SPOTLIGHT: SEPTEMBER 2024

Joshua Florence (2024)

BAS in Org Management, Health Care Administration specialization

Joshua Florence had always envisioned a life where he could contribute to society, whether through music, service, or leadership - a purpose that was reinforced during his senior year of high school when he earned his Eagle Scout rank.

After graduation, Joshua moved to Florida to attend Florida A&M University. He was the first in his family to attend college. He is especially proud of being part of the FAMU Marching 100!

But after his freshman year, Joshua began rethinking his future. “Honestly, I was a hungry college student and was running out of money,” he said, recalling the moment his future in public service was suddenly sparked by a fire alarm at his dorm. He joked with the firefighters (famously good cooks) about meals at the station and was invited to participate in a ride along. “It was then that I fell in love with actually being able to help people firsthand,” he said.

Joshua then turned to St. Johns River State College for his EMT training and his Associate in Science degree in Emergency Medical Services. “I started connecting the dots of how emergency services and preventative care all lineup together to show the overall health of a community,” Joshua said. “It was then that I realized I was on the right career path.”

Joshua then chose to remain at SJR State for his bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration because of the impact the instructors had left on him during his EMT training. But setting and obtaining life goals can be overwhelming for a student who is juggling a family of five and working full-time while taking classes. Thankfully, Joshua said his goals remained attainable with the help of his amazing wife, empathetic instructors, the convenience of his local college, and the Florida Blue nursing and allied health scholarship.

“I am very thankful for the online classes that SJR State offers, the flexibility in scheduling and payment as the semester goes on, and my scholarship,” Joshua said. “If I didn’t receive those scholarship funds, this journey would have been very difficult, if not impossible, if I am being honest!”

Looking ahead, Joshua says that earning his bachelor’s degree will provide the credentials to apply for healthcare administrator jobs within the hospital system. “This will allow me to obtain financial stability for my family, while also doing something that I enjoy,” he said.

Joshua said the most important thing he has learned through this journey is that by gaining an education, “You are more open minded and able to make rational decisions. And, regardless of whatever happens, no one can ever take that away from you.”