My home in Haiti was a sanctuary filled with warmth, the scent of ripening cherries, and the sounds of farm animals. At age 11, I left this life for the United States, a land of opportunity. The transition was jarring. The familiar faces had disappeared. In Haiti, I had been surrounded by love and life; in the U.S., I felt alone. Starting sixth grade was lonely, but I persevered. One day, a classmate named Kelisha offered her help in math class. Her kindness brought joy to my days, and her friendship felt like a lifeline. When she moved to Florida, I felt the loss deeply, as if I had to start over again. Despite the challenges of moving to a new country, my journey has taught me resilience and adaptability. I realized that change is a part of life, and while friends and family may not always be physically present, my roots will always stay with me. I remember being fascinated by cheerleading—the movements and chants captivated me. I wanted to join but was afraid at first. Eventually, I gained the confidence to try out. Learning the routine and chants was challenging; everything needed to be precise and sharp. Though stepping out of my comfort zone and struggling to connect with the other cheerleaders, I was proud of myself for trying. Furthermore, As a child, I often needed to see doctors, and while my mom couldn’t take me, my grandmother stepped in. In the waiting room, I would observe other children crying and parents feeling distraught because their kids were in immense pain. Witnessing this was heartbreaking, and it ignited my desire to work in a hospital, treating children, wiping away their tears, and helping them smile and heal. Additionally, As I pursue a higher education, I want to one day contribute positively to both my adopted home and my beloved Haiti. Many children in my home country lack access to education. This has inspired me to dedicate myself fully to my studies and career path. With the education I would receive at Hobart and William Smith colleges, I plan to further my studies by majoring in biology and later attend medical school. My goal is to one day provide care at the hospital that once cared for me. I want to help children grow up healthy and thrive. I aim to treat my future patients with care and kindness, ensuring they feel comfortable and excited about their checkups. I hope to inspire my patients to love themselves. Going into the world, I would channel my dedication into my career pursuits while fostering a sense of safety, a strong desire to connect and learn from my peers. Lastly, my first volunteer experience began shortly after I became close with an office lady at an after-school program. In the summer of 2019, she invited me to visit the Westbury Methodist Church on a Saturday to help with the food pantry. After my introduction, I began to help. Seeing the joy on the kids’ faces made my day. Although I was simply volunteering, I felt a part of a bigger community, providing for its people. Beyond providing healthcare, I plan to actively engage in events and activities, building connections with my peers and seniors. I envision myself as an alumnus, continuing this work by assisting newcomers and offering guidance and mentorship. I strive to help others reach their academic aspirations. I wish to grow with my peers, united by the determination that drives me. Together, we can uplift one another, share our aspirations, and foster a deeper understanding of our goals.

The ever lasting memories with my grandma. For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to become a pediatrician. I constantly needed to go to the doctor as a child. Since my mom was not able to bring me, my grandmother would assume the responsibility. I have wonderful memories of bonding with Grandma carrying me on her back, singing sweet melodies en route to the doctor. I was always in a pleasant state of mind eating my sweets. The doctors would become my role models. When I see myself, I imagine growing into a person who resembles the doctors who cared for me. My grandma is my rock, the mother I never thought I needed. With her as the model, I have always been a caregiver to my peers and family. Lending an ear to friends to share their problems and providing a feeling of safety is important as we all have our challenges. Helping friends through tough times is a major part of my values. This also sits at the foundation of my drive to be a doctor. When at the hospital it would take hours for the children to get tended to. Grandma and I would patiently wait, as we waited I would scan around looking at the other children crying, and parents having nervous breakdowns because their kids were in immense pain, that would break my heart for I did not like to see that visual that was presented in front of me. From then on, I wanted to work at the hospital, treat these children, wipe away their tears and make them smile and be healthy. Being a pediatrician to me deepened because not everywhere in the world has that accessibility. I believe with my medical degree, I could join traveling medical foundations such as the doctors without borders programs focusing on aiding children in other countries. Reflecting on my journey, I realized that change is a part of life. At age 11, I left my home and my wonderful Grandmother for the United States, a land of opportunity. The transition was jarring. The air felt colder, and the sweet cherry scent and familiar faces disappeared. Learning to stand on my own, I no longer had someone to share the wonderful moment with. As I reflect on my journey, I realized that change is a part of life, and while my grandma may not always be physically present, I will always carry the memories she left with me, she is always a call away. Additionally, I became aware of the challenges I would face in a household of a father with 3 children and I, the youngest, the only one that is en route to college. Although, it has been difficult carrying the weight of going to college, not disappointing my Father, making a name for myself. I also have to think of my families in Haiti that want a better life. Despite these realizations, I believe my determination to succeed in school will allow me to make my dream a reality. My adaptability and willingness to embrace new experiences will serve me well wherever I choose to go. I am driven by the desire to provide for my family and my community. I am unafraid to step into new roles, and am eager to both help and learn from others. I bring with me a deep determination and a strong sense of purpose that I will never lose sight of. I know one day I will contribute to my adopted home and my beloved Haiti.

Being a caregiver is essential to being a doctor. At age 11, I left Haiti for the United States, a land of opportunity. Shortly after I arrived in the U.S. I became close with the office lady and this after-school became a family. In the summer of 2019, she invited me to visit the church on a Saturday to help with the food pantry. I was excited. The first day I was introduced to everyone and I got to my station. I was handing out foods, and products, seeing the joy on the kids’ faces made my day. While volunteering, I also helped translate in Haitian Creole for families who were unable to communicate their needs. Although I was simply volunteering, it meant so much more to me. I felt a part of a bigger community, providing for its people. Additionally, I have actively participated in numerous community service opportunities in the Westbury School District. At the annual SEL Fair, I help guide donors and set up health and wellness activity tables. I volunteer with My Sister Keeper at our High School Food Pantry, packing and organizing donations. As a National Honor Society member, I assist with monthly fundraising events. During quarterly Parent-Teacher conferences, I served as a Haitian Creole translator for parents. This translation role extends to events like College and Career Day, where I help explain college processes and finances to families. My involvement extends to the Westbury Memorial Public Library, where I participated in various events including the children's library's 100th anniversary celebration, Fall Festival, and Thrift Day. In the Books Buddies program, I read with children and led STEM activities. During Black History Month, I participated in a poetry reading, presenting Toni Morrison's "Eve Remembering." I serve my broader community by volunteering at the Westbury Senior Citizens Center during summers, helping with meal service. In collaboration with the library we write cards to them during the holidays and help with their arts and craft events. Furthermore, I have always been a caregiver to my peers and family. Lending an ear to friends to share their problems and providing a feeling of safety is important as we all have our challenges. Helping friends through tough times is a major part of my values. Despite the challenges of moving to a new country, my journey has taught me resilience and adaptability. I remember being fascinated by Cheerleading, from the movements to the chants. I wanted to join but I was afraid. Eventually, I gained the confidence to try out. The challenging parts were learning the routine and the chants. Everything needed to be precise and clean. Although I was stepping out of my comfort zone, I found it difficult making new friends. I did not connect with the other cheerleaders. However, I was not alone and I was proud of myself for trying. Furthermore, my journey has taught me pride in my heritage. My school’s multicultural events, like Hispanic and Black Heritage Month celebrations, were instrumental in broadening my perspective. These events captivated me, offering chances to learn about diverse cultures, customs, and languages. Through them, I not only gained a deeper appreciation of my own Haitian background but also developed a genuine curiosity and respect for other cultures in American society.

Who am I? I am driven by the desire to provide for my community. I am unafraid to step into new roles, can connect with people in any environment, and am eager to both help and learn from others. I bring with me a deep determination and a strong sense of purpose. I value clarity and ensure attention to detail, always striving to treat others with kindness. I come from beauty and struggles. My home in Haiti was a sanctuary filled with warmth, the scent of ripening cherries, and the sounds of farm animals. Our cream-and-burgundy house stood proudly, surrounded by laughter echoing through the courtyard. At age 11, I left this life for the United States, a land of opportunity. The transition was jarring. The air felt colder, and the sweet cherry scent and familiar faces disappeared. My passion only grew, now I did not have to only dream of it, I could make it reality. For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to become a pediatrician. I constantly needed to go to the doctor as a child. Since my mom was not able to bring me, my grandmother would assume the responsibility. I have wonderful memories of bonding with Grandma carrying me on her back, singing sweet melodies en route to the doctor. I was always in a pleasant state of mind eating my sweets. The doctors would become my role models. When I see myself I imagine growing into a person who resembles the doctors who cared for me. With both my Grandma and aunt as models, I have always been a caregiver to my peers and family. Lending an ear to friends, providing comfort and offering a safe space for them to share their struggle have been central to my values. This also sits at the foundation of my drive to be a doctor. A patient has to feel safe and comfortable to open up and convey their needs to a physician. A physician can’t do his or her job without putting their patients’ needs first. I want to be there to help children grow in a healthy way. I want to treat my future patients with the same care and love I would give my own children, ensuring they feel at ease during their check ups. They possess incredible energy and spark that I hope to nurture. I want them to love themselves and to share my passion with them. When at the hospital it would take hours for the children to get tended to. Grandma and I would patiently wait, as we waited I would scan around looking at the other children crying, and parents having nervous breakdowns because their kids were in immense pain, that would break my heart for I did not like to see that visual that was presented in front of me. From then on, I wanted to work at the hospital, treat these children, wipe away their tears and make them smile and be healthy. Being a pediatrician to me deepened because not everywhere in the world has that accessibility, especially back in my home. I want to major in Biology on the pre - medical track in order to pursue my goal. I believe once I graduate and obtain my medical degree, I could join traveling medical foundations such as the doctors without borders programs focusing on aiding children in other countries. I know my adaptability and willingness to embrace new experiences will serve me well in the medical field. I want to one day contribute to my adopted home and my beloved Haiti.

For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to become a pediatrician. I constantly needed to go to the doctor as a child. Since my mom was not able to bring me, my grandmother would assume the responsibility. I have wonderful memories of bonding with Grandma carrying me on her back, singing sweet melodies en route to the doctor. I was always in a pleasant state of mind eating my sweets. The doctors would become my role models. When I see myself I imagine growing into a person who resembles the doctors who cared for me. When at the hospital it would take hours for the children to get tended to. Grandma and I would patiently wait, as we waited I would scan around looking at the other children crying, and parents having nervous breakdowns because their kids were in immense pain, that would break my heart for I did not like to see that visual that was presented in front of me. From then on, I wanted to work at the hospital, treat these children, wipe away their tears and make them smile and be healthy. Being a pediatrician to me deepened because not everywhere in the world has that accessibility. I want to major in Biology on the pre - medical track in order to pursue my goal. I believe once I graduate and obtain my medical degree, I could join traveling medical foundations such as the doctors without borders programs focusing on aiding children in other countries. At age 11, I left Haiti for the United States, a land of opportunity. The transition was jarring. My passion only grew, now I did not have to only dream of becoming a pediatrician, I could make it reality. In the beginning I did not know what volunteering was. It started when I joined an after-school program shortly after I arrived in the U.S., I became close with the office lady and this after-school became a family. In the summer of 2019, she invited me to visit the church on a Saturday to help with the food pantry. I was excited. The first day I was introduced to everyone and I got to my station. I was handing out foods, and products, seeing the joy on the kids’ faces made my day. While volunteering, I also helped translate in Haitian Creole for families who were unable to communicate their needs. Although I was simply volunteering, it meant so much more to me. I felt a part of a bigger community, providing for its people. Since then I have actively participated in numerous community service opportunities in the Westbury School Distric. At the annual SEL Fair, I help guide donors and set up health and wellness activity tables. I volunteer with My Sister Keeper at our High School Food Pantry, packing and organizing donations. As a National Honor Society member, I assist with monthly fundraising events. During quarterly Parent-Teacher conferences, I served as a Haitian Creole translator for parents. My involvement extends to the Westbury Memorial Public Library, where I participated in various events including the children's library's 100th anniversary celebration, Fall Festival, and Book Buddies. Additionally, I serve my broader community by volunteering at the Westbury Senior Citizens Center during summers, helping with meal service. This has inspired me to not only give back to my community but to make a stance and make a difference to help those in need wherever I may be in life I want to leave a positive mark. I want to one day contribute to my beloved Haiti and my adoptive home.

Who am I? My home in Haiti was a sanctuary filled with warmth, the scent of ripening cherries, and the sounds of farm animals. Our cream-and-burgundy house stood proudly, surrounded by laughter echoing through the courtyard. At age 11, I left this life for the United States, a land of opportunity. The transition was jarring. The air felt colder, and the sweet cherry scent and familiar faces disappeared. My passion only grew, now I did not have to only dream of it, I could make it reality. For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to become a pediatrician. I constantly needed to go to the doctor as a child. Since my mom was not able to bring me, my grandmother would assume the responsibility. I have wonderful memories of bonding with Grandma carrying me on her back, singing sweet melodies en route to the doctor. I was always in a pleasant state of mind eating my sweets. The doctors would become my role models. When I see myself I imagine growing into a person who resembles the doctors who cared for me. Children are the most energetic beings and I would not want to turn off that spark. I am a caregiver. I want to treat my future patients as my own children so they love coming back and are excited for their checkups. I would want them to love themselves and to share my passion with them. When at the hospital it would take hours for the children to get tended to. Grandma and I would patiently wait, as we waited I would scan around looking at the other children crying, and parents having nervous breakdowns because their kids were in immense pain, that would break my heart for I did not like to see that visual that was presented in front of me. From then on, I wanted to work at the hospital, treat these children, wipe away their tears and make them smile and be healthy. Being a pediatrician to me deepened because not everywhere in the world has that accessibility especially back in my home. I want to major in Biology on the pre - medical track in order to pursue my goal. I believe once I graduate and obtain my medical degree, I could join traveling medical foundations such as the doctors without borders programs focusing on aiding children in other countries. My adaptability and willingness to embrace new experiences will serve me well in the medical field.I value clarity and ensure attention to detail, always striving to treat others with kindness. I am driven by the desire to provide for my community. I am unafraid to step into new roles, can connect with people in any environment, and am eager to both help and learn from others. I bring with me a deep determination and a strong sense of purpose. I know one day I will contribute to my adopted home and my beloved Haiti.

For as long as I can remember, I have dreamed of becoming a pediatrician. As a child, frequent visits to the doctor were a huge part of my life. Since my mom was unable to take me, my grandmother would step in, carrying me on her back and singing as we made our way to the doctor. Those visits left a lasting memory, and the doctors I met became my role models. However, my true inspiration was my aunt, a pediatrician who never stopped providing care, she was always cheerful. Her passion for helping never stopped at the hospital, I loved how it didn’t matter the time, she always answered calls for help, with medicine ready to aid the children in the neighborhood. With Grandma as the model, I have always been a caregiver to my peers and family. Lending an ear to friends to share their problems and providing a feeling of safety is important as we all have our challenges. Helping friends through tough times is a major part of my values. This also sits at the foundation of my drive to be a doctor. A patient has to feel safe and comfortable to open up and convey their needs to a physician. A physician can not do his or her job without putting their patients’ needs first. I want to be there to help children grow in a healthy way. Children are the most energetic beings and I would not want to turn off that spark. I want to treat my future patients as my own children so they love coming back and are excited for their checkups. I would want them to love themselves and to share my passion for the arts with them. Reflecting on my journey, I realized that change is a part of life, and while friends and family may not always be physically present, my roots will always stay with me. Being cared for and caring for others has shaped me into the woman I am today, keeping my head up, helping those in need does not take much and it will always leave a positive light on my heart. When at the hospital it would take hours for the children to get tended to. Grandma and I would patiently wait, as we waited I would scan around looking at the other children crying, and parents having nervous breakdowns because their kids were in immense pain, that would break my heart for I did not like to see that visual that was presented in front of me. From then on, I wanted to work at the hospital, treat these children, wipe away their tears and make them smile and be healthy. Being a pediatrician to me deepened because not everywhere in the world has that accessibility. I believe with my medical degree, I could join traveling medical foundations such as the doctors without borders programs focusing on aiding children in other countries. I know one day I will contribute to my adopted home and my beloved Haiti. This could all be possible with receiving this scholarship, I am from a low income family and do not have as many opportunities as others. This scholarship could help me pay for tuition, meal plans and or books but I know wherever I go I will make a stance, I will figure it out, fight my battles head on and achieve my goal no matter what. I believe that despite the hardships I will face, my determination to succeed in school will allow me to make my dream a reality.

My home in Haiti was a sanctuary filled with warmth, the scent of ripening cherries, and the sounds of farm animals. Our cream-and-burgundy house stood proudly, surrounded by laughter echoing through the courtyard. At age 11, I left this life for the United States, a land of opportunity. The transition was jarring. The air felt colder, and the sweet cherry scent and familiar faces disappeared. My passion only grew, now I did not have to only dream of it, I could make it reality. For as long as I can remember, I have dreamed of becoming a pediatrician. As a child, frequent visits to the doctor were a huge part of my life. Since my mom was unable to take me, my grandmother would step in, carrying me on her back and singing as we made our way to the doctor. Those visits left a lasting memory, and the doctors I met became my role models. However, my true inspiration was my aunt, a pediatrician who never stopped providing care, she was always cheerful. Her passion for helping never stopped at the hospital, I loved how it didn’t matter the time, she always answered calls for help, with medicine ready to aid the children in the neighborhood. When I see myself, I imagine growing into a person who resembles the doctors who cared for me. With Grandma as a role model, I have always been a caregiver to my peers and family. Lending an ear to friends to share their problems and providing a feeling of safety is important as we all have our challenges. Helping friends through tough times is a major part of my values. This also sits at the foundation of my drive to be a doctor. A patient has to feel safe and comfortable to open up and convey their needs to a physician. A physician can not do his or her job without putting their patients’ needs first. I want to be there to help children grow in a healthy way. Children are the most energetic beings and I would not want to turn off that spark. I want to treat my future patients as my own children so they love coming back and are excited for their checkups. Reflecting on my journey, I realized that change is a part of life, and while friends and family may not always be physically present, my roots will always stay with me. I believe that despite the hardships I will face, my determination to succeed in school will allow me to make my dream a reality. My country state inspired this dream because access to a pediatrician is limited. When at the hospital it would take hours for the children to get tended to. Grandma and I would patiently wait, as we waited I would scan around looking at the other children crying, and parents having nervous breakdowns because their kids were in immense pain, that would break my heart for I did not like to see that visual that was presented in front of me. From then on, I wanted to work at the hospital, treat these children, wipe away their tears and make them smile and healthy. Being a pediatrician to me deepened because not everywhere in the world has that accessibility. I believe with my medical degree, I could join traveling medical foundations such as the doctors without borders programs focusing on aiding children in other countries. I know one day I will contribute to my adopted home and my beloved Haiti.