
Hobbies and interests
Advocacy And Activism
Baking
Bible Study
Biology
Cooking
Foreign Languages
Culinary Arts
Government
History
Human Rights
Health Sciences
Medicine
Politics and Political Science
Reading
Christianity
Academic
Adult Fiction
Biography
Drama
Health
History
Leadership
Thriller
I read books multiple times per week
Shammaelle Jean-Louis
1x
Finalist
Shammaelle Jean-Louis
1x
FinalistBio
- High School Senior
- Future employee in the healthcare/medical industry
- Love reading, cooking, advocating for others
- Podcaster
- Intending on going to college
Education
Howard University
Bachelor's degree programMajors:
- Political Science and Government
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other
Cathedral High School
High SchoolMiscellaneous
Desired degree level:
Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)
Graduate schools of interest:
Transfer schools of interest:
Majors of interest:
- Health/Medical Preparatory Programs
- Political Science and Government
Career
Dream career field:
Medicine
Dream career goals:
Group Liaison, Podcaster, Language Worker
Mayor Summer Youth Employment Program2022 – 20242 yearsBarista
Starbucks2025 – Present1 year
Sports
Track & Field
Varsity2024 – 2024
Awards
- Athletic Award for Varsity Track & Field
Research
Medicine
Cathedral High School — Writer, Researcher2025 – 2025
Arts
Cheverus Catholic High School
Music2015 – 2023
Public services
Volunteering
Freedom Hill Community Church — Kids Assistant2021 – Present
Future Interests
Advocacy
Politics
Volunteering
Philanthropy
Entrepreneurship
John F. Puffer, Sr. Smile Scholarship
During my middle school graduation, my world was shaken for the better when I heard my name called up to receive the Salutatorian Award. At the time, fourteen year old me didn't even know what the salutatorian award was, let alone that I would receive it. With my sister screaming my name as I walked up, I did my absolute best to control my changing waves of emotions - shocked, surprised, confused, happy, and slightly anxious. Although it didn't feel clear yet, once that gold medal touched my hand, with my name plastered in bold black, crystals would have to pay to see how clear I saw that day.
It would not be significant to me if I tried profusely to receive this award, but in actuality, I didn't know awards were going to be passed out during graduation. Throughout my primary school-life, I worked my way up to being a great student, but I never had intentions of receiving awards for it. I pride myself in my award because it shaped me into who I am today.
Receiving the Salutatorian award altered my view and life on so many subjects. One of the biggest lessons I learned from this is that I don’t need to change who I am to be recognized and praised, when I can be who I am truthfully and goodheartedly and receive that some adoration and appraisals. I received the award not because I fought for it, but because I worked diligently and critically in every subject I had, and I worked this intensely because I wanted to improve and put myself on a higher pedestal as an excelling scholar. When you set high expectations for yourself, you can receive life changing news, but I also learned that if it weren't for the principles of discipline and willpower with my means of motivation, this probably wouldn't have been a possibility. Although you can set yourself to a standard, if you don't follow through, the plan will fall flat. Receiving my award gave me the clarity I needed to advance into who I wanted to be. Education gives students the opportunity and capabilities to change the world for the better. By blending my education and repertoire of qualities and skills, my hope is for this fusion of excellence to be a vessel to those in need of support and advocacy. Regardless of the matter at hand, the knowledge I will receive will benefit not only the future, but the generations to come after. My final hope for the future is that my education and impact brings more positivity into the world, with growing compassion coming from all pinpoints across the globe.
Junie Project Scholarship
My motivation about medicine has been a mystery in itself for such a long time. Growing up as a first generation student of immigrant parents, their expectation is for you to become a doctor and make the family proud. Once they realize the pressure can be a real issue, they decide to let their children choose what they want to in life during the final quarter. But for me, I always wanted to be a doctor, since I was young. Specifically, I dreamt of being a cardiac surgeon for all my life, with other wants on the side. I've tried my best to think of a specific reason as to why my heart lies with the cardio section of medicine, and it's all a blur to me. That was until I realized maybe I didn’t need a reason to want to be a cardiac surgeon, I didn't need a reason to want to be a doctor. A specific event or area in life does not have to happen or be catastrophic for you to realize you are passionate because you want to help. My need for helping the greater good has always trumped my only selfish desires, and attending Howard University will and has already given me the strength and courage to pursue my medical career. Attending an HBCU has shaped my goals for the better because my eyes have been open to much more than I realized. There is no equality in healthcare, and minorities (especially black women and men) are diminished, not taken serious, and end up with the highest mortality rate compared to other races/ethnicities. The stories of my people, and what they have to go through, because of inaccurate, racist, and selfish history that unfortunately hasn't been removed from many curriculum at other colleges, motivates me to not only go pursue my medical and college career at an HBCU, but drives me to give back and help my people in everything I do. This scholarship would bless me with the opportunity to bless the world with my wisdom, talent, intelligence, and kindness. Going to a historically black college/university, receiving a prestigious education, and using everything I will pertain in the next four or more years of my life will help me to continue my mission of making the world a place where it was supposed to be, instead of now. The reason for these goals I set for myself are two virtues that I strongly believe in– value and advocacy. I believe every human being should feel valued and advocated for, and in the two most challenging and vicious fields of work, medicine and politics, that rarely happens. I want to bring that change and I plan on achieving this by resilience, hard work, perseverance, and passion.
HBCU LegaSeed Scholarship
To feel valued, you need to seek and find it in yourself first. Self value and love has been a personal struggle for as long as I can remember. The events and spectaculars that life has had to offer could only contribute more to my disbelief in myself and the effect of all the negative experiences I’ve faced in life. I was at war within myself, longing to feel the value I give to the people, to those who they’d deem undeserving. It sounds self-righteous to describe a pity party in my honor without offering attributes that I share to others, but all my life my value has been seen until it hasn't. It’s even harder to gain self-love when the people closest to you tear you down the most.
I know the phenomenon that having a rocky relationship with close family members or friends can relate to past incidents that stained the relationship that you may not remember. But hearing that your right hand relative wasn't the most thrilled about your incoming existence feels like it's been encrypted in my brain since I was born to remember forever. Love and affection from immigrant parents where that was not the taught custom home felt nice; but, nice only lasts so long until the repeated "frekan" and disappointed faces pastes itself into my soul. As my life progressed, and being shown and told true appreciation and respect with highlights to my value, but still being damaged by the hurts from the past, it helped me realize no one deserves to feel like that.
My spirit has always longed to advocate for the greater good, even when advocacy for myself was scarce. I always felt joy when I advocated for others, no matter what the stance was. Being able to be the voice and leader for those who couldn't depend on themselves to be their own anchor showed me my future passions in a glimpse. Aspirations of leading the way to the future of providing necessary needs and help to everyone worldwide and uphold the people’s voice and opinion to cause reform to create peace was my stored desires in my heart that I want to offer. This discovery helped me find what I needed to look for on the inside about myself.
Value unseen is not value unrecognized. Throughout the course of my life, growing up and developing into the woman I am and continuing to become, I learned multiple things about value and life that can be established in any place or community. A single person can have a significant impact on someone, or many people can save a life by acknowledging how much value you place in someone and making it known. It took a lot for me to get to this place of growth, and as I'm still maturing, one of the most important things I had to teach myself was not to take people’s reactions to me to heart. No one deserves to feel unvalued or unloved, but I learned that you cannot take every situation with so much weight in order to grow. I learned to not let others' reactions define me.
Continuing to do what I love, advocating in the work I love most, health and equality, is what counts to me to make a difference. I have a drive to use all of my life lessons to guide myself and my future generation together. To build my legacy is to continue and shine through every and all circumstances life throws at me, and to never forget those who ere there for me.
Rev. Ethel K. Grinkley Memorial Scholarship
When I think of a sense of community, I envision my youth group from my church. The concept of being able to engage with peers among the same age range as you, and indulging in the same religion and beliefs as you brings a sense of community that will feel the same as family ties. My youth group banded together during the Covid-19 pandemic, and started to join Zoom, and the church community that I only saw once a week started to grow into a large part of my identity. Friday nights, Saturday mornings, and all Sunday long, being surrounded and conversing with the people who have helped me make a difference in my life and lifestyle, and changed my viewpoints on life. With all of the issues that arose, it made us stronger in our conversation and dynamic, and let us reflect on our character and personal flaws. Altogether, my youth group gave me a sense of community that helped me establish how to adapt in any community or group of people in the future. This scholarship would bless me with the opportunity to bless the world with my wisdom, talent, intelligence, and kindness. Going to college, receiving a prestigious education, and using everything I will pertain in the next four or more years of my life will help me to continue my mission of making the world a place where it was supposed to be, instead of now. The reason for these goals I set for myself are two virtues that I strongly believe in– value and advocacy. I believe every human being should feel valued and advocated for, and in the two most challenging and vicious fields of work, medicine and politics, that rarely happens. I want to bring that change and I plan on achieving this by resilience, hardwork, perseverance, and passion. I believe in God, and I believe that everything will work out for me the way it's supposed to, but I have to take the steps of working hard in school, making networking connections, and be at the top of my game everyday. Education gives students the opportunity and capabilities to change the world for the better. By blending my education and repertoire of qualities and skills, my hope is for this fusion of excellence to be a vessel to those in need of support and advocacy. Regardless of the matter at hand, the knowledge I will receive will benefit not only the future, but the generations to come after. My final hope for the future is that my education and impact brings more positivity into the world, with growing compassion coming from all pinpoints across the globe.
Ryan T. Herich Memorial Scholarship
If I was put into a category of what kind of Haitian child, I would be described as a “no sabo” Haitian. Now I know you must be thinking, "what?", but let me explain. Essentially, I'm defined as a Haitian American child, but I do not speak the language fluently, so I am not “fully there yet.” There are many arts to my Haitian identity that are missing from my life that many other kids received; learning how to speak my language starting as a baby, haitian grandparents to guide my parents and I as we all progress and evolve, meshing cultures of ‘Ayiti’ and America, and so much more that I did not fit into. I found myself combining my Haitian culture and American roots, and I often found myself conflicted. But I recognized that the combination of culture is what makes me uniquely myself through all the chaos, that I can carry and appreciate each side of my identity and personality, and carry it through any community throughout life to enlighten and learn something new and unidentified about my culture and others. Now you may still be wondering, what does this have to do with anything. My culture and history define me and help me make a difference around the world. Whether it is through my podcast, school council, or city hall, history and politics have engulfed my soul with the spirit of activism and advocacy to help the greater good. I have always loved to learn. Expanding my knowledge in any category. Even to start at the beginning has always been my drive. Frequently, I would challenge myself to advanced classes early on and take the opportunities needed to advance in several categories. I love science because science was not a class I was always particularly good in. Constantly, I struggled with science as a course, but as I matured the subject matured with me. My interests of working in medicine leads to my passion for advocacy because I believe in the right to affordable, accessible, and premium healthcare to all people. Internal medicine and cardiology have always fascinated me because of how much is known to the heart, but there is so much to uncover about the system. A specific event or area in life does not have to happen or be catastrophic for you to realize you are passionate because you want to help. My need for helping the greater good has always trumped my only selfish desires. I intend on using my education to benefit the greater good and lesser fortunate around the world who don't have means or access to benefit themselves. This scholarship would bless me with the opportunity to bless the world with my wisdom, talent, intelligence, and kindness. The reason for these goals I set for myself are two virtues that I strongly believe in– value and advocacy. I believe every human being should feel valued and advocated for, and in the two most challenging and vicious fields of work, medicine and politics, that rarely happens. I want to bring that change and I plan on achieving this by resilience, hardwork, perseverance, and passion. Regardless of the matter at hand, the knowledge I will receive will benefit not only the future, but the generations to come after. My final hope for the future is that my education and impact brings more positivity into the world, with growing compassion coming from all pinpoints across the globe.
Maxwell Tuan Nguyen Memorial Scholarship
I have always loved to learn. Expanding my knowledge in any category. Even to start at the beginning has always been my drive. Frequently, I would challenge myself to advanced classes early on and take the opportunities needed to advance in several categories. I love science because science was not a class I was always particularly good in. Constantly, I struggled with science as a course, but as I matured the subject matured with me. My interests of working in medicine leads to my passion for advocacy because I believe in the right to affordable, accessible, and premium healthcare to all people. Internal medicine and cardiology have always fascinated me because of how much is known to the heart, but there is so much to uncover about the system. My motivation about medicine has been a mystery in itself for such a long time. Growing up as a first generation student of immigrant parents, their expectation is for you to become a doctor and make the family proud. Once they realize the pressure can be a real issue, they decide to let their children choose what they want to in life during the final quarter. But for me, I always wanted to be a doctor, since I was young. Specifically, I dreamt of being a cardiac surgeon for all my life, with other wants on the side. I've tried my best to think of a specific reason as to why my heart lies with the cardio section of medicine, and it's all a blur to me. That was until I realized maybe I didn’t need a reason to want to be a cardiac surgeon, I didn't need a reason to want to be a doctor. A specific event or area in life does not have to happen or be catastrophic for you to realize you are passionate because you want to help. My need for helping the greater good has always trumped my only selfish desires.
This scholarship would bless me with the opportunity to bless the world with my wisdom, talent, intelligence, and kindness. Going to college, receiving a prestigious education, and using everything I will pertain in the next four or more years of my life will help me to continue my mission of making the world a place where it was supposed to be, instead of now. The reason for these goals I set for myself are two virtues that I strongly believe in– value and advocacy. I believe every human being should feel valued and advocated for, and in the two most challenging and vicious fields of work, medicine and politics, that rarely happens. I want to bring that change and I plan on achieving this by resilience, hardwork, perseverance, and passion. I believe in God, and I believe that everything will work out for me the way it's supposed to, but I have to take the steps of working hard in school, making networking connections, and be at the top of my game everyday.
I intend on using my education to benefit the greater good and lesser fortunate around the world who don't have means or access to benefit themselves. Education gives students the opportunity and capabilities to change the world for the better. By blending my education and repertoire of qualities and skills, my hope is for this fusion of excellence to be a vessel to those in need of support and advocacy. My final hope for the future is that my education and impact brings more positivity into the world, with growing compassion coming from all pinpoints across the globe.
Sammy Hason, Sr. Memorial Scholarship
I have always loved to learn. Expanding my knowledge in any category. Even to start at the beginning has always been my drive. Frequently, I would challenge myself to advanced classes early on and take the opportunities needed to advance in several categories. I love science because science was not a class I was always particularly good in. Constantly, I struggled with science as a course, but as I matured the subject matured with me. My interests of working in medicine leads to my passion for advocacy because I believe in the right to affordable, accessible, and premium healthcare to all people. Internal medicine and cardiology have always fascinated me because of how much is known to the heart, but there is so much to uncover about the system. My motivation about medicine has been a mystery in itself for such a long time. Growing up as a first generation student of immigrant parents, their expectation is for you to become a doctor and make the family proud. Once they realize the pressure can be a real issue, they decide to let their children choose what they want to in life during the final quarter. But for me, I always wanted to be a doctor, since I was young. Specifically, I dreamt of being a cardiac surgeon for all my life, with other wants on the side. I've tried my best to think of a specific reason as to why my heart lies with the cardio section of medicine, and it's all a blur to me. That was until I realized maybe I didn’t need a reason to want to be a cardiac surgeon, I didn't need a reason to want to be a doctor. A specific event or area in life does not have to happen or be catastrophic for you to realize you are passionate because you want to help. My need for helping the greater good has always trumped my only selfish desires.
Medicine is a complex field of study and work, and while being in school causes you to be a competitive scholar, outside the classroom and in the operating room requires you to be an adaptable surgeon. This scholarship would bless me with the opportunity to bless the world with my wisdom, talent, intelligence, and kindness. Going to college, receiving a prestigious education, and using everything I will pertain in the next four or more years of my life will help me to continue my mission of making the world a place where it was supposed to be, instead of now. The reason for these goals I set for myself are two virtues that I strongly believe in– value and advocacy. I believe every human being should feel valued and advocated for, and in the two most challenging and vicious fields of work, medicine and politics, that rarely happens. I want to bring that change and I plan on achieving this by resilience, hardwork, perseverance, and passion. I believe in God, and I believe that everything will work out for me the way it's supposed to, but I have to take the steps of working hard in school, making networking connections, and be at the top of my game everyday.
"Most Gen Z Human Alive" Scholarship
In my general eye, I believe every person is the most Gen Z person in their own right. What sets me apart from other Gen Zers is my dedication to not set a norm for myself. I believe that many people apart of my generation try to set themselves up to a new standard when it comes to trends, algorithm, and aesthetic. Which is understandably so, because my generation is run on technology and social media, and has since intensified during and post-Covid era. However, my generation has been overrun with the ideals of being the next best and trendy thing. What makes me the most Gen Z in my eyes is my unapologetic-ness to being myself in every aspect of life. The vibrancy and openness of my character and personality has spoken volumes to all people that I have interacted with since I was a child. And while it may not always been the best moments for me, like getting stomped on the face at my after school program, or getting called a cockroach, or hitting the lowest of lows in my life. However, it allowed and continues to allow me to be my true and authentic self, and what I call myself to be real. Im real to the point where I don'y they and fake myself and dumb my personality down to make others feel level, because my personality is to make everyone feel welcome and comfortable. The Gen Z in me has helped me be an advocate, a leader, genuine, and see the value in all people. The significance, is that my life and embodiment empowers what it meanders to be Gen Z, unauthentically and apologetically yourself, upright radical leader, and a genuine human being.