My STEP signature project involved interning with the Infectious Disease and Control department at Westchester Medical Center over the summer. During this period, I participated in various disease management and prevention aspects. I participated in environmental rounds, data collection, data analysis, hand hygiene compliance rates, quality improvement projects, shadowing, and more. 

This experience has transformed my understanding of healthcare, disease management, and the integral role of the Infection Prevention department in the hospital. Before the internship, I had no work-related experience in a hospital, and my knowledge of this department was little to nothing. However, through hands-on experiences, I greatly appreciated the challenges and roles this department of doctors, nurses, and PAs fulfilled. This experience shifted my perspective of different departments within hospitals and their impact on things such as public health. 

The team that I worked with did a great job at making me feel truly a part of the department. They allowed me to tag along on any mission that they had to complete. One example of this was when I came with them to check out a leak in the operating room. A third-party organization was responsible for properly cleaning this highly sterile area. I was able to observe the decisions and coordination required to manage infections in real-time. In every challenge faced by the department, it was truly obvious the importance of collaboration and effective communication in healthcare settings. 

Engaging in infection control procedures was another eye-opening experience. I learned the meticulous details needed to prevent hospital-acquired infections as well as update/modernize previous protocols. One example of this would be the changing of foley types to get new pure-wicks for the patients, and going around to different sections of the hospital to educate them on the new changes. This exposure showed me that healthcare extends beyond treating illnesses to actively trying at all costs to prevent them. 

This change in my understanding is significant because it broadened my perspective on healthcare and its connection to public health. The internship gave me first-hand experience in the day-to-day roles played in a hospital. It truly solidified my aspiration to work in the healthcare field. The experience I gained is directly applicable to my academic pursuits, as this semester I am even taking an undergraduate shadowing class.   

My STEP Signature Project was a Service-Learning project that took place at Medical City Denton Hospital in Denton, Texas. Within my project, I performed several activities as a hospital volunteer including working at the Main Hospital Front Desk as well as working in the Mammography Office attached to the hospital. I was responsible for directing patients to their correct destinations, properly checking them in for appointments, and ultimately, always making them feel welcome and comfortable while being in the hospital.

I have always believed that it is important to be kind to everyone, as that has been a value instilled in me by my parents for my whole life. I feel as though I have implemented this practice in my life, however my Signature Project that involved working in a hospital really showed me how important this daily practice is. There are so many people around us that have so many things going on in their lives, just like each one of us. Some days are people’s bad days while they are others’ good days. I feel that seeing so many individuals enter and exit the hospital, each with different stories, has shown me that you really never truly know what someone is going through and what kind of day they are having. Showing kindness and compassion isn’t hard, and it is something we should be doing every day for those around us.

As a volunteer during my Project, a number of interactions that I had with patients, hospital visitors, and staff members caused me to have the transformation that I described in the answer to the previous question. For example, one day I met a very stressed looking young woman who entered the hospital for a doctor’s appointment. As she tried to tell me what she was at the hospital for, the language barrier that existed between the two of us only heightened her state of distress. I knew that simply spitting out instructions in a language she was not proficient in would do her no good, and only exacerbate her anxious feelings. So instead, I asked my fellow volunteer if she would watch over the desk for me while I walked her to the correct destination. The empathy and compassion I demonstrated brought her a sense of peace and comfort, hopefully making her day just a bit less stressful. This event in itself made me realize how important it is to show empathy every day.

In addition, I was always answering phones during my shifts as a volunteer. Oftentimes, worried family members would call frantically hoping to learn some news about their loved ones in the hospital. Responding to these calls and knowing how to keep the family members calm was something that I learned required a lot of empathy as well. At the beginning of my volunteering, I did not anticipate to be a voice of calm as I had to be on the phone so many times, however I can say that it has changed my perception on treating patients, family members, and humans as a whole.

In terms of working with other volunteers and staff members of the hospitals during my STEP Signature Project, I learned that demonstrating empathy is extremely important in the workplace as well. I interacted with nurses, administrators, and other people who all work together to keep the hospital running. By being exposed to patients and their families and learning the importance of empathy, I realized that this empathy also needed to translate to the people I work with as well. Everyone is trying to do what they need to do to provide for their families, get through the day, and live a fulfilling life, so it is important that we show every person grace and empathy.

This change in how I value empathy and believe it to be one of the most important things to have as a human being is helpful in so many aspects of my life. This empathetic mindset applies when I am simply interacting with other people, whether that be in the grocery store, my school classrooms, or at home with my family. In terms of a career in medicine which I aspire to have, I have learned that showing empathy to my peers, coworkers, and patients is something that is necessary and will make me a much better healthcare worker. I can confidently say that my STEP Signature Project showed me how to be a better human and how to implement an empathetic spirit into everything that I do.

1. Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project. Write two or three sentences describing the main activities your STEP Signature Project entailed.

For my STEP project, my group travelled from July 22^nd to August 6^th in 2023. We met at the Ohio Uni

on and took a flight to Accra, Ghana on July 22^nd. We arrived in Ghana on July 23^rd. We were located at a children’s orphanage called Engyankwa wo enyiadad. We were working with the children there through Buck-I-SERV and the Akumanyi Foundation. Most of my time spent in Ghana was in rural communities near Accra which is in the central region of the country. However, for one weekend we went to a town called Cape Coast as well.

While working at the children’s orphanage, I had multiple tasks to complete. The orphanage also has a school attached to it where about 100-200 kids attend. The orphanage and school are funded through outside donations and are sustained by a local farm for food. Some of my tasks included but are not limited to helping the children prepare for their day in the morning, helping with cooking meals, cleaning the orphanage, assisting kids with their schoolwork, teaching about women’s empowerment, and anything else the organization needs us to do. Towards the end of the trip, through many donations we were able to fund the reconstruction of their dining hall. It has been too dangerous to use for awhile but after our support and help the dining hall will be usable again.

2. What about your understanding of yourself, your assumptions, or your view of the world changed/transformed while completing your STEP Signature Project? Write one or two paragraphs to describe the change or transformation that took place.

I went on the trip very excited to visit another country and experience their culture. I was a little bit nervous about going to Ghana because I did not know how safe the country was or if I would enjoy my time there. After returning to the United States safely, I can say that it was not only the best time of my life, but I never once felt in danger. Every single person we met was excited to see our group and say hello. The kids at the orphanage absolutely adored us and we built a very strong bond with them over our visit. I came to understand Ghanian culture and how beautiful their lives are in Ghana, Africa.

3. What events, interactions, relationships, or activities during your STEP Signature Project led to the change/transformation that you discussed in #2, and how did those affect you? Write three or four paragraphs describing the key aspects of your experiences completing your STEP Signature Project that led to this change/transformation.

Since my group was working at an orphanage in Ghana, we obviously got extremely close with the children because we spent so much time with them. However, I also had the amazing chance to gain a friendship with some of the older kids that worked at the orphanage. They were mostly boys from the age 16-29 years old. One was named Isaac and he accompanied us on the tour of the village on the first day of our being there. He taught me so much about Ghanian culture. Us and a couple others also hung out after the little kids went to bed, and during that time Isaac taught me phrases in Twi (the main language spoken in Ghana) and told me stories about his life.

We also had an impromptu activity during the kid’s break time in school. We all gathered on the field outside the school, and we played some classic American songs on a speaker. We played the Cha-Cha-Slide and many other dance along based songs. It was so much to teach the little kids the different dances. It was even more meaningful because this was our time to teach the kids a little bit about our culture. In America everyone knows these dances but the kids in Ghana had never heard of them. It was nice to finally give back, since they had been very helpful in teaching us about Ghanian culture.

I was concerned about my safety in Ghana before attending the service trip. I knew I would be safe in the enclosed orphanage, but I was unsure about our excursions to other towns/cities if my safety was still ensured. However, after my trip I was blown away by the friendliness. In Cape Coast, we visited the city’s market and stayed in a hotel one night. We were warned about pickpocketing and verbal harassment before the trip (as most cities are), but no one came close to pickpocketing any member of my group and people were much more interested in just having a friendly conversation with you. Even if you didn’t feel like talking, as soon as you expressed that feeling, everyone was super respectful of it. It truly was an amazing experience.

4. Why is this change/transformation significant or valuable for your life? Write one or two paragraphs discussing why this change or development matters and/or relates to your academic, personal, and/or professional goals and future plans.

My service trip to Ghana, Africa very much impacted my life. I enjoyed working and bonding with the kids. They were all so joyful and full of life, and they really inspired me to take that kind of viewpoint on life to my own personal day-to-day experiences. In Ghana, a cultural belief is that every person comes from the same human which makes us all brothers and sisters. Ghanaians treat every stranger the same as they would treat a member of their family. The people in Ghana are incredibly happy and more than willing to teach foreigners about their culture. This ideal really inspired me to be more forgiving. Waving hello to a stranger or talking to someone new everyday has made my life much more meaningful, and the people I have talked to in America say how happy they are that I decided to be friendly towards them.

I also am now thinking about working with a non-profit organization that is abroad for an internship. This way I can learn more about the industry and have a chance to travel to other countries that would benefit from my help. I’m very interested in learning new cultures and languages, so that I can fully understand other people’s lifestyle. I am currently specifically looking into internships based in African countries as well. A few family friends have reached out to me with more information on different non-profits, and I am so excited and thankful to continue my learning of other cultures.

1. Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project. Write two or three

sentences describing the main activities your STEP Signature Project entailed.

For my STEP Signature Project I went to Ghana through Buck-I-Serv and served at the Akumanyi Foundation’s Hope for Children Home, which is an orphanage and school for local children. I stayed for about two weeks living in a volunteer house beside the orphanage with a group of 14 other students and two trip advisors, and our activities that filled our time included taking part in daily chores around the orphanage, helping the children in school, playing with children, and more. I learned so much about different ways of life, cultures, religions, beliefs, and even more about kindness, hard work, generosity, and hospitality from all of the amazing people I met during this experience. 

2. What about your understanding of yourself, your assumptions, or your view of the

world changed/transformed while completing your STEP Signature Project? Write one or

two paragraphs to describe the change or transformation that took place.

My understanding of myself, my assumptions, as well as my view of the world were changed while completing my STEP Signature Project. Going into this project, I imagined I would be teaching the children I would be meeting at the Hope for Children Home in Ghana, that I would be able to help them learn in school, help them with their chores, that I could demonstrate various virtues and be a good role model for them during my time with them. My understanding of myself was that I was more knowledgeable in those areas than the children I would be meeting during this experience, but quite the opposite was true. Rather than being able to make a huge impact on these children and teach them immense amounts, I learned more than I ever could have imagined from them. These children changed my understanding of myself vastly by demonstrating true kindness, selflessness, generosity, hard work, perseverance, optimism, determination. I quickly realized that the experience would result from me learning from the children, children’s home staff, and other people I met in Ghana rather than the other way around. This realization and what I learned changed my understanding of myself and my assumptions of myself in that it made me realize what I thought I knew about myself in terms of how I encompass these various characteristics and values was not completely accurate, and I actually have a lot of room to grow and learn in these areas that I saw in the people I met during my project. 

My understanding of my assumptions and view of the world were also changed while completing my STEP project. I had certain assumptions about traveling to Ghana before I arrived, mainly related to it not being as wealthy or developed as the US. This was in part true, Ghana as a country is less developed than the US in terms of technology, access to clean and safe drinking water, access to education, and more. It is also not as wealthy as the US. But I think the country is so much more than those statements, and I realized the harm and negative effects of having that initial mindset or perspective when traveling to new countries. Being in Ghana made me appreciate the wonderful culture, the amazing people and how they live their lives, and it made me realize that the way things are done in the US are not “right” or “better” than Ghana, just different, as a result of several factors mentioned. This transformation of my assumptions made my view of the world change as well, because I now have a better understanding and mindset when it comes to learning about new cultures, ways of life, traditions, and so on. I am now more open minded and receptive to different lifestyles, and I am able to understand that just because something is different from how I know it, doesn’t mean it is wrong or incorrect. I now appreciate differences in culture and lifestyle more and am able to better see how beautiful and wonderful the differences among groups of people in various countries are, which I will apply to future traveling and in general when I am exposed to other cultures.

3. What events, interactions, relationships, or activities during your STEP Signature

Project led to the change/transformation that you discussed in #2, and how did those

affect you? Write three or four paragraphs describing the key aspects of your experiences

completing your STEP Signature Project that led to this change/transformation.

The transformation of my understanding of myself resulted mainly from the relationships I developed and formed during my STEP Signature Project. I met a group of truly amazing people at the Hope for Children Home when I traveled to Ghana. Our Buck-I-Serv group was truly blessed with amazing leaders and guides who helped us get from the airport to the orphanage and guided us every step of the way, teaching us the culture, history, and various lifestyles of Ghana. Their kindness and patience were admirable and I realized how I could improve my own kindness and patience from meeting them and spending time with them over the two week long trip, changing my understanding of myself. 

The most impactful relationships I developed that transformed my understanding of myself were those I formed with the children who lived and/or went to school at the children’s home. As I previously mentioned, I imagined that I would be able to offer guidance and teaching for these children after spending time with them, but in actuality I was on the receiving end of the guidance and teaching. The children I met brushed dirt off of my clothes when I got dirty, they fixed every hair that was out of place on my head as soon as they saw me, they showed me how to complete chores correctly, such as sweeping or doing laundry, or cooking. They laughed with me and played with me for hours and hours, teaching me games they play. They taught me words in their language and practiced their English with me. I truly loved spending time with these children, and what they taught me and how that led to a transformation of my understanding of myself is something I am so grateful for and thank them endlessly for.

The transformation of my assumptions and views of the world mainly resulted from seeing the country of Ghana myself with my own eyes, as well as learning about ways of life and cultures through various activities and events that I took part in during my project. Being in Ghana, I was able to see towns, cities, and people that did reflect the fact that the country is poorer and underdeveloped compared to a first world country like the US. For instance, the lack of access to clean water was evident, I saw younger people working rather than going to school, infrastructure was very underdeveloped from what I saw. But, despite all of these things, the people I met in Ghana were all very hard working, they did not complain, they were generally very happy people who were kind to me and showed me how they went about their days despite their lack of resources (such as cooking, for example). This changed my assumptions and view of the world because I was able to see how people adapt and live their lives in certain circumstances, and that they are not always suffering or struggling or upset about their situation, like I had expected. 

I realized that just because certain things, like cleaning or cooking for instance, are done in a different way than what I am familiar with, doesn’t mean it needs to change or be better. Activities during my project that I took part in that helped me realize this include helping do chores around the orphanage. For instance, I helped cook meals for the children, and at the orphanage the staff had a big pot on the ground on top of a fire, and they would cook meals like rice and beans in this big pot on the ground, outside. This is something I had never seen before and had never experienced living in the US. But this was normal for the people I met at the orphanage, and they were not inconvenienced at all by this and did not complain about wanting a different kitchen for example, because that was all they knew. Because of the lack of resources that the orphanage had, that was how they had to cook food for the children, so my assumptions in relation to this situation among others during my trip to Ghana were correct in that I had assumed people in Ghana were less wealthy and that their lifestyle would reflect that. But my assumptions were transformed because I didn’t realize that these people were content with this lifestyle and were able to update efficiently to their circumstances. Just because they were cooking in a way that not many people in the US or other parts of the world would do does not mean that they were doing it wrong or that they needed to change, or that they wanted to do it a different way. This impacted my view of the world in that it made me appreciate the beauty of differences in culture and lifestyles more. 

4. Why is this change/transformation significant or valuable for your life? Write one or

two paragraphs discussing why this change or development matters and/or relates to your

academic, personal, and/or professional goals and future plans.

The changes and transformations that occurred as a result of my STEP project are very significant and valuable to my life. My understanding of myself changed in that I began my trip thinking I would be teaching and guiding the children I met at the orphanage, but in actuality I learned much more from them than they learned from me. As mentioned, I learned kindness, determination, perseverance, hard work, generosity, and more from the relationships I formed with the people I met in Ghana, and this along with me realizing that I had a lot to learn in those areas is very significant to my life, because these are important qualities to me. I was able to improve these qualities in myself through learning from the people I met during my project, and now I can apply them to my life after coming back from Ghana. Academically, I can apply the hard work and determination that I learned about when it comes to succeeding in my courses and getting my degree. Personally, I will apply the kindness and generosity I learned to my relationships and how I treat other people. Professionally, I will apply the perseverance I learned to achieving my goals and future plans of becoming a successful nurse. 

The transformation of my assumptions and view of the world, which went from thinking Ghana would be more poor and underdeveloped, to understanding that although this is true, people are still happy and content with their ways of life often times and don’t feel the need to change, is very important and valuable to me as well. This change relates to my academic and professional goals and future plans as a nurse because I will encounter people from all different backgrounds and cultures, and I feel that from my project I now have a better understanding and appreciation of differences among people, and an ability to be nonjudgmental and accepting of those differences, which I think will make me a better nurse. Personally, I am always striving to be more accepting and open minded to others who have different backgrounds and cultures than me, so my transformation relates to me personally in this way as well.

1. Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project.  Write two or three sentences describing the main activities your STEP Signature Project entailed.

For my STEP Project, I traveled to Ghana, Africa to participate in a service learning trip. Throughout the two weeks I was there, I mostly spent my time volunteering at The Hope for Children’s Orphanage in a small community called Akwakwa. Here, I did basic chores like hand washing dishes, sweeping the children’s home & the school house, assisting with cooking, bathing the children, fetching water from the local river, etc. 

2. What about your understanding of yourself, your assumptions, or your view of the world changed/transformed while completing your STEP Signature Project?  Write one or two paragraphs to describe the change or transformation that took place.

One of the main takeaways I observed while traveling to Ghana was the difference in lifestyle. Life in Ghana is very laid back compared to the United States. Time is not something people worry about on a day to day basis. They make time for themselves, their family, their faith, & their work without time constraints. On the other hand, the majority of Americans are constantly in a rush, even when we might not know the reason why. We are in a hurry by default and because of that, we only make time for certain things. By stepping away from the fast paced environment for two weeks, it opened my eyes to the negative ways in which it impacts us.  

For one, American’s stress levels are at an all time high because of the amount of work they feel they need to complete in a day. People are planning their days out by the hour in order to be their most productive selves. Although I understand working is an essential part of life, at what point is it unhealthy? I believe as a whole, society’s values are backwards in America. We aren’t working to live, we are living to work. We indulge ourselves in work until it consumes us and leaves us minimal time for the things that truly matter. For example, instead of spending time with family and friends, we shoot them a text to check in. Instead of thinking through an issue ourselves, we google it to save time. Instead of cooking a healthy homemade meal, we stop by fast food places. Instead of letting crops grow naturally, we use poisonous pesticides to speed up the growing process. Our entire country is affected by the fast pace demands it requires of us. Although this lifestyle is the norm for most people, we still have the choice whether we want to conform or not. 

 Although I know I will not be able to alter the way society functions on my own, I can make subtle changes in my life that will allow me to slow down.  As a college student with anxiety, I get easily overwhelmed and anxious by the daily tasks that need to get done. However being conscious of the world around me has allowed me to take a step back and simply breathe. By zooming out of the bubble I live in, I am able to think to myself, “Does this really matter?” “Is this worth stressing over?” Ultimately the things you allocate your time to in life are completely self inflicting. No one is responsible for the way you choose to live besides you. Thanks to Ghana, I now know I want to spend my time and energy doing meaningful things. 

3. What events, interactions, relationships, or activities during your STEP Signature Project led to the change/transformation that you discussed in #2, and how did those affect you?

During our first week in Ghana, curiosity sparked everyone’s mind. We asked our Ghanaian guides questions about everything! However, most of the group’s questions revolved around time. “How long is the drive?” “What time should we wake up?” “How much time are we spending at the market?” It was very evident us, Americans, were like fish out of water in their laid back life. They told us it was not common in their culture to know everything all at once. They start their day and they simply live. They see where the day takes them and they go with the flow from there. 

One instance, in particular, that led me to see the difference in our culture was the van rides. The roads in Ghana are mostly made of dirt and have many potholes which makes the ride extremely bumpy. Along with the bumpy roads, we were packed into the small vans like sardines. Furthermore, there are no real rules for the road systems, so estimating how long it takes to get from point A to point B is completely relative. A drive could take 5 hours one day, and only 2 hours the next. Although traffic in America alters our drive times, it is usually never that extreme and unpredictable. Despite the group and I getting frustrated not knowing how long the rides ahead were, it forced us to exhibit patience and calmness. After some time, I noticed that the long van rides didn’t bother me anymore. I acclimatized to their environment and learned to simply live in the moment and take every second in. I even caught myself looking out the window a few times and thinking to myself “ I am so present and nothing else matters.” Seeing this change in myself was something to be proud of. Being present is something that I struggle with at times because of the busyness of the world around me. By taking a deep breath and allowing only thoughts about the current moment to pass through my head, I felt a sense of clarity and gratefulness.

Aside from the difference in time and road conditions, another difference in our culture is the sense of community. In Ghana, each community has each other’s backs. For example, there were multiple times throughout the trip when we passed someone on the street that needed a ride and we drove them home. They didn’t necessarily know them, but they trusted them and wanted to help support their needs. In America, that is not something that even crosses our minds. It is extremely dangerous to get in someone’s car who you do not know and ask for a ride home. Americans have a very individualistic approach in terms of lifestyle, and therefore, do not feel the need to go out of the way to help someone out. I admired the sense of community the Ghanaians showed. It made me feel safe and at home throughout the couple of weeks which I was there. 

Write one or two paragraphs discussing why this change or development matters and/or relates to your academic, personal, and/or professional goals and future plans.

Learning to be present in the moment and not taking things for granted has taught me so much about myself and the world around me. It is so easy to move through life without realizing how blessed you are. I’ve caught myself various times looking ahead at the next vacation, the next holiday, the next sunny day, meanwhile, the present moment was right in front of me. Traveling to Ghana has taught me to stay present as much as possible and not worry so much about what has already happened or what is going to happen ahead. Time is a weird and confusing concept that I nor anymore else is in control of. Spending your life waiting for the next perfect moment will leave you feeling unfulfilled and disappointed. As cliche as it sounds, we are not promised the future, so being in the moment is all we really have. Trusting in the universe and leaning into my faith about my future is much more productive than stressing about it. Ghana has taught me that I’m on my own unique path that will unfold beautifully when the time is ready. I’m so grateful for the experience and have learned so much from all the amazing people I met.