Why did you choose BU School of Public Health?
“I was originally drawn to BUSPH for the school’s emphasis on health equity and social determinants of health. I also really liked the flexibility of the program, and the idea that I could choose a context certificate in a topic area that I am passionate about while also gaining applicable skills through my functional certificate. What my final decision really came down to, though, was the people. Throughout the application and decision process, I met incredible staff and alumni who were down to earth, supportive, and clearly invested in helping students succeed in all aspects of life. This created a sense of community and belonging that was really important to me when looking at degree programs.”
Why did you decide to pursue a career in public health?
“I decided to pursue a career in public health because I wanted to work upstream of the health inequities I was seeing in my day-to-day work. Before coming to BUSPH, I spent a formative year working at a nonprofit serving individuals in recovery from addiction, homelessness, and trauma. In this work, I saw people struggling to attend to their health needs because they lacked access to other necessities like food, housing, insurance, and safety. This work highlighted the many ways that social factors and institutions, such as housing and employment, influence and create barriers to health. I decided that I wanted to dedicate my career to better understanding and eliminating the root causes of health inequities, and that a career in public health would best allow me to do so.”
How have the faculty/staff helped make your experience exceptional?
“BUSPH faculty and staff have been incredible. Before I even came to Boston, I felt valued and welcomed thanks to the staff who had taken the time to correspond with me, guide me through the financial aid application, and answer all my questions. The faculty make themselves available, and care about the students inside and outside the classroom. I have had professors offer their time for class-related help, career and life advice, mentorship, support for student organizations, and even just a space to talk about the challenges we’re facing during this difficult year. The Wellness Coordinator has also helped make my time at BUSPH exceptional. Her amazing energy and unending care for all students is tangible in the events she hosts, resources she curates, her random check-in emails, and the way she takes the time to get to know students as individuals. Overall, the faculty and staff have helped make me feel like BUSPH is a community I belong to, not just a school I attend.”
What is the Period Project? Can you tell us more about the work you do around health inequities?
“The Period Project is a student-led group with the goal of ensuring equitable access to menstrual products for those on campus and in our surrounding community. The group, initially started as a student initiative to provide free menstrual products on campus, has expanded to become a student organization with the overall goals of advancing menstrual equity and combatting stigma surrounding menstruation.
I joined the Period Project because I believe in the important work that they are doing. Menstruation and the issues that surround it have been largely overlooked as public health issues, and I wanted to be a part of a group that was actively working to change that. I saw being a part of this group as an opportunity to help normalize menstruation and advocate for menstrual equity, starting within my own community.
In addition to our efforts on campus, we also aim to provide free menstrual products to those in our local community. In the past, we have partnered with Rosie’s Place, Love Your Menses, and Family Aid Boston to distribute menstrual products and funds to those facing barriers to access. Previously, Period Project members have distributed hand-packed menstrual kits, but due to COVID-19, we have shifted to hosting virtual fundraisers for the time being. In the future, we hope to expand our community engagement efforts to local youth, and collaborate with other groups to continue to promote menstrual equity at BUSPH and beyond.”