On this episode, recent college graduate Jasmine Meriedy shares her inspiring journey as a Florida Tax Credit Scholarship recipient and advocate for high-quality education and healthcare. Discover how her experiences with small classrooms, dedicated nurses, and advocacy work shape her vision for future generations.
Jasmine Meriedy, who graduated from Southern University and A & M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, received the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship during her K-12 education. (Photo courtesy of Jasmine Meriedy)
Episode details:
Jasmine's early diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes and how that influenced her mother's choice of a private school
The importance of smaller classroom sizes and attentive medical care
How the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship program impacted her education and family sacrifices
Her experiences as a student athlete managing diabetes
The significance of equitable access to tailored education and medical support
Advice to families in states without education choice options
The upcoming federal scholarship tax credit program and its potential benefits
Jasmine's plans to pursue a sports photography career and empower women in sports
Jasmine Meriedy was diagnosed as a baby with Type 1 diabetes. A Florida Tax Credit Scholarship made it possible for her mother to choose a private school with small class sizes that could best meet her health and academic needs. (Photo courtesy of Jasmine Meriedy)
Lisa Buie is managing editor for NextSteps. The daughter of a public school superintendent, she spent more than a dozen years as a reporter and bureau chief at the Tampa Bay Times before joining Shriners Hospitals for Children — Tampa, where she served for five years as marketing and communications manager. She lives with her husband and their grown son, who has benefited from education choice.
