Full Circle

Ensuring equity is an active process, particularly when the world is falling apart. In Black communities, it seems like we are always teetering on the edge- reaching out for support from backs turned. There is an uncommon resilience that is, fortunately or not, common to Black people. This force commands us to find our balance and strengthens us to lend a helping hand.  We return to our roots; we give back; we come full circle. Future pharmacist Jodelie Bellot knows what it is like to feel the earth give way, and she is committed to helping others pick themselves up and dust themselves off.
 
“I was born in Haiti and spend most of my childhood there; however, this childhood was abruptly cut short on the afternoon of January 12th, 2010. That afternoon, my once home in Port-au-Prince was ravaged by a devastating earthquake of a magnitude of 7.4. The whole country was plagued with ruin; everywhere I looked was in a state of emergency. Experiencing and witnessing such destruction at a young age really shifted something in me. This gave me a great push to be involved in the healthcare field, and after much reflection, I decided to become a pharmacist. As a pharmacist, I would be able to contribute to my community if something like this would’ve happened again. This journey wasn’t easy: I faced many challenges and setbacks, but I am dedicated to meet my end goal. I am currently a 3rd-year student serving the community through a similar crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. I worked all throughout the pandemic from staffing at my local pharmacy to procuring COVID tests and administering the COVID vaccine. I am so glad that I am in the position where I can serve my community in such disasters and I will continue to do so once I complete my studies for my PharmD in 2022.”

​​ Jodelie Bellot, PharmD Candidate in NY

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Introduction written by: Christian Brown, UNC Class of 2023; PharmAlliance Student