Starting a New Chapter in Texas
Kaitlyn Bowie
1st Year MPH Health Behavior Health Education Candidate
The hard work and preparation for our trip to San Antonio culminated in a wonderful learning experience. Upon stepping into the grounds of San Antonio, I was amazed by how welcomed I felt by the community. The residents were warm and embraced us at every step of our field experience. From the focus group discussions to Loteria, I thoroughly enjoyed the stories and experiences the community shared with us.
This opportunity provided me with a new perspective on public health and how we can
work towards engaging and strengthening our trust with communities, especially those
of color. I deeply appreciate the shared experiences of the Eastside community members
regarding their encounters with asthma and overall health inequities. The focus group
was incredibly powerful; I recall getting chills at many statements the participants
shared with us. Our key informant, a community health worker from the Eastside, provided
impactful information on community engagement and health promotion. I plan to utilize
many of their tips and strategies throughout my public health career when engaging
with communities. This experience also underscored the importance of partnerships;
we cannot complete this work alone—it takes a multitude.
I am extremely grateful for this experience, as it pushed me out of my comfort zone
and allowed me to enhance the many public health skills we learn about and put them
into action. I appreciate the intentionality behind this course, which immersed us
in the community we served to provide the best work possible. One of the highlights
was the windshield tour, which allowed me to experience the Soul of San Antonio firsthand.
It was a rich experience of the culture and strong sense of community that we gathered
during our focus group and key informant interview.
Additionally, I fostered many new connections with my fellow classmates while strengthening
existing ones. I had the privilege of celebrating my birthday during this trip and
felt the love from my classmates, making it one of the most memorable birthdays ever.
Having this opportunity to put practice into action has allowed me to grow and deepen
my knowledge, enjoyment, and love for public health. I look forward to what this next
year will bring me both personally and professionally.