Hello, I am Zowie Villefranche, a proud first-generation Haitian American and rising freshman at Spelman College. My experiences, culture, and commitment to service have shaped who I am and my aspirations of becoming a psychiatrist, dedicated to improving mental health within underserved communities. Service has always been a central part of my life from being in the environmental club in middle school, to providing math tutoring and watching my younger sister at home during school breaks, to service in High school. I have volunteered with many organizations including the Haitian American Nurses Association (HANA), Art for Hospitals, the Wellstar Volunteen program, and The Recharge Project As a HANA volunteer, I participated in health fairs, community events, and performed at the annual fundraising gala supporting scholarships, technical school training, and legal support for the Haitian community. As an Art for Hospital volunteer, I made paintings to be displayed in hospital environments to brighten the atmosphere and uplift staff and patients’ morale. The Wellstar hospital Volunteen program gave me exposure to the hospital environment, where I worked with the medical team to provide assistance on different units. At the Recharge Project, I assisted with fundraising activities to ensure the organization could support the children it served, and was a moderator for grief support groups. As I learned more about mental health, I became increasingly aware of the disparities that exist within many Black and immigrant communities. Mental health struggles are often overlooked or stigmatized; as a result, too many people avoid seeking help. I want to be part of the solution. My goal after graduating from Spelman is to become a psychiatrist who not only provides mental health treatment but also advocates for education, and awareness. I hope to help reduce stigma surrounding mental health, encouraging open conversations allowing people to seek support without shame. As I begin my journey at Spelman College as a Health Sciences major on a Pre-Med track, I look forward to embracing Spelman’s culture of service. I plan to continue advocating for mental health awareness by creating safe spaces where students can discuss mental health openly, access resources, and feel supported throughout their college experience. My commitment to community involvement will not end with college. After medical school, I intend to continue this work in underserved communities where mental health resources are often scarce and inaccessible. In addition to providing mental health treatment, I plan to continue to raise mental health awareness through public speaking, community events, and social media platforms while mentoring youth from underserved areas to inspire them to explore the field. Although it will not be without financial challenges, I am excited about the possibilities college will bring to me and to those I will be serving. The Marie Jean Baptiste Mentorship scholarship would help me immensely; lowering out-of-pocket costs for my college education and giving me the opportunity to work less hours, freeing more time for studying and service and I would be honored and grateful to be considered as a recipient.