Today we’d like to introduce you to Antoinette Jasmine Charles.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
“L’Amérique est un pays où tout peut arriver parce que les possibilités sont infinies,” remarked my grandmother daily as she prepared my brother, Richard Charles, and me for school. In English, it means: America is a country where anything can happen because the opportunities are endless. I am a first-generation Haitian American born and raised in West Palm Beach, Florida. I grew up in a tight-knit community, and my family served as a great support system. Despite the financial challenges my parents faced when my father’s mental health began to deteriorate, my family would always provide us with a place to stay and support. My father was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Dissociative Identity Disorder. His mental illnesses disabled him to the point that he could not differentiate between his delusions and reality. My mother, Altagrace Jean Francois, became the sole provider, so she pursued nursing school to become a licensed practical nurse. After my mother graduated from nursing school, we moved to Georgia because she received a better job opportunity.
In Georgia, we did not have any sense of support because all our immediate family members lived in Florida. Consequently, my mother, brother, and I experienced immense financial challenges. We lived paycheck-to-paycheck, and sometimes could not afford all the bills. I did not allow these circumstances to deter me from pursuing my aspiration of becoming a physician. I graduated from DeKalb Early College Academy at the age of 16. I graduated from DeKalb Early College Academy second in my class at the age of 16, and I was the first person at the school to earn the Gates Millennium Scholarship.
In May 2019, I graduated Summa Cum Laude (a perfect 4.0) from the Illustrious Georgia State University (GSU) with a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and a minor in chemistry at the age of 20. GSU offered more than a promise; it presented a chance to achieve my vision. I have dedicated my undergraduate career to serving underprivileged communities, leadership, and satisfying my intellectual curiosity through research. For three years, I have researched under the guidance of Dr. Angela Mabb. I became a published co-author in Frontiers in Genetics, a research journal, and traveled the country to present my findings at ten local, national, and international research conferences. Notably, I served as the president for the following three organizations: Beta Beta Beta Biological Honors Society, Global Brigades, and Pads for Princesses.
Tri-Beta is a professional society that strives to initiate interest, scholarly attainment, and investigation in the biological sciences. As the President of Tri-Beta, GSU S-STEM Scholar, and Gates Millennium Scholar, I have mentored numerous students in earning scholarships and applying to summer enrichment programs to promote diversity within the S.T.E.M. field. Global Brigades is a nonprofit organization geared towards helping communities in developing countries meet health goals via medical brigades. Over the past three years, our chapter has raised over $100,000, collected 5000 supplies of toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, and medications and helped over 1000 people in 10 underserved communities of Honduras and Nicaragua. Pads for Princesses is an organization that strives to provide support and feminine care products to women dealing with homelessness in Atlanta. In this organization, we prepared meals for local homeless shelters; packaged over 100 sanitary packs for inhabitants of local parks and collected over 150 blankets within a week for our winter blanket giveaway. I also established the P4P First Annual Homelessness Awareness Banquet, where donations such as blankets, feminine, and oral hygiene products were collected and given to local shelters within Atlanta.
All my efforts at GSU in the community and academic realm have earned me Outstanding Student of the Year for 2019. I was chosen out of over 50,000 students to represent Georgia State University for the University System of Georgia’s Academic Recognition Day.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Although I am a proud Haitian American, one of the biggest challenges is dealing with the controlling images that circulate in the media. I want to change the narrative of Haiti known for its political instability and poverty. I desire to represent the resilience of our community in overcoming traumatic natural, political, and social events. By excelling in my academics, I am not overcoming the stereotypes instead, proving it to be wrong in the face of determination.
Not to mention, it is challenging to be a minority within the S.T.E.M. field, and I have learned that I must advocate for myself. Women of color have the challenge of facing two stigmas based on race and gender, which motivates me to persevere through the barriers of being a Black woman in S.T.E.M.
For all women of color pursuing careers in male-dominated fields, you must step up from the sidelines and sit at the table. Do not compare yourself to anyone. Strive to be the best version of yourself every day. Reflect on failures to develop new strategies. Persevere through rejection because if you put in the work, the results will show. Most importantly, find a mentor that is where you want to be and take heed to their wisdom and advice. I encourage you to follow your intuition and do what feels right.
What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
In June, I started a position as a post-baccalaureate research fellow at the National Institute of Mental Health. In addition to my research fellowship, I earned the opportunity to participate in the N.I.H. Academy Fellowship program. This program will help cultivate my intellectual curiosity on factors that relate to health disparities.
My experiences within research and service engagement have inspired me to become a physician and use any gained expertise to advocate for patients’ rights and mitigate social injustices in medicine. Henceforth, I am currently in the process of applying for medical school. When I am not working in the lab or preparing for medical school interviews, I try to pay it forward by mentoring underrepresented high school and undergraduate students with interest in pursuing careers in S.T.E.M., I inform my mentees about them about scholarship and fellowship opportunities, offer application assistance for applying to research experiences or academic enrichment programs, and help develop personalized study strategies. As a recipient of several scholarships, I felt inspired to pay it forward financially by establishing the Charles Back to School Giveaway with my brother. The five deserving students were selected based on their ability to persevere through adversity and aspire to excellence. The following five recipients won $100 and the option to participate in a professional photoshoot: Aminata Fofana (GSU-Senior), Tony Nguyen (GSU-Junior), Shandrea Lockheart (UGA-Junior), Marc Destine (GSU-Sophomore), and Makayla Wright (GSU-Sophomore).
Notably, my best friend, Athena Henry, and I co-founded a weekly prayer series called Perfectly Imperfect Prayer. We wanted to establish a platform for people to discover what it is like to serve God as a student or professional. We host a wide variety of guest speakers such as an actor, artist, DJ, consultant, and students. The prayer sessions are held on Wednesdays at 9 pm via a conference call. To call in the number is 408-418-9388, and the access code to join the session is 796 736 502.
Maturity through adversity and self-reflection have contributed to my aspirations to be a clinician-scientist. As a Haitian- American clinician-scientist, I will be able to relate to Afro-Caribbean and African American patients. I want to give people of these communities the chance to be more trustful of the healthcare system. Not to mention, I am interested in addressing the mental health disparity amongst underserved communities. The stigma associated with seeking mental healthcare, access to mental health services, and the lack of culturally competent providers serve as barriers to care for minorities. With an MD-MPH dual degree, I will be able to treat patients and work with legislators to develop policies that address access to mental health care for underserved communities.
Do you recommend any apps, books or podcasts that have been helpful to you?
I recommend the following resources to help other women who are just starting their journey. The Bible app helps motivate, encourages, and helps to view different perspectives about life blessings and challenges. The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale provides an engaging manifesto for living a purposeful and enriching life. Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg is a fantastic book for coaching women to excel through the challenges of working in a professional environment, mainly male-dominated career fields. Transformation Church, Sarah Jakes Roberts, and Grace For Purpose are all YouTube channels that help me do my best in life, and they have played a significant role in shaping my perspective and increasing my faith.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinette-charles-94349697/
- Phone: 408-418-9388
- Access code: 796 736 502
- Email: antoinette.charles245@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplyant_/
Image Credit:
Richard Charles (https://www.instagram.com/realness_photograhy/?igshid=1donc9yo76z00)
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