GoodHeart | PowerUP scholar Chelsea Pingue determined to help cancer patients

Although life hasn’t dealt her the best hand, 18-year-old Chelsea Pingue is determined to make every opportunity count. A recipient of the JPS Foundation’s PowerUP STEM Tertiary Scholarship, the DeCarteret College graduate is heading to The University of the West Indies (UWI) to pursue a degree in medical physics. Inspired by a hands-on physics lab experience and a lecturer who showed her the real-world impact of science, Pingue hopes to help improve treatment options for cancer patients.

“I believe that there can be more affordable treatment [options] for these people, and I feel like there are so many things that hasn’t been tested and approved as yet, and I want to help with that, ” Pingue told GoodHeart when asked why she wanted to help cancer patients.

Her interest in medical physics grew after attending a JPS-hosted event at the UWI earlier this year. There, a lecturer showed how physics applies beyond the classroom – in medicine and even in some unexpected industries – opening Pingue’s eyes to new possibilities.

Originally from Manchester, Pingue has always been drawn to STEM subjects. “I was never a word person,” she explained. “I was always into numbers – physics and math.”

As Pingue’s face brightened while she shared what led her to choose this field, her mother, Dorothy Maylar, looked at her with pride and admiration.

“I feel blessed to have a daughter like Chelsea. I see her dedication and she shows a lot of hard work. Sometimes tears just come to my eyes,” Maylar said.

Grateful for the opportunity to be selected by the JPS Foundation, Pingue doesn’t take the support for granted. She knows many students are seeking help with tertiary education and she feels honoured to have been given this chance.

Now in its second year, the JPS Foundation’s PowerUP Scholarship programme is part of a broader push to expand access to STEM education in Jamaica. The initiative supports national goals around innovation and technology, offering scholarships and grants to both the secondary and tertiary levels.

Growing up with a chronic illness, Pingue said academics were a guiding force that helped her navigate feeling different both at school and in other areas of life.

“With me, despite whatever was going on, I always had math to do. My mom taught me how to do long division when I was like four or five. And I wouldn’t always catch on,” she reminisced, laughing at the memory, “I remember she would argue a bit with me because I always forgot six times nine.”

Her mom joined in, laughing at the memory before adding, “As I always say to her, the sky is the limit and beyond. Regardless of whatever was happening with her healthwise, she didn’t want it to define her. She has always been determined and doesn’t give up on anything. She works hard at everything. She’s a go-getter. So I will continue to support whatever big dreams she has.”

When asked what she would say to other young people dealing with illness or tough times, Pingue shared some heartfelt advice:

“No matter what you’re going through, it can make you unique and strong. Don’t let it hold you back or limit your potential. Some people might make excuses because of their challenges, but you can choose to use yours as a source of strength to guide and improve yourself.”

rollesha.laing@gleanerjm.com