For Dieulande, education has always represented opportunity—a chance to build the future she envisions for herself and create new possibilities for others along the way.

Born in Haiti, Dieulande moved to Brazil when she was nine years old. In 2018, her mother passed away due to heart complications. Wanting his daughters to have greater opportunities, her father later made the difficult decision to send Dieulande and her older sister to the United States.

When she arrived in Chesterfield County as a teenager, she faced the challenge of adapting to a new country, a new school system, and a new language. Determined to succeed, she learned English while building on the other languages she already spoke, including Creole, French, and Spanish.

Today, Dieulande is a Meadowbrook High School graduate who speaks four languages—Creole, French, Spanish, and English—and has worked hard to create opportunities for herself both inside and outside the classroom. She enjoys modeling, dancing, and spending time with friends and family, and credits her adoptive mother as one of her biggest supporters as she pursues her future goals.

When Dieulande arrived at Meadowbrook as a junior, she was still adjusting to a new country, a new language, and a new school community. One of the first people to make her feel supported was Communities In Schools Site Coordinator Dr. Erica Hale, who encouraged her to get involved in opportunities that would help her build confidence, develop leadership skills, and prepare for her future. Through programs like Mega Mentors and other leadership opportunities, Dieulande quickly found a sense of belonging and a network of support.

“She’s like family to me now,” Dieulande said. “She always makes time to listen, whether it’s something serious or something fun.”

Dr. Hale also helped Dieulande navigate challenges, work through conflicts, and stay focused on her long-term goals. When she struggled in one of her classes and found herself at odds with a teacher, Dr. Hale encouraged her to focus on what she could control and keep her attention on the future she was working toward. Together, they also worked on college planning, scholarship applications, extracurricular involvement, and community service opportunities.

Academically, Dieulande transformed her performance over the course of high school. After earning poor grades as a freshman and spending time with peers who distracted her from her goals, she gradually shifted her focus. By sophomore year, her grades had improved significantly. Then, during her junior year, she made the decision to fully commit herself to her future.

With support from Dr. Hale, she surrounded herself with positive influences, stayed focused on her goals, and achieved one of her proudest accomplishments: earning all A’s and one B during her senior year.

Beyond the classroom, Dieulande took advantage of opportunities that expanded her horizons. Through Girls For A Change and its Ambassador Program, she developed leadership, business, and professional skills while learning how to turn her ideas into reality. She participated in Emerging Leaders Lab experiences, traveled to New York City to learn about the inner workings of major companies, and secured an internship with 505 Studios.

She also pursued her passion for modeling, including opportunities with UK Collection.

When reflecting on her experience with Communities In Schools, Dieulande points to the doors that Dr. Hale helped open for her.

“Dr. Hale helps students take their dreams and make them a reality,” she said.

This fall, Dieulande plans to attend Richard Bland College before transferring to Virginia State University to pursue veterinary studies.

Her ambitions extend far beyond a single career path. While becoming a veterinarian is her first goal, she also dreams of opening a dance studio that serves foster youth and other young people facing challenges.

She hopes to create a space where children can discover their talents, build confidence, and pursue their dreams—just as she has been encouraged to do.

As she reflects on her journey, Dieulande remains grateful for the people who helped her along the way.

“I just want to say thank you for the CIS program and the opportunities,” she said. “We need people like Dr. Hale.”

As she begins her next chapter, Dieulande carries with her the resilience forged through life’s challenges, the determination that fueled her success, and a commitment to helping others create brighter futures of their own.

You can be a part of future students’ graduation success! To invest in the class of 2027, make your donation to Communities In Schools of Chesterfield today!