Careers Goals, Education for example degree prepared for, and Plans for Public Service or Dissemination (if applicable)
Education and training are lifelong endeavors that allow individuals to make meaningful contributions to society. In these areas, my goals are hunger for learning, expertise, and how can I use what I know to help others in some way. I have decided to pursue a degree in Public Health as I am dedicated to addressing inequality and advocating for wellness, especially in underprivileged areas. I also am extremely passionate about civic and public service as I believe in giving back is both a duty and a privilege. In this essay, I detail my academic, personal, and professional goals that I have set in life, as well as why I am devoted to service while pursuing my goals in life.
My educational role in Public Health is informed by a passion for gaining an understanding of the multiple determinants of community health that vary from social and economic conditions and environmental hazards to access to care and preventive health education. In the brief period of time, I will enjoy and excel in challenging coursework while engaging research and community related projects. I am particularly interested in learning about public health in the setting of marginalized populations, because many of the basic components of health inequity, e.g. health equity, epidemiology, and health policy, are immediately relevant to the causes of health disparities among these populations.
Outside of school, I want to take an internship with a public health agency, or network within a nonprofit or the local government. These experiences will expand my knowledge on the real life issues and solutions of public health. I eventually hope to get a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree, to further specialize in health policy and community health planning. Through further education, I will learn the advanced skills to develop and evaluate public health programs, and lobby for change at a local, national, or international level.
I want to have a profession in which I can truly blend my academic learning and practical experience and make a meaningful difference to others. I’d like to work at the nexus of public health and social justice: increasing access to health care, bolstering disease prevention, and creating healthier living spaces. In my dream world, I’d work for a public health department, international NGO or health-focused nonprofit, designing and conducting programs focused on social determinants of health.
In my early career, I would like to add to community health outreach initiatives and policy research groups. For instance, I wish to develop multicultural health educa- tion campaigns that allow people to be in charge of their health. As I become more experienced, I will continue to serve in leadership roles that will enable me to impact public policy, advocate for underserved communities, and develop programs that address health disparities. Through program building, policy change, data driven advocacy, I want to ensure that my work has a direct and positive impact on people.
As one of the pillars of my identity, Civic and Public Service is at my core. I think you owe it to education and opportunity to give back. My experience of service has been varied and profoundly shaping. I have been involved with local food banks and youth mentor programs, and I have had the opportunity to see the systemic struggles many families experience, particularly those surrounding nutrition, education and access to healthcare. Those encounters reinforced my commitment to being part of the solution.
Not only that, but I have also been involved in campaigns that serve to promote mental health awareness and equal access to care. I have teamed up with student groups to put on health fairs and information sessions, and I’ve banded together with “get out the vote” campaigns focused on healthcare policy issues. In these capacities, I have seen firsthand how policy, awareness, and community activation can dovetail to create sustainable transformation.
In the future, I want to involve myself more in civic service, serving on public health advisory boards, working in health-centered coalitions, and maybe planning events in the government, which aims to bring about inclusive, evidence-based policy. I don’t think of public service as a hobby — I think of it as a commitment to justice and equity and a deep engagement with one’s community.
My academic, career, and community goals are all connected. What I learn in public health will directly affect the health programs I develop and support. For example if I learn how to apply epidemiological methods and policy design, I would then have the tools to reduce disparities in chronic disease in low-income communities or argue for preventative health care programs in rural regions.
In the same fashion, my career will be a platform for scaling evidence-based, human-centered solutions. Whether I'm helping community stakeholders work together to build a city-wide wellness campaign or doing research in service of a legislative proposal, I want to use my expertise to help more people. Every part of my career will be founded on the belief that health is a basic human right, and access to health care and education should not be based on zip code, income, or background.
Overall, my interests in learning and in my professional future revolve around the practice of public health as a means of empowerment, equity, diversity and transformation. Through years of study, deliberate practice, and wholehearted service, I still aspire to leave a mark on people and systems alike. Having a commitment to engagement means that my work is built from local context and focused on lasting change. I will always be on a journey of learning, leading, and serving, not only for my personal success, but also for the good of the whole.