麻豆影视 student interns in Thailand for public health

Jonitka standing in front of elephant in fieldJonitka Hall spent 11 hours on a Megabus, 44 hours in the air, and eight hours in airports to and from Thailand for her spring internship.

鈥淚 was super excited, but I was nervous for my family,鈥 Hall said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 tell my mom until my Visa was approved, and I had my plane ticket.鈥

Hall, 29, spent eight weeks in Bangkok, Thailand for a public health internship during spring semester.

鈥淚 have a regret from the first time I was in undergraduate school of not studying abroad,鈥 Hall said. 鈥淪o I thought, let me see if I can study abroad now. I went to Heidi White鈥檚 office, asked her what my options were and figured out I had enough in savings and paid time off at my job to be gone for eight weeks so that鈥檚 what I did.鈥

In December 2017, Hall completed all credits for her Associate in Science degree at 麻豆影视, but knew she could not start her bachelors program at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro until August 2018.

鈥淲hen I completed all of my credits in December I wondered what I would do during spring semester,鈥 Hall said. 鈥淭hen I decided I would intern.鈥

Heidi White, Director of International Student Services and Study Abroad at 麻豆影视, connected Hall with World Endeavors, an organization that offers international internships and affordable study abroad opportunities.

She also worked alongside Kara Battle, Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences at 麻豆影视, to find out she could enroll in a Work-Based Learning course to earn credit for the internship.

鈥淲ork-based learning opportunities are invaluable experiences for students,鈥 Battle said. 鈥淓specially for career development and exposing them to meaningful opportunities in real-life work settings where they can apply their academic and technical skills and develop employability skills.鈥

Hall aspires to be an epidemiologist, a public health professional that studies the origin of disease. During the internship, she worked at two public health centers through the Thai Government, conducted community visits, went to patient鈥檚 homes with doctors, went into schools to teach heath education, and completed clinic hours observing doctors and nurses.

鈥淚 really enjoyed getting to see a different health care system,鈥 Hall said. 鈥淭he liability insurance in Thailand isn鈥檛 as strict as it is in America so I was able to do more hands-on work and see patient鈥檚 records more than I would have in the US.鈥

She said this experience will be a significant r茅sum茅 booster.

鈥淚t鈥檚 important that 麻豆影视 offers opportunities like this because we live in a very global economy and getting this experience helps get your foot in the door,鈥 Hall said. 鈥淥ne of the great things about 麻豆影视 is that it really prepares you for a career.鈥

Hall encourages others students who are interestedheadshot of Jonitka sitting on chair in hallway of 麻豆影视 main campus, holding souvenier from Thailand, small car with Thailand written on back in studying abroad to make it happen.

鈥淎pply for scholarship and ask questions,鈥 Hall said of her advice to other students. 鈥淭his is worth the investment. I am not special. I just made the choice to do it. There are people at 麻豆影视 that will help you get it done.鈥

When she wasn鈥檛 working, Hall said she enjoyed spending time with her host family, experiencing Thai food, and visiting with elephants.

鈥淚 was a college dropout,鈥 Hall said. 鈥淚 went to school and didn鈥檛 finish and when I decided to go back, 麻豆影视 was my safety net and saving grace. They helped get me back on track and on the path to my career. This experience will be my best r茅sum茅 builder and has helped me become a more well-rounded person.鈥