Philosophy Statement

With my public health training, I’m particularly interested in serving adolescents and
young adults. In this population, sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s) remain a major problem
in the United States. As determined by the Centers for Disease Control in 2017, this population is
associated with the new sexually transmitted infections that we see every year. With more than
20 million cases. My focus in this topic will be to promote the prevention of sexually transmitted
diseases, aid in the detection of STD’s, and aid in the appropriate response to STD’s. Respect
and confidentiality are important values I follow and will help to get this group to be honest
about their behaviors without the fear of judgement. Love, and kindness are also values I follow
that will help build trust and a positive relationship with my population. My passion for this
profession is the result of learning that not all adolescents and youth adults have the same
educational/environmental access and knowledge on the benefits of condoms and the negative
impacts of sexually transmitted diseases. During a previous semester in college, I took a sexual
education course where my assignment was to provide random students around campus with a
given scenario. In this scenario. the students would either choose to not participate in the sexual
act, postpone the event to go buy a condom, or use the “pull-out” method. Many of the responses
given were to use the pull-out method to not get pregnant. Since students believe condoms are
only to prevent pregnancy, they use the pull-out method which does not protect against STD’s.
Therefore, public health is where I know I belong. I want to help give all individuals the
opportunity to protect themselves before it’s too late.
In grade school, lessons on condoms and sexually transmitted diseases were vague. It was
not until college that I fully understood these topics and their potential impacts. With high STD
rates being a problem in high schools, I realized education and resources were not being
provided in an impactful manner. The alarming statistics in Duval county alone was enough to
persuade me to become a public health major. When it comes to the public health major, disease
prevention through healthy lifestyle behaviors is what I think of. One aspect of public health that
resonates with me the most is the levels of disease prevention. The first level, primary prevention
consists of preventative measures that reduce the onset of a disease. This can be through the
promotion of measures by education. For example, condom use. Secondary prevention consists
of technological measures that determines the state of an illness or disease. This occurs early
enough for quick treatment and the decreased possibility of the progression of the illness or
disease. This includes measures such as screenings and examinations. For example, the detection
of STI’s early enough to treat them and prevent the possible spread to sexual partners. Tertiary
prevention deals with the quality of life after an individual is affected by a disease. This level of
prevention can be met by disease treatment and rehabilitation. For example, properly taking all
medications prescribed by doctors to treat the symptoms associated with STD’s.
I am currently working towards where I want to be in my future. In the Summer of 2021,
I will accomplish two major goals. I will first successfully complete my public health internship
and then I will attain my Bachelor of Science in Health Degree with a concentration in public
health and a minor in health education. After graduation, I plan to apply to a nursing program to
get my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). After earning my credentials, I plan to benefit
society through program interventions, organization affiliations or community health centers.