I asked my fourth-grade English teacher, Mrs. Holden, why she only wrote in cursive writing. I told her that the words on the whiteboard looked slanted and the letters were linking together. I couldn’t understand any of it. Mrs. Holden looked at me with much concern and said, “I’m not writing in cursive, Kezia. All the other kids can read my handwriting, how come you can’t?” She moved me to the very front and I still struggled to see well. Embarrassed, I waited until the end of class to ask one of my classmates for her notebook to copy their notes instead. That year Mrs. Holden strongly encouraged my mother to take me to get my first eye exam. We went to Nemours and my optometrist indeed diagnosed me with myopia and a regular astigmatism OU. The day finally came when my glasses were ready for pickup! I excitedly looked back at my reflection and saw two minimized eyes set in huge round frames with thick lenses. I then looked down at the ground and said, “Mommy, look at the little squares on the floor!” I was amazed to see the individual tiles because before then it was like they weren't there. It seemed like magic or a special gift from God. My life goal from that day on was to spread the joy of healthy vision. I wish to become a board-certified optician and professionally fit glasses onto as many other people who are in need. I want to be that voice for other little girls just like me who had no idea why they are not able to read clearly or see the board at a distance. I am so dedicated to this dream that I will stop at nothing until I get the proper education and rack up enough experience for years to come. I am a full-time Clinical specialist at Visionworks and am currently enrolled in the full-time opticianry program at Hillsborough Community College. I have a 3.8 GPA marking this as my second year on the Dean’s list. Even with such a busy schedule, I still find time to volunteer. I am the current treasurer for Orange Park Lions Club which is a non-profit organization that helps sort donated glasses and we give back to the local community. I am going to take my licensing exam next month and the Walking In Authority International Ministry Scholarship program will help tremendously in financing my study materials and the cost of the upcoming test. Donor, especially as a young African American woman, thank you for giving me the opportunity to overcome diversity. This support will help keep me on track to become the world’s greatest optician and continue to give back to my community. When that day arrives, I will always continue my learning and empower the ones around me to do the same.

I asked my fourth-grade English teacher, Mrs. Holden, why she only wrote in cursive writing. I told her that the words on the whiteboard looked slanted and the letters were linking together. I couldn’t understand any of it. Mrs. Holden looked at me with much concern and said, “I’m not writing in cursive, Kezia. All the other kids can read my handwriting, how come you can’t?” She moved me to the very front and I still struggled to see well. Embarrassed, I waited until the end of class to ask one of my classmates for her notebook to copy their notes instead. That year Mrs. Holden strongly encouraged my mother to take me to get my first eye exam. We went to Nemours and my optometrist indeed diagnosed me with myopia and a regular astigmatism OU. The day finally came when my glasses were ready for pickup! I excitedly looked back at my reflection and saw two minimized eyes set in huge round frames with thick lenses. I then looked down at the ground and said, “Mommy, look at the little squares on the floor!” I was amazed to see the individual tiles because before then it was like they weren't there. It seemed like magic or a special gift from God. My life goal from that day on was to spread the joy of healthy vision. I wish to become a board-certified optician and professionally fit glasses onto as many other people who are in need. I want to be that voice for other little girls just like me who had no idea why they are not able to read clearly or see the board at a distance. I am so dedicated to this dream that I will stop at nothing until I get the proper education and rack up enough experience for years to come. I am a full-time Clinical specialist at Visionworks and am currently enrolled in the full-time opticianry program at Hillsborough Community College. I have a 3.8 GPA marking this as my second year on the Dean’s list. Even with such a busy schedule, I still find time to volunteer. I am the current treasurer for Orange Park Lions Club which is a non-profit organization that helps sort donated glasses and we give back to the local community. I am going to take my licensing exam next month and the Mohamed Magdi Taha Memorial Scholarship program will help tremendously in financing my study materials and the cost of the upcoming test. Donor, especially as a young African American woman, thank you for giving me the opportunity to overcome diversity. This support will help keep me on track to become the world’s greatest optician and continue to give back to my community. When that day arrives, I will always continue my learning and empower the ones around me to do the same.

I asked my fourth-grade English teacher, Mrs. Holden, why she only wrote in cursive writing. I told her that the words on the whiteboard looked slanted and the letters were linking together. I couldn’t understand any of it. Mrs. Holden looked at me with much concern and said, “I’m not writing in cursive, Kezia. All the other kids can read my handwriting, how come you can’t?” She moved me to the very front and I still struggled to see well. Embarrassed, I waited until the end of class to ask one of my classmates for her notebook to copy their notes instead. That year Mrs. Holden strongly encouraged my mother to take me to get my first eye exam. We went to Nemours and my optometrist indeed diagnosed me with myopia and a regular astigmatism OU. The day finally came when my glasses were ready for pickup! I excitedly looked back at my reflection and saw two minimized eyes set in huge round frames with thick lenses. I then looked down at the ground and said, “Mommy, look at the little squares on the floor!” I was amazed to see the individual tiles because before then it was like they weren't there. It seemed like magic or a special gift from God. My life goal from that day on was to spread the joy of healthy vision. I wish to become a board-certified optician and professionally fit glasses onto as many other people who are in need. I want to be that voice for other little girls just like me who had no idea why they are not able to read clearly or see the board at a distance. I am so dedicated to this dream that I will stop at nothing until I get the proper education and rack up enough experience for years to come. I am a full-time Clinical specialist at Visionworks and am currently enrolled in the full-time opticianry program at Hillsborough Community College. I have a 3.8 GPA marking this as my second year on the Dean’s list. Even with such a busy schedule, I still find time to volunteer. I am the current treasurer for Orange Park Lions Club which is a non-profit organization that helps sort donated glasses and we give back to the local community. I am going to take my licensing exam next month and the FLIK Hospitality Group’s Entrepreneurial Council Scholarship program will help tremendously in financing my study materials and the cost of the upcoming test. Donor, especially as a young African American woman, thank you for giving me the opportunity to overcome diversity. This support will help keep me on track to become the world’s greatest optician and continue to give back to my community. When that day arrives, I will always continue my learning and empower the ones around me to do the same.

I asked my fourth-grade English teacher, Mrs. Holden, why she only wrote in cursive writing. I told her that the words on the whiteboard looked slanted and the letters were linking together. I couldn’t understand any of it. Mrs. Holden looked at me with much concern and said, “I’m not writing in cursive, Kezia. All the other kids can read my handwriting, how come you can’t?” She moved me to the very front and I still struggled to see well. Embarrassed, I waited until the end of class to ask one of my classmates for her notebook to copy their notes instead. That year Mrs. Holden strongly encouraged my mother to take me to get my first eye exam. We went to Nemours and my optometrist indeed diagnosed me with myopia and a regular astigmatism OU. The day finally came when my glasses were ready for pickup! I excitedly looked back at my reflection and saw two minimized eyes set in huge round frames with thick lenses. I then looked down at the ground and said, “Mommy, look at the little squares on the floor!” I was amazed to see the individual tiles because before then it was like they weren't there. It seemed like magic or a special gift from God. My life goal from that day on was to spread the joy of healthy vision. I wish to become a board certified optician and professionally fit glasses onto as many other people who are in need. I am so dedicated to this dream that I will stop at nothing until I get the proper education and rack up enough experience for years to come. I am a full-time Sr. Optical specialist at Visionworks and am currently enrolled in the full-time opticianry program at Hillsborough Community College. I have a 3.8 GPA marking this as my second year on the Dean’s list. Even with such a busy schedule, I still find time to volunteer. I am the current treasurer for Orange Park Lions Club which is a non-profit organization that helps sort donated glasses and we give back to the local community. I am going to take my licensing exam next month and the Jeannine Schroeder Women in Public Service Memorial Scholarship program will help tremendously in financing my study materials and the cost of the upcoming test. Donor, especially as a young African American woman, thank you for giving me the opportunity to overcome diversity. This support will help keep me on track to become the world’s greatest optician and continue to give back to my community. When that day arrives, I will always continue my learning and empower the ones around me to do the same.