Being a health educator at Erie Family Health Center in Humboldt Park has given me firsthand experience in serving an underserved community. In my position, I teach sexual education to students at Clemente High School and assist patients in enrolling in Medicaid. This experience has enabled me to recognize the importance of my role and its impact on the people I serve.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Clemente has lacked a health educator for two years. Having filled this vacancy for the 2022-2023 academic year, I have been given the opportunity to provide adolescents with essential sexual health information to help them better advocate for themselves and make wiser, more informed health decisions. In the classroom, I have experimented with various methods of teaching sexual education lessons to students to keep them engaged all while still conveying the intended message. From worksheets and videos to roleplays and Jeopardy games, I have found that group activities excite students and increase participation the most. In addition, the “Question Box” allows individuals to ask sexual health-related questions freely and anonymously without judgment. These items have worked to create a more fun and nurturing learning atmosphere that will propel students to feel safe and confident in having conversations about sex both now and in the future.

Humboldt Park is defined by its strong presence of Puerto Rican culture, and many of its residents speak Spanish. In aiding patients in completing Medicaid applications, I have acknowledged how delivering more culturally responsive services creates a cohesive environment. During health insurance enrollment fairs, I offer interpreter services for Spanish-speaking patients and provide them with documents in Spanish. Without these practices, patients would be hindered from receiving their health information. The culturally responsive services I have implemented allow me to establish stronger connections with Humboldt Park residents and ensure they obtain information in a way that meets their needs. Through my service, I have become more motivated to improve my own Spanish fluency and feel better prepared to work in cultural mosaics.

My experience as a health educator has allowed me to gain valuable insight into how education and service fosters healthier communities. In addition, I have witnessed my own personal growth through the development of my public speaking and interpersonal communication skills. Using the knowledge and skills acquired through my service role, I hope to continue enhancing health outcomes in underserved populations as a future healthcare provider by educating and advocating for my patients in the same way.