Breaking Self Doubt

Asia Island, HBHE Student

April 17, 2020, Community Partnership, Practice

Note: There was a temporary pause in the publishing of our blog posts as our team returned in early March to the rapidly changing nature of the Coronavirus in Michigan. We now wish to share the thoughts of students on their experiences just before the COVID-19 outbreak.

Joining PHAST on the USVI trip, I look forward to experiencing something new and applying my skill set to this project. Coming from major cities on the mainland United States, I do not know what challenges an island may face, especially when it comes to the Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CAPSPER). I have very limited knowledge of what impact the hurricanes have had on the community other than political commentary from the news.  I am looking forward to learning more about the community, working within the field, and hopefully seeing how public health practices actually interact with community members. I am most concerned about cultural differences and lack of knowledge. That is primarily where my nerves are as well. Another thing that makes me nervous is actually surveying. Being an introvert and quiet, initiating conversations are not easy. I hope to learn that I am able to work directly with the community, with both humility and vulnerability.