As a little girl sitting on the barstool chair, my feet swayed back and forth, assured of my future career plan and my “why”- I wanted to become a doctor to help others that were in a vulnerable state, like I was. Overhearing my mom’s phone calls with my aunt, who was pleading for money to pay for my grandmother’s medical treatments, I was met with uncertainty. Thoughts swirled about how I could help create permanent change --but I didn’t know where to begin. Although the conversation took place in the kitchen, I noticed that the discussion extended much further than that one room.
Participating in the PATCH (Propelling Adolescents Towards Careers in Healthcare) Program and Duke HPREP (Health Profession Recruitment and Exposure Program) in my sophomore and junior year of high school, respectively, opened up my eyes to the answer I was looking for all along- Global Health. I worked on research projects such as “Maternal Mortality in Nigeria”, where I learned how health is much more than just the physical body, but also the social determinants of health. I realized that to improve the lives of my family members and others living in Congo, a multifaceted approach to healthcare is necessary.
During my time at Duke, I hope to explore academic disciplines in Biology & Global Health to better understand the essential processes of humans and study the ways that healthcare is administered in various areas of the world. In addition, I hope to study French to better connect with my family and make new connections. The extensive hands-on learning opportunities that Duke provides whether it’s research, service-learning, or volunteering opportunities will not only give a context to my learning, but will ignite my passions even further.
Knowing that I have more opportunities afforded to me than those who came before me, I have a responsibility to give back and turn that same curiosity I had in the kitchen as a young girl into action that has effects far beyond the kitchen walls.
“Since I was a sophomore in high school, I knew that Cardea Fellows Program would be a great fit for me. It's the perfect program to not only gain knowledge about how to make the most of my college years as a pre-health student, but have a built-in community of motivated individuals that I can lean on throughout this journey and make invaluable connections that I wouldn't have otherwise.”
