small neighborhood dog-sitting business and take pride in treating my clients’ pets as my own. For a long time, I thought I wanted to become a veterinarian, as I love animals and shadowed a vet at the local Humane Society. I eventually realized that the field did not resonate with me as much as caring for people. While I may not yet know which specialty I will pursue, I know that I want to be a doctor who treats women and families with kindness and understanding. Thinking about the kind of doctor I want to become has made me aware of how stressful healthcare can be for women making decisions for themselves and their family. My biggest worry when going to the doctor is not receiving difficult news, but my parents not being able to afford the care that is needed. I never want a woman or a young girl to feel that way or delay treatment because of financial pressure. Looking ahead, I have been researching Doctors Without Borders and am inspired by their work where medical care is limited for women and their children. I plan to study global health, develop language skills, and gaining experience in areas like pediatrics, infectious diseases, and emergency care. My uncle Dave is deaf, and my aunt Danielle is a licensed sign language interpreter. Both inspired me to learn sign language and realize how essential communication access is for patients. Even though I am still early in my journey, preparing now helps me feel like I am moving toward a future where I can make a meaningful difference for women, families, and underserved communities by giving them the support they need. I hope to use my life in medicine to mend not only bodies, but spirits. I want to help build a world where every female feels seen, valued, and cared for.

Ever since I was little, I have always wanted to help others. From lending a hand in crafts to having a shoulder to cry on, I was always willing to be there for other people. As I progressed through my years of schooling, I have come to love academics, but more specifically Math and Science. I was fortunate to have teachers that made a safe space for everyone, and this small act made kids like me want to come to class. One of those teachers was my Honors Algebra teacher. He always had a smile on his face and every day I would always look forward to seeing what we were learning. That was the birthplace where I came to love Math. For science, I was nominated by another teacher to attend a virtual camp called "Tech Trek" which was a STEM related program for nominated girls who had a love for STEM. Not only did I learn about historical figures in the STEM fields, but I was able to use the things we learned and make my own "experiments" with them! If it weren't for those teachers, I would never have found join in Math and Science. While both topics are fascinating to me, it does not come easy to others. I choose to further my curiosity in STEAM by selecting a Biology/Premed major and after my B.S. I will move on to medical school to become a doctor. Whether it's a private institution of an E.R. down the road, I will have the potential to give back to others and help as many people as I can with my progressed knowledge in science, math, and other related courses. Like all scholarships, I plan to use this scholarship to combat the possibility of student debt. I have read about (and seen via documentaries) how student debt can't even leave when you die, but it goes after your family if you can't cough up enough money. This scholarship will help me with my college funds, so I do not need to apply for a loan and go into debt. Sure, I could just get a loan and pay it off, but that is WAY easier-said-than-done. School, especially college/university, is a full-time gig, and having a part-time of even a full-time job along with that is unimaginable for me. I praise whoever I meet when they tell me they are in working AND taking 15 credit hours (I attend FGCU via dual enrollment). Even though I could apply for a job and try it out, I know it would not end well and my grades would immediately slip, just because the time I would be spending studying is now crowded with work hours. So, in short, I am choosing to further my education in STEAM because I aspire to be a doctor/physician that helps diagnose and cure people. The impact of this scholarship will help me achieve the relief I feel now when it comes to student debt. Hopefully with this scholarship and a few more, I will not need to go to medical school and take out a loan along with having a job on top of it all. I will put these scholarships into books, tuition, food, or anything that can help me get through university with no student debt.

When I was little, my dad would always play the Broadway Soundtrack in the car and even dance with me in the living room to the music. When I watched The Wizard of Oz, I was confused about how the Wicked Witch of the West (Elphaba) was actually a nice person. When my dad explained to me that the music and story were before the Wizard of Oz movie, it got me thinking about what actually happened that made the "Wicked Witch of the West" so bad. Time goes by, and for my 15th birthday, he got my family and me tickets for the Wicked Broadway play just a few hours from our home! It wasn't as good as when he would describe it to me when I was little, but it was so much better to see it in person than to just go off the music storyline. When the first movie came out, I was so excited to see how well it would be compared to the original play. It was phenomenal! Sure, there were a few tweaks, and the movie needed to have a 2nd part, but it was still amazing! I am super excited for the second movie to come out and see how they portray (spoilers!) how Elphaba escapes with Fiero. I am planning to read the original Wicked Book because my mom told me there was another reason that Elphaba was jealous that her sister got the ruby shoes, and she won't tell me until I read the book and figure it out myself! I can't wait to read the book to see what details were cut out from the Movie and the Broadway play!