July 30, 2024
Teen’s Tale of Academic Excellence, Musical Mastery and a Passion for Medicine
By Roxanne Brown
Teen’s Tale of Academic Excellence, Musical Mastery and a Passion for Medicine
Jordan Mekhi Parker
My family includes: Parents, Larrison Sr. and Tiffany, brothers LJ and Jabari and a dog named Jax our family adopted from the shelter about 10 years ago.
Favorite school subject: Science, most especially anatomy.
One of my greatest academic achievements: Graduating Summa Cum Laude.
My hobbies include: Gaming, sports and playing piano, a hobby I started when I was about 8 years old and that quickly evolved from enjoyment to passion.
About playing piano: I love how something as simple as a page filled with musical notes can translate into such a beautiful sound. I enjoy performing and sharing my passion with others.
You can hear/watch me perform at: Advent Health Waterman, where I play most Fridays as a registered volunteer. It is a reciprocal relationship in that I can share my passion for music while uplifting the spirits of others, and in return, people share their appreciation and words of encouragement.
One of my greatest musical achievements: In 2022, I received the prestigious Lee Dodge Scholarship for performing arts from the Mount Dora Women’s Committee of Fine Arts.
Future plans: I will obtain my AA from Lake Sumter State College and then transfer to a university, where I will major in science and minor in music. Following my undergraduate studies, I aspire to attend medical school and specialize in radiology, focusing on cardiac intervention.
As a doctor: Knowing that I can help others in the future is exciting to me. I hope to inspire others to become doctors and help increase the representation of minority groups in medical professions.
A person I admire: My mother Tiffany has had the biggest impact on my life. She has exemplified that all things are possible if you’re willing to work hard.
Three words that best describe me: Consistent. Inquisitive. Resilient.
My favorite dish: Taco salad.
If I could change one thing in the world: I wish that everyone could have access to quality healthcare.
Words of wisdom: Never give up.
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Originally from Nogales, Arizona, Roxanne worked in the customer service industry while practicing freelance writing for years. She came on board with Akers Media in July 2020 as a full-time staff writer for Lake & Sumter Style Magazine and was promoted to Managing Editor in October 2023—her dream job come true. Prior to that and after just having moved to Florida in 1999, Roxanne had re-directed her prior career path to focus more on journalism and went on to become a reporter for The Daily Commercial/South Lake Press newspapers for 16 years. Additionally, Roxanne—now an award-winning journalist recognized by the Florida Press Club and the Florida chapter of The Society of Professional Journalism—continues working toward her secondary goal of becoming a published author of children’s books.
