"A Young Hero is defined as an exceptional young person who has excelled in academics, given significantly of themselves through public service, overcome personal adversity, exhibited extraordinary heroism, or inspired others through their deeds and strength of character to become better students, persons, and citizens."
Congratulations to Jessica Anderson, a junior at Southside High Schooll, who has been named one of 𝙇𝙤𝙪𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙖 𝙋𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙘 𝘽𝙧𝙤𝙖𝙙𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜’𝙨 2025 𝙇𝙤𝙪𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙖 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙜 𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙚𝙨!Jessica’s journey from Haiti to Youngsville is nothing short of extraordinary. After overcoming personal loss and adapting to life in a new country during the COVID-19 pandemic, she’s become a true leader in her school and community — advocating for the homeless, serving on leadership councils, excelling in academics, and inspiring everyone around her.Her strength, compassion, and dedication to service are exactly why she was chosen as one of Louisiana’s most exceptional young people. She’ll be honored on 𝙇𝙤𝙪𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙖 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙜 𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝘿𝙖𝙮, April 28, 2025.
All about Jessica -
Jessica Anderson is a junior at Southside High School and has been at Southside since her freshman year. Jessica was born and raised in Haiti, and at the age of 2, her biological mother passed away. Her biological father concluded that he could not financially and safely raise Jessica and her sister on his own. He heard about a young missionary girl in the community (Megan Boudreaux), and he asked her if she could raise them as if they were her own. Megan went on to found a nonprofit organization, Respire Haiti, that operates a Christian school, a soccer program, a feeding program, and a clinic that sees all sorts of patients. For the next 7 years, Jessica spent her time learning Haitian Creole and French at this facility. With the motivation and dedication of her mother, she was able to be fluent in all of these languages. The first time she was ever able to visit the United States with her new family was at the age of 9, and she fell absolutely in love with this new world. However, throughout their visit, she realized that her heart stayed in Haiti, and homesickness kicked in for her and her whole family. After a year of schooling in the United States, specifically Lafayette, Louisiana, they finished their long-term visitation and moved back home. About a year later, they were back in the United States visiting for a fundraiser that their nonprofit was running. During this time, the United States went on a travel ban, and this act prohibited flights from going out. This also prohibited flights from going into Haiti. Due to this Jessica and her family were required to stay in the United States due to this mandate. They have lived in Carencro, Zachary, and Lafayette, and they have been here in our Youngsville community for the past three years.
Community Involvement & Impact -
Jessica believes that involvement in the community is essential in building appreciation for the community and for people in general. Jessica is part of Brent Henley Youth Leadership Program (a leadership program that selects 30 out of ~1000 students in our parish) This program teaches students to appreciate all of our leaders and to recognize all of the different forms that leadership and heroism can take. Jessica is also part of the Mayor President’s Youth Advisory Council which focuses on the inner workings of the Lafayette consolidated government. Once a month this council meets and has a themed day that orients around the different institutions in our local government. While being part of this council, they are split into committees and her committee is in charge of current events and policies. Their main initiative this year is to pass a resolution that will recognize the homelessness issue in our community. This resolution will go hand in hand with their parish-wide food and necessity drives that will be going to Catholic Charities of Acadiana, our shelter and diner for the homeless all across Acadiana. Jessica believes that the first step in impacting our community lies in recognizing and participating in our community. She has a deep-rooted passion for community service, shaped by her own life experiences. Her unique background has given her a profound appreciation for the importance of community involvement. These programs have taught her to recognize the many forms of leadership and heroism that exist in everyday life.Jessica’s journey has instilled in her a strong sense of responsibility to give back. She understands that true impact begins with recognizing the needs of a community and taking action. Through her leadership and service, she hopes to inspire others to appreciate, engage with, and uplift those around them.
Leadership -
Jessica believes that collaboration and teamwork are both important characteristics to have if you have the hopes of being a leader and someone who is looked up to by others. Jessica loves teamwork when it pertains to school activities, clubs, organized events, and sports. She believes that problem-solving is more effective if more ideas are being circulated among a group of people. Problem solving is something that Jessica likes to do and the more complex the issue the more interesting and fun the problem solving. Jessica would like to believe that her peers look up to me, and she does believe that her peers know that they can come to her when faced with an issue or with a need to be listened to. Jessica hopes she sets a positive example for others, and although that is not the intention behind everything she does, she hopes that that is an outcome of her involvement in her school and community.Academic Involvement & Achievements -
Jessica is part of Beta Club, National Honors Society, Principles Advisory Council, and Million Word Reader Club, she is a school Ambassador and is part of Southside's Powerlifting Team. Beta Club is a national club that focuses on community service, leadership, and academic excellence. Beta mostly targets those interested and motivated enough to juggle schooling and community service. The National Honors Society is a club that recognizes the achievements of students who have exceptional honors classes and school involvement. Principles Advisory Council is a council started by Southside's very own principal that focuses on student engagement and consideration. Million Word Reader Club is a book club that anyone can join, and have conversations about books they have read and log in the ones they want to reach a million words. A school Ambassador is a selective group of students who are selected by our main counseling department. Their main Job is to present Southside appropriately and academically. They are also in charge of tours of our school, and in helping the different departments in any way that they are able. Southside’s powerlifting team is a very friendly and inviting group that focuses on their physical and competitive strength.
Perseverance / Demonstration of Heroism -
Jessica was born and raised in Haiti which is a third-world country and one that does not have a positive track history with the world. Haiti does not often appear pleasantly in the news. Jessica loves her home country and she will always love it, but the difficulties in her home country have prevented her from living and much less visiting due to the turmoil. Coming to the United States in March of 2020 was supposed to be a quick and enjoyable trip, however, due to COVID-19 it turned into a challenging and life-changing experience that has and will always impact her and those close to her.
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