29/10/2020
Some of you may recognize Jean Paul Laurent’s smile. If you do, you’ve probably been to a grocery store recently and seen his face on bags of Lay’s potato chips! What you might not know is that Jean Paul is an alumnus of RCC with an amazing story. “RCC set the foundation for me to succeed in the rest of my life,” said Jean Paul. “As an international student, I was unsure of myself and afraid to stand out because of cultural differences and my accent. RCC’s faculty and students showed me that I could be myself, and made me less afraid to speak up and be heard. I would not be where I am today without my time there.”
Jean Paul came to the United States from Haiti, and enrolled in English language courses at BOCES before starting at RCC. Once at Rockland Community College, Jean Paul knew he had made the right decision. “RCC was the greatest experience for me. The caliber of professors was better than at any other school that I’ve attended, and I’ve attended CUNY, SUNY, and Ivy League schools.” After graduating from RCC with a degree in Liberal Arts: Math and Science, Jean Paul transferred to NYU for their Dentistry program. While completing his degree, an Earthquake hit Haiti. “When I graduated, I went back to Haiti to see how I could help my family, and my eyes were opened to the poverty in the areas where I grew up. It was then that I realized I needed to help people, and I found my new purpose. I decided to launch a non-profit foundation called The Unspoken Smiles Foundation.” Laurent’s organization travels the globe teaching the youth of underdeveloped communities how to properly take care of their teeth in order to prevent oral cancer and other diseases. “We want to set them up with the proper supplies and education to prevent future problems.” Since starting the foundation in 2015, the foundation has helped children in Iraq, India, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Guatemala, El Salvador, and the United States.
Jean Paul’s picture appears on the packaging of three different Lays potato chip bags because of his work with the Smile Project. “A friend nominated me and I became a semi-finalist! When I was chosen, I was so excited to not only help the Smile Project, which is a foundation near to my heart, but also to showcase my own foundation and what we’re doing to help others.” You can find Jean Paul on the front of the Sour Cream and Onion, Cheddar Jalapeno, and the Kettle Cooked Flaming Hot chips. Make sure to scan the QR code on the back to learn more about the Unspoken Smiles Foundation.
If you’re interested in attending RCC, please contact the Admissions office [email protected].
