Hello, I'm Joyenne Ross, and I was in the foster care system. I was only in the system for less than half the year because my mother got sick, and I had no one to take care of me at the age of 12. My time in that system was less than favorable because of the other foster care child with me who constantly bullied me. I was finally reunited with my mother when I turned 14. I am a 17 year old and going to be a Senior at Bruce High School. I am the second in class. I am helpful and try to support everyone that needs it. I cheer up my volleyball team when the game seems bleak. I help the underclassmen when they seem lost with directions. I give blood regularly so that it can help save a life. My dream is to become a Cardiovascular Surgeon and help everyone I can. I've had this dream since I was a young child and have felt the want to help others around me since I was born. Although it will take twelve years to receive this title I will help many get better with the help of transplants and Healthcare. I will help save many lives. I am going to help the families that I cannot save with emotional support. I hope to find new ways to cure the uncurable. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Joyenne Ross

Hello, I am Joyenne Ross, and I'm applying for this scholarship because I value my optimistic attitude the most. It can be the emotion that keeps driving me to my dreams. I am inspired to be a cardiovascular surgeon and that takes determination and dedication to get there. In my mind, I believe optimism is in both determination and dedication. In life, there are dark times, many that I have been through. I was living with my mother for a long time before she was sent to the hospital for an infection. I was twelve and therefore too young to stay at the hospital, and there was no one to look after me at home. I was taken into foster care until she got out. I was out of place and didn't belong in the foster house but my optimistic attitude kept me going and now I am reunited with my mother. I strongly believe that optimism makes the journey of life easier. Staying negative gets no one anywhere but being optimistic and believing in yourself can take you places that you didn't believe was possible. Going into the medical field is competitive and tough but I believe optimism can help me push through those barriers to believing I can be one of the best surgeons. It can push me through the rough and stressful times of schooling and residency. I appreciate your time and look forward to helping your cause. Sincerely, Joyenne Ross

Everyone has someone they look up to, some may be respected and some may not. I strive to be a great model and someone people can come to in times of need. I am a great model for my volleyball team members. I may not be friends with all of the members outside of the team, but on that court I cheer each one of them on. Through times that everyone feels that playing is pointless and the score is 23 to 10, I cheer them up, I tell them that's is not over yet. I hope to help people feel confident in themselves and be happy for who they are. I tutor many students at my school for free. Many of them feel that they are inferior to students who don't need the extra help. I tell each of them that just because they get tutored doesn't mean they're inferior. They are all smart, but some of them need the extra push to finish some of the projects. I am also a mentor in band. As a senior, many young students have questions on right notes, many of them too scared to ask. I am kind and open to them so they don't feel scared to ask what they are doing wrong. When I tutor and mentor in band I hope that my helpfulness will make an impact and have them help their underclassmen and set a good example. I hope that when they are in need of help when they are older that they are not worried to ask for that help.