After the announcement of my selection for a 2020 Bush Fellowship, I had plans. Lots of plans. I was going to get a degree! I was going to go to conferences! I was going to spend every penny of the fellowship stipend in a well-thought-out and structured way!
The first 6 months as a Bush Fellow have proven to be very different. Almost immediately, I realized that I neither wanted nor needed another degree, so I changed my Fellowship plan. I was also unexpectedly hired for a new job, which moved me from clinical medicine into public health where I work as part of the COVID-19 response. This move and new position fit well with my “big idea” and my passion for health equity. I was suddenly working, every day, to improve health at the population level - not just learning or thinking about it as I had originally planned to do as part of my Fellowship. My day-to-day activities were supportive of my big idea and my overarching goals as a Bush Fellow - they were not something separate or apart from my “day job”.
This change forced me to focus more on my goals and values than on how or where I spend my stipend. Therefore, the Fellowship has provided a different perspective for me, not just different learning opportunities. As a Fellow, I am empowered to ask myself how I can do better, do more or take a bigger risk. I see my actions now as potentials for learning and growth - both personally and professionally.
That does not mean that I haven’t also sought formal learning opportunities. They now just seem to happen organically, rather than planned. I have searched and scoured the internet for educational experiences related to healthcare, health equity, social justice, leadership, communication and any other topic I can think of that relates to my big idea and interests. Unlike I may have done in the past, I don’t end up applying for many, however. I keep them stored for the right time and keep my eyes open for the right experiences. For example, I thought I would spend most of this initial time learning more about healthcare structure or financing. I have realized, however, that excellent communication skills are most important for me right now and am focusing on formal programs in communication.
Although I would describe myself as someone who thinks big, the Bush Foundation and Fellowship have encouraged me to think even bigger. How I can I make a bigger impact on my community? How I can I better care for myself and my family? What do I want my life to be like? And, now, once I have considered those things, think bigger! My Fellowship has empowered me to reach higher and hope for more change than I would have before. To me, that is an important lesson: whatever you think you can do, you can do more. Think bigger.