Today we’d like to introduce you to Jocelyn Williams
Hi Jocelyn, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
When I was eight years old, I lost my father to undetected heart disease. It was a completely unexpected death that struck my entire family. As I grew up, I found an interest in health and started to connect what had happened unexpectedly to my father to what I was learning in my Biomedical classes in high school. At this time, I was also competing in scholarship and confidence building pageants, which inspired me to create The Purpose Project. Created in honor of my father, The Purpose Project teaches others how to live a more heart healthy life through sharing recipes, stress relief techniques, exercises, and CPR education. Now, 11 years after my fathers passing, The Purpose project is coming up on its 6th year. The past 6 years have consisted of CPR demonstrations across the state of Missouri, raising over $4,000 for the American Heart Association, attending several AHA Heart Walks, and even proclaiming March 16th, 2024 as Heart Health Awareness Day in the state of Missouri. This past August I was even crowned Miss St Charles County 2025 where I will get the opportunity to share The Purpose Project on the Miss Missouri stage in June of 2025. The candidate that is selected as Miss Missouri will then get the opportunity to advance to the Miss America pageant.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Grief alone is one of the most confusing and unsure struggles there is. Even 11 years later I still miss my father and I know that this will never change. It seriously comes over you at the most random times. Aside from grief, finding ways to volunteer directly with heart health nonprofits can be hard. These nonprofits typically host a few events a year and focus their efforts in fundraising and community education the rest of the year. As a Health Services major with a minor in Nonprofit Leadership at Missouri State University, I hope to work for a nonprofit like the American Heart Association one day where I can directly impact this obstacle!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am currently a full time student at Missouri State University studying Health Services with a minor in Non-profit Leadership. I hope to work for a large non-profit, like the American Heart Association, one day. While in school, I focus my free time mainly in my part time job as a patient transporter at Mercy Springfield, as a member of my sorority Alpha Omicron Pi – Delta Gamma chapter, and serving communities across the state of Missouri as Miss St. Charles County 2025. What sets me apart is my drive and passion for the things that I participate in. When I was a freshman I was chosen as the Vice President of Community Relations for my sorority AOII where I oversaw a pod of 6-8 people ranging from director of social media, to event planning, and my favorite, director of philanthropy.
This doesn’t pertain to school necessarily but one of my proudest moments was being able to proclaim March 16th, 2024 as Heart Health Awareness Day in the state of Missouri. I wrote to Governor Mike Parsons and he saw the importance of heart health education that I do and together, we made it happen!
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My mom is one of the strongest people I know and has instilled in me from a young age the importance of helping others and being passionate about the issues you care about. She is one of the leaders of the STL Crew Widows Group which has hundreds of members across the St. Louis area and continues to grow and help those who have experienced the loss of a husband.
My pageant coach Kassie has been the person in my journey who has really encouraged me to not be ashamed of my loss. Death can be such a heavy and uncomfortable topic, especially in the pageant world. From day one Kassie has taught me that my story is important and what makes me who I am today and that is nothing to be ashamed of.
Of course my grandparents and brothers who have been constant supporters of every hobby I choose to pick up whether thats pageants, dance, or heart health education.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @thepurposeproject_
- Facebook: The Purpose Project
- Other: TikTok: @thepurposeproject_
