This past summer, one of my high school friends attending a different university asked me what the most intellectually stimulating part of my first two years of college was. I ran through all the coursework, seminars, and extracurriculars I had taken in my head, trying to figure out what experience had changed me most during the rapid yet immersive two years I’d spent at Duke. And then, of course, I told her about my experience in the Laidlaw Scholars Program.
My first summer, I was in Scotland conducting research in the University of St. Andrews School of Medicine alongside some of my Duke scholar peers, as well as St. Andrews students. Here, we not only had intensive hours working on our research project investigating the public perception of direct-to-consumer health tests, but we also had conversations at the lunch table, and these conversations stick with me to this day. We’ve dissected the differences between the healthcare system in the UK and the United States, discussed our various systems for medical school, and talked about the balance between access to healthcare in terms of financial barriers and also in terms of wait times. To be a global citizen is to look beyond the context of your own circumstances, and to understand the contexts of others in the world; after all, we improve as leaders by learning from those who have had different perspectives from us. As I navigate the path towards medical school, I’m hoping to continue to learn about the various healthcare systems around the world, which will then inform how I approach caring for my future patients.
While my Research summer was far away from home, my Leadership-in-Action summer was much, much closer. As a North Carolina native and a Duke student attending college in Durham, I wanted to learn more about the city that I was calling home for four years. Duke is known for its beautiful campus, forests, dining hall, and more, and it is also known amongst students for being a “bubble.” One could go all four years without stepping foot off of campus if they wanted, and education on Durham history is not a part of our required curriculum. Being able to spend the summer working alongside a nonprofit providing free vision care and healthcare directly to the underserved communities in Durham and the broader Triangle region was a transformative experience in not only learning about patient care, but also about what it means to be part of a community. The leaders I’ve worked with during my Leadership-in-Action summer are not motivated by their own agendas and accomplishments, but by others; they are humble in acknowledging when another might be more knowledgeable, and they take the time to have conversations with each other to figure out how to best utilize the limited resources and vibrant talent that Durham has. I’ve witnessed firsthand leaders–from optometrists running nonprofits focused on free vision exams to those organizing large-scale events that bring together organizations working towards supporting the homeless–who truly practice the idea of serving others. A practice I will carry with me is continually looking for ways that I can support the community’s needs as a leader, instead of thinking of what I want to do for the community; this comes first from understanding and becoming a part of the community, without preconceptions or an agenda.
In high school, I was not someone who found asking for help to be easy. There were a lot of things I wanted to do, but I did not think that anyone would be invested enough to take time out of their day to teach and support me. Laidlaw has taught me that this is simply not true–I am so grateful that I’ve met so many amazing mentors along the way, and that I’ve learned the art of asking for help when I need it. A leader does not have to have all the answers or exude confidence in their decisions all the time–a leader recognizes their shortcomings and places their trust in others. Leadership is also not solitary; the community walks alongside you and offers you grace.
It is bittersweet that my time with the program is coming to a close this December, and I don’t think my freshman self ever saw myself falling in love with the program as much as I did. I’m grateful for all of the conversations I’ve had as a Laidlaw Scholar, and I know that the window for good conversations will not close just because my formal time with the program is nearing the end.