Kathleen Bascos, Research Intern
Bakersfield College Public Health
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
