She Can Do It All: Jade Jacotin, A Campus Role Model

Photo Courtesy of Jade Jacotin

In today’s world, few individuals show the true roles of leadership, dedication, and empowerment like Jade Jacotin. A driven young woman of Haitian descent, Jacotin is a shining star in both her academic and professional life. 

Her strong work ethic and passion for community engagement make her a true role model — one whose journey demonstrates the power of giving back to the community.

The way Jacotin manages her academics and workload has transformed over time. She used to ask, “How can this benefit me?” But the real shift happened when she started asking, “How can I use what I’m learning to uplift my people? How can I create impact?” Once Jacotin stepped into that purpose, everything became clearer and lighter — even the heavy work felt meaningful. 

She states, “One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned is the power of asking for help. There is strength in community, in leaning on those who have walked before me and those walking beside me.

Learning to advocate for myself, to speak up and take up space, has broken so many barriers that were never meant to hold me back in the first place.”

Currently an intern at KWB Pathology, Jacotin is gaining hands-on experience in her chosen fields of public health and biology. 

She explains her internship at KWB Pathology has been “a defining experience in shaping my vision for the future. Medicine is more than just science — it’s storytelling, advocacy, and access. I want to bridge the gaps in healthcare by incorporating media and public health to make vital information accessible to the communities that need it most.” 

Jacotin also mentions, “Right now, I’m working on marketing strategies to educate women on their health, tackling disparities that have been ignored for too long. Because when Black women are healthy when our voices are heard, when we have the knowledge to advocate for ourselves — our whole community thrives.”

While Jacotin navigates a heavy academic workload, she has balanced leadership roles in many student organizations, which have helped shape her into the passionate and driven individual she is today.

Jacotin’s leadership skills shine through her involvement in several key roles. Jacotin defines leadership as “love. It’s service. It’s sacrifice. I used to think leadership meant standing at the front, but now I know it means walking with my people, hand in hand, heart in heart. 

She continues, “Every initiative I’ve taken on has shaped me into a more selfless, more present, more intentional leader. Leadership is not about power — it’s about pouring into others, about making sure that no one is left behind.”

Jacotin’s leadership as the Marketing Chair for the Black Student Union and the Secretary of FSU’s sophomore class council has worked tirelessly to amplify the voices of her peers. She strives to create a space where students can unite, share experiences, and work toward collective goals. She uses her experiences and platform as a safe space. 

She illustrates, “When people meet me, I want them to feel seen, to know — deep in their soul — that they are enough. That they don’t need to change themselves to be worthy of love, success, or belonging. Especially women — my sisters. 

Jacotin continues, “I want every Black woman, every Haitian woman, every woman navigating this world to know: You are already everything you need to be. Your power is in your existence, your truth, your voice. You don’t need permission to take up space. You already belong.”

Her work is not confined to campus. Through her internship at Advent Health, where she served as Assistant Lead Shadow, Jacotin has gained valuable insight into the healthcare industry. This role allowed her to learn from several professionals to further develop her leadership skills.

Jacotin is deeply committed to empowering women, particularly women of color. Through her leadership roles and community engagement, she actively works to break down barriers and create opportunities for others. 

For Jacotin, empowering women goes beyond individual success — it is about creating lasting change in communities that have long been underserved and underrepresented.

Jacotin’s heritage is a cornerstone of her identity. Haitian culture, which emphasizes resilience, family, and community, has greatly influenced her approach to leadership. 

Jacotin expresses, “Being Haitian is the foundation of who I am. I carry my ancestors in every step I take. I come from the world’s first Black republic — a people who fought, bled, and won their freedom not just for themselves, but for others around the globe.” 

Jacotin continues, “Haiti didn’t just gain independence; we turned around and helped liberate others. That’s what leadership is. It’s not about being first. It’s not about titles or glory. It’s about lifting as you climb, about making sure the door never closes behind you. Being Haitian has taught me that greatness is our legacy, but service is our responsibility.”

Jacotin’s journey serves as an inspiration to not only the Haitian and Black communities but to anyone striving to make a positive difference in the world.

Jacotins closes the interview with a powerful statement in Creole focusing on the importance of lifting each other up as she says, “Pi gwo kriminèl, se moun ki gen yon kay plen manje, epi kache lè yon moun grangou mande yon zo. Kalite moun sa yo te ka manje pou letènite, yo pap janm plen.”

Her story is a powerful reminder of the importance of hard work, community, and culture — which can take individuals to extraordinary heights. Jacotin is breaking barriers and paving the way for a brighter future, proving that with determination, anything is possible.