What originally drew you to WGSS / WS major or minor? If you were a major what guided you to it? How do you use what you learned in WGSS / WS in your career and beyond?
I was drawn to WGSS as the interdisciplinary coursework challenged me to think critically, take responsibility, find my own truth and create my own sense of meaning. Central to the curriculum is an awareness of the overlapping social, personal, and historical forces shaping our realities at the micro and macro levels. My WGSS foundations continues to not only acknowledge, but challenge the privileges conferred upon me as a white, cisgender, middle-class, college-educated American citizen/settler. As an aspiring physician, my WGSS background drives me to empower individuals and communities to develop resilience and foster self-efficacy. It also inspires me to seek health justice and promote strategies that eliminate barriers to better health outcomes.
Any advice for undergraduate students?Â
Don’t be afraid of being wrong or making mistakes; this is how we grow.Â
What is next for you?
I will be attending the University of Minnesota Duluth Medical Schools in August 2020 with the hopes of practicing LGBTQ-inclusive Family Medicine.