A full week has passed since I left Northern Ireland for the States. The Social Roots of Medical Innovation – Frederick Firsts Program has been one of the most meaningful and well-rounded experiences of my life. I have learned so much culturally, socially, academically, and internally.
The experience focused on community care and its importance in post-conflict societies. As someone who intends to work in the therapeutic healthcare industry as a physical therapist, looking from within a post-conflict society to explore, observe, and analyze the strategies and effects of care on those who have gone through trauma has been incredibly insightful and eye-opening to the type of context that I will be working in the future. Realizing the weight that community context and input lend in research and “curing” has strengthened my commitment to people-centered and trauma-informed care.
But outside the classroom, I found myself more than able to handle the responsibility of being abroad, which was surprising to me. I have often been overwhelmed by the idea of living in a completely different context without the support systems I have built for myself. I was in charge of handling the differences in countries. I think this program did a wonderful job orienting its students to studying abroad and guiding us through such a huge change.
And if it wasn’t for the people: the faculty at Pitt, the faculty at QUB, the people we met with, and the friends I have made, this experience might have been something ten times less insightful and fun. I am so excited to head back to the University of Pittsburgh and get to finish what I have started with all these new connections.
There was so much that I got to experience within this program that I will be thinking about for years to come. Whether it’s the people, the murals, or the dumplings, I get to take those experiences with me and take inspiration from them.
Some advice for Honors College students looking to go on a program like one: LET IT HAPPEN. Fully embrace the experience. Do the things you are unsure about. Experience everything. Make friends everywhere. Talk to everyone and take pictures of all of it. Because anything could be a learning point or an inspiration for more. Try everything and keep searching for what you’re looking for while away.
The world I just came from is still washing over me and I can’t wait to fully absorb the moments that have happened. Thanks for joining me!
With love,
Izzy Wisdom Guest