This is a story about the importance of community.
Joseph Washington grew up in the small, close-knit community of Putnam Hall. He had several options for high schools in nearby towns, but in the tenth grade he and his family decided to try out the dual enrollment program offered by Santa Fe College at the Watson Center, a satellite extension of the college in Keystone Heights. It was a perfect fit.
After high school, with many of his college credits already completed, Joseph enrolled on the Northwest Campus where his love of science deepened. His academic accomplishments paired with his warm and friendly demeanor earned him the opportunity to serve as an ambassador for the college, leading guided tours and representing the student body at high profile events.“My greatest moment at SF had to be leading my very first tour as a student ambassador - essentially potential students who had scheduled tours as a mechanism to introduce themselves to the college,” Joseph recalls. “I took this as a mandate to produce an experience that brought the college to life with fun theatrics, statistical evidence of our academic excellence, and pearls of wisdom on assimilating into student life.”
Joseph also served on SF’s Student Conduct Board, and was a member of Phi Theta Kappa and My Brother’s Keeper (MBK), a group of black men who mentor and support each other at the college. Outside of school, he worked a part time job at a small grocery store. It was there that friendly and caring customers who had chatted with Joseph enough times to know his life goals (beyond his stint in the seafood department) presented him with an opportunity that changed his life. They knew of a job opening at a Publix pharmacy, and they knew the manager at the store, and that manager wanted Joseph to come in for an interview.
Joseph already knew he wanted to apply to the University of Florida’s pharmacy program, which requires more than really good grades. It takes experience and letters of recommendation. With his academic success and this new-found job (if you live in Gainesville and he looks familiar, yes, he probably gave you a flu shot), Joseph suddenly had all the pieces of the puzzle. Little did he know that he would not only get into the highly competitive pharmacy program at UF, he would also become the president of the Student National Pharmaceutical Association, a volunteer on service trips all over the world, and a voice for underrepresented communities who need access to life-saving medicines.
“I believe Santa Fe does an exceptional job of tying together personal and professional development with extracurricular engagement,” says Joseph. SF taught me to communicate directly with professors on complex issues and to promote the needs of the community.”