Raised by a single mother who worked long hours, Arielle Jackson—who recently graduated from Alexander Hamilton High School in Los Angeles—was often cared for by her grandmother. Most mornings, she woke up on her grandmother’s couch to the sound of barking dogs and would tiptoe to the one place in the house she found comfort: the kitchen.

Growing up with limited financial resources, Jackson turned to baking as a source of comfort, not realizing it would inspire her to pursue a career in health and nutrition.

She taught herself to create recipes, eventually launching a home-based baking business and sharing her journey online. Her love for baking extended into the halls of her school, where she discovered that baking could uncover so much more.

At Hamilton, she founded a baking club to explore the science behind it, quickly recognizing a broader need in her community. She transformed the club into a service project focused on food insecurity and used her platform to raise awareness and provide support to families in need.

Beyond baking, Jackson was a natural leader in her school and community. She served as student body president and volunteered at Kaiser Permanente. Those experiences deepened her passion for public health and nutrition, motivating her to pursue a career that addresses both personal and systemic well-being.

Her dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed. Jackson is a recipient of the prestigious QuestBridge National Match Scholarship and the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Scholarship. In the fall, she will attend the University of Pennsylvania, where she plans to follow a pre-medical track with a focus on nutrition and health equity.

Her long-term goal is to work in government to craft policies that tackle health disparities and food insecurity head-on. She hopes to be a voice for underserved communities, ensuring that everyone, regardless of background, has access to nutritious food and quality healthcare.