A public health code of ethics I commit to upholding is cultural competence, by actively working to understand diverse perspectives with humility. Having seen how exclusion and "othering" have damaged communities, I believe recognizing our shared humanity is the only path to healing. I will focus first on addressing my own biases through continuing education and building connections across lines of difference. In professional contexts, I pledge to center underrepresented voices, meeting people where they are.

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After a semester immersed in the challenging realities shaping health equity, I feel hopeful toward justice rather than discouraged. My vision for change has expanded from solely individual interventions to dismantling broader societal barriers. Through classmates’ stories, I grasped how identity shapes opportunity long before illness manifests. I commit to considering a holistic lifetime view, not just points of clinical care.

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I discovered more courage in myself than expected. As difficult topics arose, I voiced opinions I might have kept silent on before. Leadership means leaning into principled stances when it would be far easier not to. I also learned that an open and curious mindset is key in public health realms with diverse stakeholders. Seeking first to understand unlocks growth.

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Moving forward, I will apply a broadened mindset attuned to disparities under the surface in any health issue. My goal is to complement day-to-day work with long-term policy advocacy uplifting vulnerable groups. I aim to become an ally taking cues from communities themselves, grounded foremost in their voices and wisdom. With compassion and moral courage, I believe we can build health systems serving all people with humanity and justice.