Thank you, Ella, for sharing. We love to hear these stories! It's inspiring to see students discovering their strengths and passions through meaningful work and mentorship. We can't wait to see what the rest of your journey at the College—and your future in public health—holds!
As a senior in high school, I was applying to nursing schools. Now, I am a second-year Public Health student at the College of Charleston. What changed? - I volunteered in a hospital setting over two summers, talked to nurses, and realized I am more interested in public health research, health promotion, and community engagement than clinical care. - Last fall, I took an Introduction to Public Health class and learned how the preventative and population health-focused approach differs from the medical model, centered in individual-level treatment. - In the spring, I explored Personal and Community Health with Dr. Rochelle Altman, and our culminating Behavior Change project taught me how “personal” and “community” aspects combine in public health. Personally, I took five weeks to complete a study of the Gospel of John, aiming to increase my Biblical literacy and strengthen my spiritual health. In the final days of the class, I was inspired by my classmates’ individual projects and the healthy lifestyle changes we each adopted. Almost every student talked about their behavior change causing a ripple effect in another person they knew, whether it be a friend joining into someone’s project with them or a roommate also choosing a healthier habit. The Behavior Change project taught me that our individual choices affect the community’s health, and the community’s environment affects our individual health. Thank you, Dr. Altman, for motivating us towards change and allowing us to share our progress in class. After a year of exposure to public health concepts, I am starting to build ideas about what I want to do within the field. I am learning that it’s okay to take my time exploring various interests and passions. Who knows...exploring clinical care may come later in my college career. In any case, the healthy community changes I’ve already experienced in my first year as a Public Health student excite me and motivate me academically! College of Charleston School of Health Sciences