Latonja and Taylor Richardson

My heart is so full! In just two weeks, I will be celebrating TWO MONTHS as a graduate student at Morehouse School of Medicine! Some days I still can’t believe I’m here, wearing my white coat, studying medicine and continuing the journey toward becoming a physician. But I certainly didn’t get here alone. Yesterday, the amazing Mrs. Claudia Walker, founder of HBCU Prep School, shared a beautiful video to help raise funds for my medical education. Mrs. Walker, thank you for using your voice and platform to advocate for me and my dream. Your kindness, encouragement and willingness to show up for me mean more than words can express. SN: Want to see her video? Head over to my Instagram page, @astronautstarbright, to watch Mrs. Walker's heartfelt message and help spread the word! And to EVERYONE who has donated, shared, reposted, sent encouraging messages or connected me with opportunities since yesterday, THANK YOU! Every single act of kindness reminds me that I have an incredible village standing beside me. Here’s a little update on my tuition journey. When I first received my estimated cost of attendance, it was approximately $75,000, including direct and indirect expenses. After cutting out indirect costs, my direct MSM balance was approximately $33,000. Through financial aid, loans, scholarships, fundraising and the generosity of my village, I have continued working to reduce that balance. I am especially grateful to have received two $1,000 scholarships that have helped me make progress toward my educational expenses. The graphic I’m sharing shows just how far this journey has come. Every reduction represents another step toward making my dream possible. And the work continues! I am still applying for scholarships every month, not only to address my remaining Fall 2026 balance but also to prepare for Spring 2027. My goal is to continue my education without allowing the financial burden to stand in the way of the work I came here to do. I’m also continuing to grow Dream. Learn. Launch., my mission-driven brand celebrating STEM, medicine, space exploration and neurodivergent minds. My tees are available, and I’m working on something especially close to my heart: my Future AstroDoc plushy! Inspired by my own childhood dream of becoming both an astronaut and a physician, I hope this little plushy will remind children that their dreams belong in every space, including spaces where they may not yet see someone who looks or thinks like them. Proceeds from my apparel and future plushy sales will help support my educational journey while allowing me to continue building something meaningful for the next generation. Here’s how you can continue supporting my journey: Donate to or share my GoFundMe. Shop my Dream. Learn. Launch. tees. Stay tuned for Future AstroDoc! Share scholarship, sponsorship and educational funding opportunities. Keep sharing my story. You never know who it might reach! To Mrs. Walker, Ms. Moore, my family, mentors, friends, sorority sisters, scholarship supporters and every single person who has invested in this dream, thank you for believing in me. I’m working hard in the classroom, continuing to build my dreams outside of it and doing everything I can to make this opportunity count. It takes a village to raise a child, but sometimes it takes that same village to help her become a doctor. With love and gratitude, Taylor

My heart is so full. In just two weeks, I will be celebrating TWO MONTHS as a graduate student at Morehouse School of Medicine! Some days I still can’t believe I’m here, wearing my white coat, studying medicine and continuing the journey toward becoming a physician. But I certainly didn’t get here alone. Yesterday, the amazing Mrs. Claudia Walker, founder of HBCU Prep School, shared a beautiful video to help raise funds for my medical education. Mrs. Walker, thank you for using your voice and platform to advocate for me and my dream. Your kindness, encouragement and willingness to show up for me mean more than words can express. SN: Want to see her video? Head over to my Instagram page, @astronautstarbright, to watch Mrs. Walker's heartfelt message and help spread the word! And to EVERYONE who has donated, shared, reposted, sent encouraging messages or connected me with opportunities since yesterday, THANK YOU! Every single act of kindness reminds me that I have an incredible village standing beside me. Here’s a little update on my tuition journey. When I first received my estimated cost of attendance, it was approximately $75,000, including direct and indirect expenses. After cutting out indirect costs, my direct MSM balance was approximately $33,000. Through financial aid, loans, scholarships, fundraising and the generosity of my village, I have continued working to reduce that balance. I am especially grateful to have received two $1,000 scholarships that have helped me make progress toward my educational expenses. The graphic I’m sharing shows just how far this journey has come. Every reduction represents another step toward making my dream possible. And the work continues! I am still applying for scholarships every month, not only to address my remaining Fall 2026 balance but also to prepare for Spring 2027. My goal is to continue my education without allowing the financial burden to stand in the way of the work I came here to do. I’m also continuing to grow Dream. Learn. Launch., my mission-driven brand celebrating STEM, medicine, space exploration and neurodivergent minds. My tees are available, and I’m working on something especially close to my heart: my Future AstroDoc plushy! Inspired by my own childhood dream of becoming both an astronaut and a physician, I hope this little plushy will remind children that their dreams belong in every space, including spaces where they may not yet see someone who looks or thinks like them. Proceeds from my apparel and future plushy sales will help support my educational journey while allowing me to continue building something meaningful for the next generation. Here’s how you can continue supporting my journey: Donate to or share my GoFundMe. Shop my Dream. Learn. Launch. tees. Stay tuned for Future AstroDoc! Share scholarship, sponsorship and educational funding opportunities. Keep sharing my story. You never know who it might reach! To Mrs. Walker, my family, mentors, friends, sorority sisters, scholarship supporters and every single person who has invested in this dream, thank you for believing in me. I’m working hard in the classroom, continuing to build my dreams outside of it and doing everything I can to make this opportunity count. It takes a village to raise a child, but sometimes it takes that same village to help her become a doctor. With love and gratitude, Taylor

Yesterday, I experienced a moment I have dreamed about for years: receiving my white coat at Morehouse School of Medicine. As I stood there, I thought about the little girl from Jacksonville who dreamed of becoming a physician and an astronaut. I also thought about every person who has encouraged me, prayed for me, donated, and shared my journey. Thank you for helping me reach this milestone. This white coat represents far more than a ceremony. It represents perseverance, purpose, service, and my commitment to becoming a physician who serves communities that are too often overlooked. As I celebrate this joyful moment, I also want to be transparent about the financial part of this journey. My current outstanding balance for this semester is approximately $10,000 and is due November 1. I have continued applying for scholarships, and although I have received one, I remain hopeful that opportunities will come through for this semester, next semester, or later in my journey. If you are able to donate, I would be deeply grateful. If you are unable to give, sharing my GoFundMe can help my story reach someone who may be able to support me. Every donation and every share brings me one step closer to continuing my education and fulfilling this dream. Yesterday, I put on the white coat. Today, the journey continues. Taylor

Yesterday, I experienced a moment I have dreamed about for years: receiving my white coat at Morehouse School of Medicine. As I stood there, I thought about the little girl from Jacksonville who dreamed of becoming a physician and an astronaut. I also thought about every person who has encouraged me, prayed for me, donated, and shared my journey. Thank you for helping me reach this milestone. This white coat represents far more than a ceremony. It represents perseverance, purpose, service, and my commitment to becoming a physician who serves communities that are too often overlooked. As I celebrate this joyful moment, I also want to be transparent about the financial part of this journey. My current outstanding balance for this semester is approximately $10,000 and is due November 1. I have continued applying for scholarships, and although I have received one, I remain hopeful that opportunities will come through for this semester, next semester, or later in my journey. If you are able to donate, I would be deeply grateful. If you are unable to give, sharing my GoFundMe can help my story reach someone who may be able to support me. Every donation and every share brings me one step closer to continuing my education and fulfilling this dream. Yesterday, I put on the white coat. Today, the journey continues. Taylor

Week 3 Complete: One Step Closer to the White Coat Three weeks into my journey at Morehouse School of Medicine, and things are getting real! This week, I completed my first Biochemistry exam, received my official MSM student ID, and in just a few weeks, I’ll receive my white coat and pin. Every class, every exam, and every long study day is another step toward the dream I’ve carried for years: becoming a physician and serving communities that too often go without the care they deserve. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who has donated, purchased a Dream. Learn. Launch. tee, shared my GoFundMe, sent scholarship opportunities, or simply encouraged me along the way. You are part of this journey too. I’m continuing to apply for scholarships and raise funds toward my remaining educational expenses. If you’re able to donate or share my campaign, every bit of support helps me keep moving forward. Week 3: DONE. Next stop… my white coat. Dream. Learn. Launch. Taylor

Three weeks into my journey at Morehouse School of Medicine, and things are getting real! This week, I completed my first Biochemistry exam, received my official MSM student ID, and in just a few weeks, I’ll receive my white coat and pin. Every class, every exam, and every long study day is another step toward the dream I’ve carried for years: becoming a physician and serving communities that too often go without the care they deserve. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who has donated, purchased a Dream. Learn. Launch. tee, shared my GoFundMe, sent scholarship opportunities, or simply encouraged me along the way. You are part of this journey too. I’m continuing to apply for scholarships and raise funds toward my remaining educational expenses. If you’re able to donate or share my campaign, every bit of support helps me keep moving forward. Week 3: DONE. Next stop… my white coat. Dream. Learn. Launch. Taylor

Week 2 Complete! One Step Closer to the White Coat Two weeks down at Morehouse School of Medicine, and I’m incredibly grateful to be here continuing this journey toward becoming a physician. Getting here was a dream, but staying here is the next goal. I still have a remaining balance and fees for my first semester that must be paid by November 1, so I’m continuing to apply for scholarships and do everything I can to help cover the cost of my education. I’m also excited to share that a NEW Dream. Learn. Launch. website is coming soon! Along with it, I’ll be releasing new merchandise celebrating ADHD, neurodivergence, Black girls in STEM, future doctors, future astronauts and more! Proceeds from every purchase will help support my white coat journey and educational expenses. To everyone who has donated, shared my GoFundMe, purchased a StarBright tee, encouraged me, or simply followed this journey, THANK YOU. Every donation, purchase and share truly adds up and helps me keep moving forward. I’m hopeful that some of the scholarships I’ve already applied for, and the ones I’m continuing to apply for, will help close the gap too. Until then, I’m going to keep studying, applying, creating and believing. If you’re able to help, please consider donating, sharing my GoFundMe, or grabbing a StarBright tee. Even sharing this post with someone who may want to support a future physician makes a difference. Week 2: COMPLETE. Next stop: that white coat. StarBright tees link below! https://form.jotform.com/261950969114060 Thank you, Taylor

Week 2 Complete! One Step Closer to the White Coat Two weeks down at Morehouse School of Medicine, and I’m incredibly grateful to be here continuing this journey toward becoming a physician. Getting here was a dream, but staying here is the next goal. I still have a remaining balance and fees for my first semester that must be paid by November 1, so I’m continuing to apply for scholarships and do everything I can to help cover the cost of my education. I’m also excited to share that a NEW Dream. Learn. Launch. website is coming soon! Along with it, I’ll be releasing new merchandise celebrating ADHD, neurodivergence, Black girls in STEM, future doctors, future astronauts and more! Proceeds from every purchase will help support my white coat journey and educational expenses. To everyone who has donated, shared my GoFundMe, purchased a StarBright tee, encouraged me, or simply followed this journey, THANK YOU. Every donation, purchase and share truly adds up and helps me keep moving forward. I’m hopeful that some of the scholarships I’ve already applied for, and the ones I’m continuing to apply for, will help close the gap too. Until then, I’m going to keep studying, applying, creating and believing. If you’re able to help, please consider donating, sharing my GoFundMe, or grabbing a StarBright tee. Even sharing this post with someone who may want to support a future physician makes a difference. Week 2: COMPLETE. Next stop: that white coat. Taylor https://form.jotform.com/261950969114060 (Starbright tees link)