What made you get interested in nursing?

Going through high school, I never had a clear vision of what I wanted to study once I went to college. My freshman year I was enrolled in Mrs. Ericssons “baby bio” class. I didn’t immediately love the class, but, Mrs. Ericsson had a way about her that I really connected with. I don’t know if it was her personality, her passion for teaching, the subject, or a combination, but, I fell in love with her class. Because I enjoyed “baby bio” my junior year I enrolled in AP Bio. My first semester I had Mrs. Ericsson and my second I had Mrs. Wiltrout. I really enjoyed both their classes. I enjoyed the class because it explained to me why and how things in the world worked from a scientific point of view.  Having excellent and passionate teachers in high school made me realize I wanted to study science in college. Originally I thought I would pursue a biology degree, but I knew I didn’t want to work in a lab. I realized maybe a bio degree wasn’t the best for me because I wanted to work directly with people. Therefore, I was in search for a degree where I could combine hands on care and science. So decided nursing and enrolled in the pre-nursing program at Salisbury. Little did I know how much of a competitive and cutthroat program it would be.

What is the most interesting thing you have encountered in Kenya?

Literally every day I encounter things that fascinate me. Traveling to a country so different than your own it is hard not to be engulfed in the culture. But if I have to pick one thing that I consider interesting, it would be the tribes in Kenya. Kenya has 42 different tribes each having their own tribal traditions and “mother tongue.” It’s interesting working with people who believe that knocking out your bottom six teeth is beautiful. We also have tribes that cut their ears and dress in elaborate beads. In addition, I work with tribes that believe in female circumcision and polygamy. Tribes and tribal traditions are so foreign to me, we don’t have this is the States. My patients often ask me what tribe do I come from in America, or what’s my mother tongue?

 What do you miss most about home?

Cheese! Kenyans don’t eat cheese for some ungodly reason.  Besides food, I miss my friend and family. I’m very close with my Rugby team from Salisbury as well as my family.

 Do you have any advice for current Lancers who may want to do something similar?

That’s a hard question without sounding to cliché. I guess the advice I would give is first find something you are passionate about and pursue it.  Go after the things you want and don’t let anyone or anything hold you back. Never feel like you are stuck or have to conform to anyone preconceived idea of what a “normal life” is. If you want to move half way across the world do it. Be selfish and young, this is the only time in your life you can truly dedicate to you. Live your life to the fullest and go after what you want, at the end of the day the only one holding you back in yourself. Remember every choice you make in your life has consequences whether they be good or bad. So do something you love because you will be doing it the rest of your life.

 What was your biggest hope for this job, and have you accomplished it?

My goals are constantly changing while I am here. Some days it’s related to a specific patient, some days it’s just to survive the day. When I first came here I wanted to provide quality health care to my patients. Now my ideas on volunteering in general are changing. Although I love Kenya, I am beginning to realize I’m not going to be living here forever. My goals are changing from providing quality patient care to patient empowerment. Although I meet a lot of resistance, I hope to be able educate my coworkers and patients about body awareness, health care, and preventive care.

 What is the most difficult aspect of health in Kenya?

Lack of knowledge, and lack or resources. When I say lack of education I mean both for the patients as well as health care professionals. Patients are not proactive in their health. It’s very hard to get a good history about a patient’s health because they often don’t know. In addition, if they do know a little bit about their past medical history they often don’t know what medication they had been taking or what procedures they have had done. Then when you try to treat them they usually they don’t have the money to pay for medication or hospital bills. Therefore people don’t go to the hospital until they are really sick, and they often don’t follow up on chronic conditions. In terms of health care providers, they often lack education. Often they don’t dig deep enough as to why the patient has come. They may treat somtime completely unrelated to the patient’s complaint without completing an adequate assessments. We also lack resources, many test we would order or medications we would use in the United States we don’t have here.

Do you provide your own living expenses or are they funded by the CMMB?

No. CMMB paid for my airfare, and I get a small monthly stipend. Tabaka Mission Hospital pays for my food and housing.  Anything extra I pay for.

Are you surprised that people from Linganore are recognizing your accomplishments?