Tell us about yourself.

My name is Kathleen, and I am pretty new to Kern County.  For the past 3 years, I’ve enjoyed the calm bustle of a small city and going to school. 

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What led you to the field of public health?

I was on a nursing track when I got into one public health class, and that's when I learned what I wanted to do with my life: find ways to keep the community healthy, and teach family skills to stay healthy.  It all seems possible to achieve a better tomorrow when we're working with like-minded people. 

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Tell us about a specific moment in the past 12 months when you learned something that you think will be useful for the future.

I have been introduced to a lot of different projects in Kern County, all of which were working towards building a better, healthier community.  It was very inspiring to see a lot of great work being done and having a chance to share in the efforts gave me more resolve to continue in the field of public health.  One path that seemed to open up for me recently was a chance to become a health educator.  There was a use for my being talkative. =)  And one more project that's allowing me to use my speaking skills is the Data Collector Research Internship.  It is a great opportunity to be a part of a team of data collectors with the hope that whatever we find through the survey will benefit the community in the future.

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What would you like to do after you graduate?

I will continue towards a BS Public Health or if possible, a Masters in Public Health.  The best part about being in public health right now is that I don’t need to wait to graduate to make a difference. Even in these early days of my studies, I am already getting involved with the community on public health efforts.

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What do you like to do for fun?

I enjoy photography, and from time to time I visit the beautiful mountains surrounding Kern County.  I also like to travel, and I enjoy learning about different cultures and customs of the places I visit. 

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