Graduate / "intellectual ability, passion and willingness" - I'm applying to MPH program [6]

While in high school I worked at various customer service jobs which included fast food restaurants and retail stores. During this time I realized I was very comfortable meeting new people on a daily basis. I have not always known that Public Health was my calling. It was not until I obtained my Associates degree in Culinary Arts that I realized I was in the wrong profession.

After finishing my internship at an upscale Latin-seafood restaurant, I decided that although I was working with and for people. I did not feel like I was making a difference. I was not interacting with people the way I wanted to.

I started researching careers that could combine my culinary degree and experience with people. After much reading and Google searches I came across Nutrition and Public Health, two career fields that I can apply my experience to. I originally thought Nutrition was a great field for me however; I was drawn to Public Health because of the possibility of making an impact on a larger population.

I am very interested in how behavior affects people health and lifestyles. I believe that many individuals especially minorities do not fully understand how body weight, poor diet and lack of exercise influence preventable chronic diseases. Growing up I have seen the effects of improper eating in my community. It is not uncommon to hear of someone being amputated because of Diabetes. Obesity is on the rise especially among children, it is important for me to understand the causes and solutions to end this epidemic. In the near future I plan on obtaining my CHES certification. I believe with this certification and the education that I will receive will help me to understand the various health issues that many are being faced with.

My undergraduate courses have prepared me with the necessary knowledge and skills to collect and analyze data, identify community needs as well as plan, implement, monitor and evaluate programs designed to encourage health lifestyles and environments.

The MPH program at Brooklyn College is the ideal place for me; not only is it affordable but it will help me realize my professional goals. I am confident Brooklyn College will teach me the skills I need to make the best contributions to the lives of others.

I posses the intellectual ability, passion and willingness to help others needed to succeed at Brooklyn College. Thank you for considering my application.