I eventually mastered the art of patting my head and rubbing my tummy at the same time, a skill I like to call listening to others while creating change. Currently, I use my leadership skills to inspire those around me by creating spaces where students feel heard, supported, and motivated to contribute. I serve as the president of the Renaissance High School Student Senate, our school’s most esteemed governing body. Our mission is to bridge the gap between the student body and administration by fostering clear and consistent communication throughout the building. In this role, I lead a team of thirty students in building strong relationships with school administrators to represent better and serve our peers. As president, I guide my fellow senators through the planning and execution of projects that uplift the student body and strengthen school spirit. I help refine their ideas, provide feedback, and encourage thoughtful collaboration before proposals are presented to our principal for approval. Through this process, I have learned that leadership is not about directing others, but about empowering them. By listening closely, offering guidance, and trusting my team, I help transform individual ideas into initiatives that benefit our entire school community. In addition to Student Senate, I inspire others through my role as Vice President of our school’s National Honor Society chapter. Each year, I help direct more than fifty NHS members in literacy initiatives designed to encourage young students to develop a love for reading. Through programs such as Phoenix Halloween and Dr. Seuss Day, we host children in grades Pre-K through third grade, creating interactive stations where they read stories and participate in games that promote literacy. Watching young students become excited about books reminds me how powerful encouragement can be at an early age. As vice president, I also work closely with our NHS president to strengthen our chapter. Together, we collaborate on improving events, expanding outreach efforts, and developing effective fundraising strategies. These experiences have taught me that inspiring others is not a one-person job. To truly support those around me, I must work collaboratively, listen with empathy, and recognize what motivates each individual. Leadership, I have learned, begins with understanding others before guiding them. Outside of school, I use my job at Chick-fil-A Southfield to inspire others in small but meaningful ways. I have worked there for a year and a half as a Front of House team member, where I provide exceptional customer service in a fast-paced environment while ensuring accuracy and efficiency. Over time, I have received countless compliments from guests who share how a kind word or friendly interaction brightened their day. I take pride in knowing that my attitude can shape someone’s experience, even during a brief encounter. Working in customer service has taught me that inspiration does not always come from grand gestures. Sometimes, it comes from patience, warmth, and a genuine smile. By treating each guest with care, I hope to encourage kindness and positivity in return. Bonding over food and good service has become a simple yet powerful way for me to uplift others. Whether in student government, service organizations, or the workplace, I strive to inspire by leading with empathy, collaboration, and integrity. I believe leadership is most meaningful when it empowers others to discover their own potential, and I am committed to continuing that mission in every community I become part of.

I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nosy; my favorite thing to do is ask questions and chase down the answers. That curiosity became essential when I began serving my community. One afternoon at the Detroit Goodfellows warehouse during an annual volunteer event, a woman arrived carrying dolls she had carefully decorated. Curious, I asked what motivated her to return each year. She explained that Detroit Goodfellows had once supported her own family and that she continued the tradition because few people today realize the profound impact the organization had on her life. Detroit Goodfellows is a holiday organization dedicated to ensuring that underserved children across Metro Detroit receive gift boxes, guided by the motto, “No kid without a Christmas.” That conversation changed how I viewed community service. It showed me how lasting impact is created not through single acts, but through commitment passed from one generation to the next. Ms. Sandra’s dedication also struck me because, despite the organization’s history, I had rarely heard my peers mention Detroit Goodfellows. If an organization that once shaped her childhood was now unfamiliar to students my age, I knew there was both an opportunity and a responsibility to help bridge that gap. Determined to take action, I reached out to Executive Director Sari Schinder and requested a meeting, despite having no prior connection. During our conversation, I shared an idea shaped by my experiences as a student: using social media to connect with younger audiences. I suggested highlighting volunteer opportunities, sharing behind-the-scenes moments, and showcasing the organization’s impact in ways that felt engaging and relatable. By the end of that meeting, I had officially joined Detroit Goodfellows as a junior photographer, working closely with the PR team to expand its outreach. In this role, I attended community events across Detroit, capturing photographs that reflected not just the logistics of service but the genuine interactions between volunteers, families, and children. I began inviting my friends to join me, turning individual volunteering into a shared experience. Together, we assembled dental kits, organized supplies, and collected decorated dolls for holiday gift boxes. Watching my peers become invested affirmed what I had believed from the start: awareness inspires action. My proudest accomplishment came when I expanded this effort within my school. I pitched the idea of a doll-dressing initiative to our National Honor Society, transforming a simple idea into a sustainable service project. What began as a proposal became an annual tradition, with our chapter decorating over 150 dolls to be included in holiday gift boxes for young girls. Knowing that each doll represented a moment of joy and recognition reminded me why community service matters and how one conversation can grow into lasting change. Through this work, I helped expand awareness of Detroit Goodfellows, increasing the number of holiday boxes delivered to families across Detroit and allowing more children to experience a fulfilled holiday season. My natural tendency to ask questions, start conversations, and share ideas became a strength that allowed me to serve my community meaningfully. I learned that leadership is not about titles, but about initiative, listening, and building connections that last. These experiences shaped how I view education, community, and leadership. They taught me that civic engagement begins with awareness and that even small actions can create lasting impact. Giving back is not simply about charity; it is about honoring the support that others once received and paying it forward so future generations can thrive. I hope to continue empowering others through outreach, creative communication, and service, building bridges that inspire greater involvement and collective responsibility wherever I go.

I found out I wasn’t a superhero in third grade. I couldn’t magically fix every problem or take away people’s pain, but I could listen, support, and show up when it mattered. Being able to help others has always been one of my strongest traits, and I take immense pride in it. I naturally create a safe space for people to express themselves, no matter the situation. I am the support friend, the one people turn to. Being that person throughout my life sparked my interest in the healthcare field. Helping my friends became the catalyst for wanting to help people beyond my immediate circle. Making an impact has always been my driving force because bringing comfort and support to others gives my life deep purpose. That constant desire to lend a helping hand is what inspires me to pursue a future in healthcare. Learning about what can help and change the lives of others is a passion that motivates me every single day. When it comes to planning my future, I’ve never asked myself, “What do I want to be when I grow up?” Instead, I ask, “What problem can I solve to leave an impact?” I choose those words because I never want to limit myself. There are endless opportunities ahead of me, and I know the path I take may twist, curve, or even change completely. For a while, I wanted to be a podiatrist. I was drawn to the idea of improving mobility. After all, movement is how we navigate the world and drive change. We can’t walk without our feet, we can’t drive a car without them, and we certainly can’t move mountains unless we’re willing to move forward. Later, when my stepmom was diagnosed with Lupus, I witnessed firsthand how medicine helped her manage her symptoms and regain her quality of life. That experience changed everything for me. It made me see medicine not just as a science, but as a lifeline, something powerful and personal. I realized then that I wanted to be part of the process that gives people like her hope, comfort, and healing. That realization led me to clinical pharmaceutical science. I want to help develop medications and treatments that allow people to live longer, feel better, and thrive. Looking ahead, I hope to use my career to advocate for and raise awareness about healthcare disparities within the medical system. It’s my mission to help ensure that minority groups around the world receive better care. I want to be a voice for change and a source of inspiration for others from underrepresented communities to pursue healthcare careers, creating a ripple effect of impact. I want to ensure that the medicines we produce benefit all demographics through more inclusive clinical testing, across all races, genders, classes, and sexual orientations. As a young Black woman, I want to be the representation I rarely see. I want to speak at schools, write books, and create internships that show people from every background that there is a place for them in healthcare. Ultimately, I want to use my platform to increase the number of Black doctors, challenge injustice, and reshape the future of healthcare for the better.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t born to be extraordinary. I don’t have a single life-changing experience or dramatic event that shaped me. Instead, I’ve been shaped by something less visible: stability. I come from a single-parent household with an incredible mom and a polka-dot-like relationship with my dad. For some, that might be considered traumatic. But for me, it simply is what it is. It hasn’t defined me negatively; the absence of trauma is what sets me apart. Because of that, I see the world a bit differently. I don’t carry the same emotional weight many of my peers do, which allows me to move through life with a strong sense of purpose and balance. I know who I am. I’m the support friend, the one who listens without judgment, who encourages others in moments of doubt, and who makes people feel seen and safe. Helping others has always come naturally, and it’s one of the things I value most about myself. That instinct to help is what led me to healthcare. Being a source of comfort for my friends made me realize I could offer that to others, too. My motivation has never been about chasing a title; it’s about solving problems and making an impact. I don’t ask myself, “What do I want to be?” I ask, “What change do I want to make?” For a while, I wanted to become a podiatrist. I was drawn to the idea of improving mobility because movement is how we move forward in life. But things shifted when my stepmom was diagnosed with Lupus. Watching how medication helped her manage her symptoms showed me just how personal and life-changing medicine can be. That moment sparked something deeper in me. She is the woman who inspires me to keep going, to make a change for my community. I now hope to become a clinical pharmaceutical scientist and be part of the process that creates treatments for people like her. I want to help others feel better, live longer, and truly thrive. If awarded the Linda Fontenot Memorial Scholarship, I will use the support to invest in my education and future in healthcare. This scholarship will help ease the financial burden and allow me to focus fully on creating change in the communities that need it most.

1. Inspiration is a driving force that pulls me toward my passion and allows me to share my desire with my community to make a difference. Having an Inspiration completely changed the direction of my career goals, shifting my focus from podiatry to pharmaceutical sciences. I was drawn to the idea of improving mobility because movement is how we navigate the world and create change. We can’t walk without our feet, a car can’t be driven without our feet, and mountains can not be moved unless we have the drive to move forward. Later, my stepmom was diagnosed with Lupus, and watching how medication helps her manage symptoms and improve her quality of life made me realize how powerful and personal medicine can be. Being inspired by my stepmom allowed me to become a beacon in my community by constantly volunteering with the Detroit Good Fellows to ensure that no kid goes without a Christmas by packaging and handing out gift boxes to families in need. My stepmom’s strength sparked my curiosity to answer the question exploring why minority groups often face greater challenges in receiving adequate care compared to other races. In the future, I hope to use my career as a clinical pharmaceutical scientist to advocate for and raise awareness about healthcare disparities within the medical system. In addition, it is my goal to work to provide better care for minority groups around the world. I will use my platform to inspire others from underrepresented communities to pursue careers in healthcare, to foster a long line of change within our communities. I will use my career to ensure that the medicines produced benefit all demographics, which means more inclusive clinical testing for all races, classes, genders, and sexual orientations. As a young black woman, I want to use my platform in healthcare to be a representation I rarely see. I want to speak at schools, write books, and create internships that show everyone that there is a place for them in healthcare, despite their background. Ultimately, I want to use my career in healthcare to leave an impact by creating more black doctors, inspiring more people to challenge injustice, and reshaping healthcare for the better. 2. Currently, I use my leadership skills to inspire those around me. I serve as the president of the Renaissance High School Student Senate, our school’s most esteemed governing body. Our mission is to bridge the gap between the student body and administration by fostering clear, consistent communication throughout the building. In this role, I lead a team of 30 students in building strong relationships with our school administrators to better serve our student body. I also help my fellow senators design and execute projects that uplift the student body and boost school spirit. As president, I guide them through the planning process, giving feedback and strengthening their ideas before they are presented to our principal for approval. Additionally, I also inspire others through my role as the National Honor Society Vice President of my school's chapter. Within this role, I have annually directed our 50 other NHS members to inspire elementary school students to read through literacy initiatives such as Phoenix Halloween and Dr. Seuss Day. Within these events, we host students in grades Pre-K - 3rd grade who can visit different stations where they read and play games that promote literacy! As Vice President, I also work closely with our NHS President to strengthen our chapter. Together, we collaborate on improving events, enhancing outreach efforts, and developing effective fundraising strategies. I’ve learned that inspiring others is not a one-person job. To truly support and uplift those around me, I must work collaboratively, listen with empathy, and understand how to spark their passion by first recognizing their needs. Outside of school, I use my job at Chick-fil-A Southfield to inspire others and brighten their days. I have been working at Chick-fil-A for a year and a half now, where my role is Front of House Team member, and in this position, I help by providing exceptional customer service in a fast-paced environment, ensuring accuracy, efficiency. In my time of working here, I have received a countless number of compliments detailing how easily my customer service can brighten our customers' day. I pride myself on being able to provide good service because, in that role, I can inspire our customers to be kind in the same way that I was. Working at this restaurant has taught me that it is the little things you can say to inspire someone and brighten their day. Bonding over food and good service has become a catalyst for me to inspire our guests! 3. If awarded the 2025 Desire to Inspire Scholarship, I will use the support to invest in my education and future in healthcare. As a rising senior from Detroit, Michigan, an underrepresented community, I understand firsthand that the cost of tuition can be a significant barrier, especially given my background. This scholarship will ease my mind by taking my focus off the financial aspect and reshifting my thinking to how I can continue to impact my community. I plan to pursue a career as a clinical pharmaceutical scientist, where I can be a voice for people who are often left behind in the healthcare system. With the support of the Desire to Inspire Scholarship, I will continue to serve as a source of inspiration by using this opportunity to further drive my mission of achieving greater equity in healthcare. I will continue advocating, helping build a bridge between medical professionals and patients, ensuring that all minorities feel heard, understood, and receive the quality care they need to thrive and live longer, healthier lives. The change within healthcare starts with me. With the help of the scholarship, I will be able to achieve my goal of attending a four-year university and continuing my studies through a PHD program. The 2025 Desire to Inspire Scholarship will allow me to make a meaningful and lasting change within the healthcare community.