Kennedy Washington has spent much of her life in recovery rooms. Born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate, the 18-year-old has undergone 18 surgeries, years of speech therapy and orthodontic care.
While her friends spent summers on vacation, Washington was often confined to hospitals.
“It definitely made me cherish the time I spent with friends at school more,” she said. “I began to have a greater appreciation for even the smallest of connections because I couldn’t have that during recoveries.”
Washington, who graduated from North Gwinnett High School in May, is now a freshman at Georgia Tech, pursuing a degree in computer science with help from a scholarship from Smile Train, the world’s largest cleft-focused organization.
“I’m so grateful to Smile Train. They’ve changed so many lives by providing free cleft surgeries and supporting ongoing care, and now they’re even helping to invest in the futures of people like me through this scholarship program,” she said.
The scholarship, she said, is as much for her family as it is for her.
“Receiving this scholarship doesn’t simply speak of my resilience, but that of my family,” she said. “My parents have worked incredibly hard to ensure I’ve gotten the care I needed, and receiving this scholarship takes plenty of that stress off their shoulders.”
Washington said activities like color guard and dance helped her find community and confidence.
“The color guard community is the most welcoming, kindest and accepting group of people I know,” she said. “Being part of such a close community, and being able to lead an especially welcoming team, helped me feel like I was making an impact on others’ lives, just as guard and dance did for me.”
Performing also gave her an outlet.
“Color guard gave me an outlet to genuinely be myself, physically and emotionally. Doing so in such an amazing community was essential in building my confidence over the years,” she said.
During recovery, Washington found another passion — coding.
“I loved the problem-solving aspect of coding,” she said. “At a time in my life where I couldn’t rush recovery or immediately ‘solve’ my cleft, I could debug lines of code, turning something broken into whole and functional.”
She said the creativity of programming felt similar to the art of dance.
“I found that I could unleash my creativity and create anything I put my mind to. When deciding on a career path, I want to ultimately do something I love, making coding the perfect choice,” she said.
Washington hopes to one day promote STEM literacy in underrepresented communities.
“In a way, STEM changed my life,” she said. “Anyone who has a curiosity or passion for STEM should be able to explore it, but this is often a challenge for those in underfunded communities. Early access to resources can help bridge that gap, offering not only a head start in skills but also the confidence to persist in spaces where we’re often underrepresented.”
She offered advice for students facing challenges: “Keep going and hold on to your ‘why.’ There will be moments when it doesn’t seem worth it, but there’s no greater investment than the one you make in yourself and your education.”
As she begins her freshman year of college, Washington said she wants her story to serve as encouragement.
“No matter what challenges come your way, trust in your strength to rise above them,” she said. “Every obstacle you face is proof of your resilience and determination.”
