My interest in global health started when I witnessed the impact of Hurricane Maria on Puerto Rico in 2017. At the time, I had Puerto Rican friends who shared how the hurricane devastated Puerto Rican communities, leaving many in the territory, especially those in rural areas, without healthcare access, clean food or water. This profoundly impacted my career interests, leading me to pursue global health through the Spanish and International Health program at Clemson University. 

 

My academic interests in global health stem from my work with vulnerable populations in Upstate South Carolina through the South Carolina Public Health Preparedness Student Corps, which deepened my understanding of health issues in my community. The project inspired me to amplify my volunteer work with the Red Cross, leading me to create the Clemson American Red Cross Club in 2023. As Co-President and Founder, I led health events such as CPR training, campus blood donation campaigns and volunteer activities. Driven by my health studies in rural populations, as Service to the Armed Forces Lead, I received a grant to launch a Rural Veterans Awareness Initiative that raised awareness for veteran mental health and funds to provide holiday meals for over 70 veterans and their families. Working with marginalized groups in South Carolina is close to my heart and has naturally led me further down the path of health policy reform.

 

Outside of the classroom, my work with Every Campus a Refuge (ECAR) and the Spanish Red profoundly shaped who I am as a student. As part of ECAR, I teach English to resettled families from across the globe and organize campus cultural events. Working personally with international families pushed me to study and intern abroad in Toledo, Spain. While interning at the Spanish Red Cross, I taught Spanish to resettled refugees and began developing bilingual health initiatives, which deepened my understanding of how health interventions can bridge cultural and language barriers. Both roles showcased international communities and pushed me to not only welcome and teach others, but also share my culture in turn. 

 

These experiences have also sparked my passion for learning foreign languages. At the moment, I am actively learning Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, and French, which inspired me to pursue an internship with Upstate International this past summer. As an intern at Uptate International, I facilitated weekly English Conversation Clubs, attended various language classes, and organized community events, including Salsa at Sunset. The position highlighted the importance of cross-cultural communication and pushed me out of my comfort zone, from creating conversation games for English club attendees to attending networking events that showcased Greenville’s global connectivity. It was through this role that I was nominated and selected, among students across the country, as a World Affairs Council of America (WACA) 2025 Student Scholar. As a Student Scholar, visiting embassies, discussing American foreign policy, and engaging directly with diplomats in Washington, D.C. pushed me to further explore foreign affairs and deepened my understanding of how health is profoundly connected to policy decisions, both domestically and internationally

 

In the future, I am deeply interested in pursuing globally connected roles that allow me to work at the intersection of international collaboration and public service. I am honored to be a 2026 finalist for the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Portuguese program and a semifinalist for the Fulbright Program, both of which reflect my commitment to global learning and exchange. Following my time at Clemson, I intend to apply for a master’s program to further strengthen my academic foundation and professional preparation for a career rooted in global impact.

In all my roles, the diverse communities I've experienced have inspired my pursuit of global health, from my Puerto Rican friends who set me on this path to the mentors, professors, and Clemson peers I’ve met along the way. If I’ve learned anything as a Clemson student who has supported communities, families, and individuals spanning world regions and diverse backgrounds, it's that a single volunteer can be the reason someone feels connected to their community. My one goal as I head toward graduation is to continue being that volunteer, community health advocate and friend. Go tigers!