As a future Health administrator, what matters most to me is advancing my education so that I may help others in need. This core value in my life was shaped by my grandfather. My grandfather was the only survivor sailing from Haiti to Miami. Resilient, my grandfather swam ashore to Miami. After making it ashore, he tirelessly worked to become a legal citizen and secure a job as a taxi driver. Once financially stable, he brought my mother and her siblings over to the US to live in a crowded one bedroom townhouse. One day my grandfather told my mother, “You see those kids who live in this neighborhood; they’re comfortable, and that's why they will never leave. Within you, I see a successful individual. I fought for you.” These words changed her life, leading her to put herself through college, earning her bachelor's in health science, and eventually her medical doctorate. Later in her life, my mom married my dad, whose also a Haitian immigrant, earns a high salary as a lineman. Combined, their incomes have provided me with a comfortable life where I have not lacked for much financially. Today, my grandfather's trait of resilience has led me to become a student leader in my community. I’ve become dedicated to creating an environment where students at my school can learn at their best, as my grandpa did for my mom. But believing in others requires belief in my own goals, specifically funding my college education. Throughout my time at Joel Barlow High School in Redding, CT, I have served as a student ambassador for both the climate committee and the Student panel. By engaging in various policy discussions and advocating for change in the school, such as implementing cell phone policies and school furniture, I have developed a strong sense of self-advocacy skills. Because of my parents' high income I must now advocate for scholarships like this. Many financial aid programs overlook my financial situation, where my parents are financially stable, but unable to cover the complete cost of college, leaving me with substantial debt. Furthermore, to reach an executive level in health administration, I would need to earn a graduate degree. This is another layer of expenses added to my debt. To invest in me means supporting a student who is willing to carry his grandfather's traits of leadership and advocacy wherever he goes while taking full ownership of his future.

My journey in faith truly began in eighth grade. Throughout my life I’ve heard many sermons. I've seen the name of Jesus cast demons out and walked to more altar calls than I can count, but everything changed in 2023. In 2023 I attended a church conference. At the conference, I was sitting in my chair with my head bowed, weeping as I experienced the overwhelming presence of God. It was here where I decided to give my life to Christ. Entering high school as a freshman, quickly put my faith to the test. God began opening my eyes to the reality of my environment: the person I was pretending to be around my friends was not who He called me to be. At the time, my daily life revolved around fitting in—fooling around on the school bus, keeping up appearances, and running with a crowd heading in a direction that wasn't right for me. Recognizing that these influences were pulling me away from the lord, I made the difficult decision to step back from those friendships and change how I lived. Looking back now as a high school senior, I see how God protected me during that transition. Last school year, one of my peers, whom I called my best friend in middle school, is currently facing severe consequences, including expulsion and legal trouble, for violation of privacy on school grounds. But I do not share this from a place of pride, nor do I pretend that I have it all figured out. As Romans 3:23 reminds us, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Every day is still a battle. I make mistakes, I fall, and I continually struggle to keep my focus entirely on the Lord and seek His presence the way I want to. I am not perfect, and I am no better than anyone else. While I am currently undecided on my specific career path, I know that entering college will bring a whole new set of distractions and challenges. Yet it is precisely because of the weaknesses that I rely on my faith. I know I cannot navigate college or my future career on my own strength. My relationship with God is an ongoing journey of surrender, giving me the grace to pick myself back up when I fall, stay humble, and keep striving toward the path He has for me.