My name is Susanna Van Haveren, and I am a French and International Health major at Clemson University. I am continuously passionate about connecting language and culture. This has implications in a topic I am interested in: global health equity. Through my time at Clemson, I have been able to further develop my cross-cultural communication skills and a deep understanding of community health and global health systems. In the future this will allow me to approach healthcare as a social but also a relational practice. I value building meaningful communities with those who I am surrounded by. I also act on what I am passionate about, and strive to approach my work with intentionality, gratitude, and grace. These values have shaped and continue to influence my goal of pursuing community-based health and non-profit leadership. In these settings I’ll be able to contribute to equitable, culturally responsive healthcare initiatives.

     My studies in French and International Health have helped me to develop my cross-cultural skills. Those skills include, intermediate French language, analytical thinking abilities and understanding of global health challenges. Learning and understanding the nuances of global health will help me to be successful in this field. My coursework emphasizes different structures of health systems, community health implications and interventions and the social determinants of health. My continuing language training has strengthened my engagement abilities across cultural and linguistic differences. This education and experience has prepared me to approach healthcare from clinical, social and relational perspectives.  

     I pride myself on bringing a community based perspective to all I do. Building meaningful relationships and community is one of my top priorities. I do this through trust, empathy, and intentional communication. These factors are also essential in successful healthcare delivery. Cultural competency helps providers better understand the needs of their patients and builds a mutual sense of understanding and respect between patient and clinician. Building these relationships on respect and understanding can help to facilitate more honest conversations with them, understand their concerns more and ultimately, treat them more effectively. In both collaborating with peers and engaging in service my approach is intentional, and committed as I learn from others. 

     In the future, I aspire to pursue a position in nonprofit leadership and community health. In this field I will be able to develop the skills I need to effectively serve diverse and unique populations. I hope to ultimately work in a community health based nonprofit organization that contributes to initiatives prioritizing accessibility, equity and relationships. My experience in nonprofit grant work as well as global missions has taught me that there is a need for more organizations of this kind. In this field I can achieve my goals of integrating language, cultural competency and public health knowledge to meaningfully support communities. 

     My background and education in French and International Health is relevant to my values of community, passion, grace and equity and is applicable in my future professional plans. Through cross-cultural engagement, cultural competency, and relationship based community, I have developed a foundation that aligns with my goals to pursue a career based on service. I am committed to my values within my professional journey as I prioritize gratitude, thoughtfulness and equity. While I continue to grow, I stay consistently dedicated to building community and helping to create a more accessible and compassionate world for global health.