welcoming change with open arms.

Hi!

First off, thank you so much for joining me on this journey. A journey that welcomes change, wonder, knowledge, wisdom, and exploration. Maybe most importantly, I welcome uncertainty. In both a good and bad way, I have come to learn that life is full of the unknowns.

The start of my college career was interrupted by the COVID pandemic, 3 knee surgeries, and a cancer diagnosis at the age of 20. Four years ago, entering my senior year of high school, I would have never guessed that the majority of my college years would be spent at home with my parents, at constant doctors appointments, and surgeries. I know it may sound weird, but I am thankful for these life experiences as they taught me many valuable lessons.

I'm thankful that I live in a home that supports all my hopes and dreams. I'm thankful that I am able to access the quality care I need. I'm thankful that I am encouraged to continue my education and follow my passions. These are all luxuries that I have been awarded, however, many populations do not have access to them.

I always knew I wanted to work in healthcare, I just wasn't sure in what area. It wasn't until I transferred to Brandeis University that my Health: Science, Society, and Policy major sparked my interest in global public health. All of my classes talked about the inequities in access to healthcare and I was shocked by my ignorance to the privedges I was given.

Throughout my knee surgeries and cancer diagnosis, I never had to think twice about going to the doctor or hospital. If anything, it was an annoyance and inconvenience. I was blind to how much of a privledge constant quality care is and that it's not accessible for most people. If I had the tiniest inkling something may be wrong, the doctors were a quick call away and the hospital was less than a 10 minute drive from me. The realization that this was a privledge and unfortunately not a fundamental human right sparked my passion for instilling equal access to healthcare worldwide.

This summer, I will be traveling to Gabarone, Botswana on a community public health program. I will be taking 2 classes and interning at a local healthcare clinic. The program allows me to fully immerse myself in Botswana's culture, by learning the language and being able to partake in local health fairs and discussions about Botswana's healthcare system.

I always said, if I could travel anywhere in the world it would be Africa. Entering my senior year of college, I am so grateful I get to combine my passion for travel and career goals of acheiving more accessible healthcare.

Finally, I want to thank my entire family for giving me this opportunity and for always supporting my dreams and passions. The past few years have been rough, but I appreciate the care and patience I have been given. I'm not sure how often I will be able to post, but thank you for following along on this adventure!

xoxo,

abbie<3