Carrying It Forward: A Semester of Growth, Partnership, and Gratitude
Johnny Hepinstall
2nd Year MPH Health Behavior, Health Equity Student
Looking back on this semester, I keep returning to how much this experience has reshaped my understanding of public health–and my place within it. What began as a course I hoped would just keep me busy and shake up my last semester as a Michigan student became something far more meaningful: a chance to truly understand what public health looks like in practice–the work we did in preparation, the work we did there, and all of our finalization as this semester comes to a close.
The time spent in Grenada was, of course, a highlight. But what made it impactful was not just being there, but the foundation built throughout the semester. Preparing as a team, thinking critically about disability and how it's defined across cultures, and learning how to navigate complex systems gave our work a deeper sense of purpose. Once on the island, those lessons came to life. We were no longer just students discussing ideas; we were collaborators, learning directly from ministry staff and community members with lived experience about what inclusion looks like in practice.
What I’ll carry with me most are relationships. The friendships I built with my peers, and the connections we formed with ministry staff and community members, made this opportunity incredibly meaningful. Those moments of shared learning and collaboration are things I think I will always remember and value.
This course also pushed me to grow in ways I didn’t fully anticipate. It challenged me to sit with uncertainty, to question my assumptions, to work on a team with people from different backgrounds, and to recognize the importance of listening over leading. It reinforced that meaningful, sustainable change cannot be rushed or imposed–it must be built through trust, collaboration, and a deep respect for local knowledge and context.
As we move forward in finalizing our work, I carry these lessons with me. Our goal was not just to produce something that is technically sound and socially acceptable, but something that reflects the voices, priorities, and realities of the communities it will impact on and that we had the privilege to learn from. That feels like the most important measure of success.
I am incredibly grateful to the University of Michigan and to our donors who make it possible to continue this work in Grenada. Because of University and donor support, I was able to grow not just as a student, but as a future public health expert. Opportunities like this are rare, and they matter–not just for the immediate experience, but for the ways they shape who we become. I know this semester has left a lasting impact on me, and I am thankful that future students might have the same chance to grow into their passion for this work, just as I have.
