The Unforgettable Woodelene Pierre

 They may forget your name, but they will never forget how you made them feel.~  Maya Angelou

At age 15, Immokalee’s Woodelene Pierre is the youngest of four children. As her father passed away in 2013, she was raised by a single parent, her resourceful and resilient mother.

A sophomore and honors student at Immokalee High School, she loves to read and has recently been inspired by Nelson Mandela’s autobiography “Long Walk to Freedom.” Given the chance, she could actually read Mandela’s book in more than one language as she is fluent in English and Creole and speaks a little French. 

Woodelene joined The Immokalee Foundation in seventh grade — a decision that has dramatically enhanced her future career potential. With her strong academic performance — three consecutive quarters of straight A’s — her goals include dual enrollment at Immokalee High School and Florida SouthWestern State College next year. This significant step will enable Woodelene to earn college credits while still in high school.  

She is also an active participant in The Immokalee Foundation’s Healthcare Pathway, a groundbreaking program that enables middle and high school students to gain industry exposure and experience early. 

Woodelene is also a tutor with the Foundation’s Immokalee Readers program, which helps kids improve their reading scores. A giver by nature, she works with children through her church’s children’s ministry, too. 

Ask what word best describes her, and Woodelene says, “Faith.” Her faith in God helps direct her life and achievements. Though she’s disappointed that a mask has covered her smile for so long, we found that her eyes alone light up the room with loving-kindness.

This natural warmth, also seen in her genuine affection for children, has fueled her desire to become a neonatal nurse. The Immokalee Foundation’s Healthcare Pathway curriculum enables students like Woodelene to learn about medical careers while absorbing the terminology and foundational skills such as taking blood pressure, performing CPR, and using a stethoscope.  

For now, as Zoom has replaced many in-person sessions, Woodelene remains excited about her next project from home: creating a human spine from candy! Sweet science!

She also believes that her current and future medical training will provide tools to aid her in discovering signs from patients who cannot communicate their symptoms because of their young age — critical skills for any neonatal nurse. Plus, she cites trust, patience, compassion, kindness, and honesty as essential to success in the medical field.

Thanks to the Foundation, Woodelene twice traveled out of Florida — in seventh and eighth grades — to the Kingsley Pines summer camp in Maine and a spring break trip to Washington, D.C.

Despite these extraordinary out-of-state opportunities, Woodelene recalls being homesick during her first time away from her family. However, looking back, she believes the camp’s “no phone” policy enabled students to focus on the (almost) lost art of letter writing and on making new friends from the United States and other countries. 

In particular, Woodelene remembers a team-building exercise focused on “trust.” She overcame the challenge of climbing a wall while being supported by fellow campers. This activity included laying back into the outstretched arms of other campers who she did not know. 

To Woodelene, the exercise also demonstrated the vital role that “trust” would play in her future relationships with young patients and their parents.

For the last year, Ave Maria’s Chris Farley has been Woodelene’s mentor. Though COVID has kept them from meeting in person, their relationship has blossomed over Zoom due to their shared Christian faith. She gains so much from Chris’s wise words, willingness to listen, and ongoing encouragement.

And as a single parent who has consistently delivered for her family, Woodelene’s mother is her role model. (We ask you: How many 15-year-old’s say that about their parents?!)

With her three strong pillars of inspiration — her faith, her mother, and Nelson Mandela — we are convinced that others will never forget how she made them feel — or her name: Woodelene.

“Eye on Immokalee” is a student profile series from The Immokalee Foundation. The Foundation provides a wide range of educational programs that focus on building pathways to professional careers through support, mentoring and tutoring, and life skills development leading to economic independence.

Participating students achieve a 100-percent high school graduation rate, 100-percent continue to postsecondary programs, and 92-percent complete their professional certification programs or college educations.

To learn more about becoming a mentor, volunteering as a career panel speaker or host, donating, or including the Foundation in your estate plans, call 239-430-9122 or visit ImmokaleeFoundation.org.