My decision to enroll in the Public Health London program stemmed from my desire to address health disparities. Growing up in a Kenyan refugee camp, I was intimately familiar with the effects of insufficient healthcare resources. Having the opportunity to learn about the relationship between race, health, and society in the UK offered a unique perspective that improved my knowledge. The program’s emphasis on the social determinants of health and its focus on the historical and systemic factors that contribute to health inequities resonate with my personal and professional goals. Before this experience, I was quite nervous about my ability to adjust to a new learning environment. However, considering that the class dynamics were comparable to those in the United States, as our lecturer and the other students were from the states, it was less complicated. Having moved from Somalia to Kenya and then to the United States before, I knew that this new journey would not be without its difficulties. I focused on strengthening my adaptability, which I acquired through prior experiences, to get ready. Being new to living in a dorm, I got assistance from a friend who had dealt with the living environment.
My goal was to improve my understanding of how structural and historical variables affect health outcomes in communities of color. I wanted to improve my ability to adjust to various surroundings and increase my cultural competency. As a student, I wanted to learn things that would help me in my future work in healthcare, especially as someone who wants to work in the public health field. I hoped this experience would give me the global perspective necessary to promote health justice on a larger scale. First and foremost, I worried about how quickly I would have to adapt to the rigorous academic requirements of a British institution. I also wondered how the perspectives I would come across in the program would compare or contrast with my experiences as a refugee.
We engaged in discussions and visited historical sites. For example, we visited the Imperial War Museum, where we learned about the significant influence of the World Wars and the Cold War on global history. The displays brought to life the emotional struggles and individual tales that drove these battles, making the historical events we studied in class feel much more real and accessible. Seeing artifacts, reading personal experiences, and comprehending the strategic decisions that formed the world we live in today increased my respect for the details of the battle and the determination of those who endured it. The visit was not only instructive but also motivating, reminding me of the necessity of learning from the past to better understand the present. I expected the program to be intellectually hard, but I underestimated the emotional effect of studying Britain’s colonial history and its current ramifications for health. The reality was more powerful than expected, particularly during site visits, which revealed sharp disparities between different communities. These experiences helped me improve my awareness and dedication to health fairness. As the program comes to an end, I feel a sense of achievement and contemplation. While I am pleased with the information and insights I have received, I am also painfully aware of how much there is still to learn and accomplish in public health. This encounter has renewed my determination to work toward wellness.
I aim to look into the connections between past injustices and current health inequities based on what I have learned so far. I aim to join in advocacy initiatives to raise awareness of these concerns both in the United States and globally. I realized that Britain’s public health measures are inextricably linked to its colonial past, which continues to influence its modern healthcare structure. This event highlighted the complex dynamics of race relations in Britain, particularly its impact on minority communities’ health outcomes. It helped me understand the value of historical context in the field of public health. The program had an important effect on me, strengthening my dedication to public health. It increased my understanding of how deeply established social determinants of health are linked to historical and systemic problems. As I move forward, I plan to use this knowledge to direct my work in healthcare, particularly in fighting for policies and practices that address these persistent injustices. I discovered that my resilience and flexibility are stronger than I previously thought. This experience proved my ability to do well in challenging settings and deal with complicated and challenging topics.
