special feature | the next generation
A ma ra A hmed—Science Wanting to make a difference in this world, Amara Ahmed decided to pursue medicine. “Science is constantly evolving,” she said, “I’m always working to motivate other students to keep studying, join clubs and get involved in the community.” Before graduating first in her class from the International Baccalaureate program at James S. Rickards High School, Amara acted as vice president of the Science National Honor Society, won 13 medals in regional and state Science Olympiad competitions and served as founder and president of the Rickards chapter of the American Red Cross. Amara also gained valuable experience volunteering in four different units at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare and numerous other health care settings where she learned about the humanistic aspect of medicine. “I think it’s so important to not only treat the illness but to address other factors, such as socioeconomic status or finding housing and jobs,” said Amara.
Outside of science, Amara enjoys playing the piano, painting and learning about other cultures. She has attended Model United Nations Conferences, where she represented Rwanda in a mock United Nations assembly. “I love learning more about the world, and I think embracing cultural diversity is really important,” she said. Her humanitarianism developed during her time as a Key Club member at her high school, where she helped provide food for the homeless, conduct toy drives, participated in school and park clean-ups and led members as committee chair of Finances and committee chair of Membership of the club. Recently Amara’s academics and community service were recognized at the 2016 Best & Brightest Awards, where she won in the Science & Health category. Now graduated from high school, she is planning to pursue premedical studies at Florida State University in the fall. “The end goal is to become a physician, serve my community and become a better human being in the process,” said Amara, “It’s so important to give back, and as a physician, I’d have the ability to care for people directly.” With her family and friends behind her, Amara urges others to find a support system that lifts them up when times get hard. “My parents always reminded me that just because you have a bad day or a bad moment doesn’t mean that should take you off track,” said Amara, “You should always keep moving toward your dreams one step at a time.”
Z ena ni Johnson—Communi ty L eader Since the age of 5, Zenani Johnson has always felt a calling to help the community. The 18-year old’s passion is advocacy and education and says that “We’ve already been given everything we need to make our communities better. We’ve got to do the work ourselves.” A recent graduate from James S. Rickards High School’s International Baccalaureate program, she is a three-time U.S. Presidential Volunteer Service Award recipient, twotime Congressional Award winner and a recipient of the Governors Champion of Service award. Zenani used her community engagement and leadership acumen to bring “I Talk to Strangers” and “Teens and the Law” events to her school. In her own words, Zenani feels “Honored and empowered knowing that my Teens and the Law program will make teens feel more safe and comfortable when interacting with law enforcement. I feel good knowing that I may have positively impacted someone’s life through this program.” 38 tallahassee woman • august/september 2016
Zenani has spent hundreds of hours speaking about critical issues that impact the youth here. Currently serving as an ambassador for the Youth Health Leadership Council, she strives to help the youth of Tallahassee to understand the importance of overall good health. This fall, she will be attending the University of West Florida and major in Psychology and Criminal Justice. Zenani’s passion for helping the community is sure to bring her even greater happiness and success in the future. “That’s what we’re here for,” she says, “To help one another.”