Caring

The first time I realized something was deeply wrong, I was staring at my own reflection, pale and trembling, as the harsh bathroom lights exposed the fear etched on my face. I hadn’t had my period in months, and the gnawing anxiety that something was deeply off became impossible to ignore. As a 10th-grade exchange student in the United States, I had expected a year of excitement and discovery. My host family, though well-meaning, held me to a standard so high that the stress of trying to meet their expectations began to take a toll—physically, emotionally, and mentally, the school itself became my refuge. I was fortunate to meet some of the most incredible teachers and classmates, who not only welcomed me with open arms but also provided unwavering support during my most vulnerable moments. Their selfless support helped me navigate the relentless pressure and emotional turmoil I faced.

What began as a subtle unease soon spiraled into a full-blown health crisis. I had always understood that the mind and body were connected, but now I was living that reality in the most visceral way possible. The loss of my menstrual cycle was just the beginning; I found myself caught in a web of fear, confusion, and isolation. It was in this crucible of stress and self-doubt that I began to recognize the complex interplay between our environment, our health, and the support systems we often take for granted.

Returning home, I felt a deep need to make sense of what I had experienced. My initial curiosity led me to explore how environmental factors could influence health outcomes. The more I learned, the more I understood how our surroundings—the places where people live, learn work, play, and socialize, the air they breathe, and the food and water they consume—shape our well-being in subtle but profound ways. Environmental Health became my lens for understanding health, not just as an individual issue, but as a societal challenge.

At the same time, I couldn’t ignore the more immediate health concerns I saw in my own family. My experience abroad had heightened my awareness of my parents' health, and I began to study the medical conditions that affected them, diabetes, thyroid disease, high blood pressure, chronic headaches. This wasn’t just about gaining knowledge—it was about finding ways to care for the people I loved. The health guide I compiled for my parents was a small but meaningful step in translating my growing understanding of health into something that could make a difference in their lives.

These experiences taught me that health is not just a matter of individual choices or isolated events. It’s about the environments we live in, the knowledge we share, and the support we provide to one another. This realization has driven my pursuit of public health as a career. I want to contribute to a field that recognizes the broad and interconnected factors that influence well-being, and that works to create healthier communities from the ground up.

The challenges I encountered during my exchange year were significant, but they also set me on a path of growth and discovery. They ignited a passion within me to address the health needs of people from different walks of life and equipped me with the empathy and determination to make a real impact. As I look forward to the next chapter of my education, I am eager to bring this passion to university, where I hope to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to turn my vision into reality.

Standing before the mirror all those two years ago, I couldn’t have imagined the journey that lay ahead. Now, as I prepare to step into the next chapter of my education, I do so with a clear vision: to harness the power of knowledge and empathy to create healthier communities, one resilient step at a time.