Presenter: Selena Cen, Public Health Science & Spanish, Global Public Health Scholars
For my practicum project, I did service-learning at a local school in my community as part of a summer school / camp and on the weekends as a Saturday school. I worked with the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) Black Student Achievement Program (BSAP), which targets minority students, specifically African Americans, to reach high academic accomplishments by providing them with additional support and tutoring. As a volunteer for the Summer Institute and the Saturday Math Academy, I helped out as a teacher’s assistant by explaining concepts, checking work, and providing an extra hand whenever needed. In the chess classrooms, I guided students through the game, showed them new strategies, and assessed critical thinking with the use of puzzles. This was a great opportunity to work with kids, from elementary to high school, and to give back to my community in a way that directly reduces the achievement gap between minority groups.
Very good presentation! I really liked how you linked something like this to public health, because a lot of people may not see this connection. It is really cool that you can get these students so interested in something as complicated as chess. I think that reducing disparities in education is immensely important for public health because it prevents issues that may occur in the future, such as poverty leading to minimal healthcare. What are some other ways you think we can reduce the gap between the minority groups and the majority?
Your poster and presentation were great! I love how you connected what you are passionate about to public health and thought that this was an interesting route to complete your practicum. It is inspiring how you asked if you could teach chess lessons instead after realizing that you could contribute to the program and the students in a more meaningful way by truly bringing your passion into your work. How long were your lessons and how long were the sessions of students playing chess? How did you inspire the children who weren’t great at the game to keep trying? -Nandini Persaud
I really liked how you said, “You may be wondering how this connects to public health.” And then you gave a stunning response to how the program itself aims to address inequities. You also make great personal connections. I hope you do continue honing your Spanish skills, connecting with students, and making a difference through teaching.