For as long as I can remember I wanted to leave home. My parents grew up and lived in Chicago, we moved six times in my childhood but never more than 3 miles away. When I came to the University of Washington I was seeking more than anything, stability. In highschool I had felt too controlled and too easily swayed by my family’s ideas for my future and my friends’ opinions. I wanted to see if I could go to a cool new city on my own and make it basically, make friends, do well in school, explore the city, get a job, etc. And I’m really happy to say that I did!
The most significant thing I learned about myself is how much I love the university environment. Not the unobserved partying, or the all-nighters, but being in an institution where people are excited to conduct research and to educate others on their findings. In high school I often felt that school was a necessary means to a degree, then job, then successful lifestyle. I now see school as somewhere to honor and further the power of knowledge, critical thinking, and curiosity. I feel so lucky to be part of the Public Health Global Health major, especially because of their focus on community health and health equity. My classes through this major have inspired me to believe that not only does everyone deserve health care and a healthy quality of life, but that everyone can have it. My classes through the honors program have allowed me to delve further into a humanitarian lens on the world. The three classes that most starkly resonated with me in this field are Honors 394: Lovework a Syllabus, Honors 394: Race, Gender, Diaspora and Population Health, and Honors 231: Abolishing Poverty. These classes were led by professors who viewed the world in a caring and gentle way.
Other personal takeaways from these four years include nature, friendships, and family. I found incredible joy in the gorgeous landscapes of the pacific northwest. I also found struggle in braving the clouds and seemingly endless rain. I have made so many wonderful friends who support me in the good and bad, allow me to grow, and some who even hope to move to Chicago with me. Finally, my family, who in highschool I so desperately wanted space from, is a big reason why I am excited to move back to Chicago in the fall. This independence I gained from a fresh start in a mysterious place has allowed me to set boundaries, to stand up for myself, and know myself more honestly and more deeply. I look forward to my future after UW and as frightened as I am for what unknowns lie ahead, I know that I am prepared. I hope to work towards equality, be my truest self, spread kindness, and keep learning for as long as I can.