I'm excited to be returning home to Chicago after finishing my studies at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York. Through my coursework in biology and government, I began to discover my passion for health care justice and social activism. Throughout the school year, I followed my passion for health care justice by leading student activist groups. Over the summers, I discovered my interest in education working as a teacher at a science day camp for kids aged 4-12. I'm looking forward to combining my interests in health care justice and education during my service term with NHC Chicago. I'm also eager to learn about the different fields of public health during my time with NHC Chicago, so that I can begin to figure out which advanced public health degree I will pursue in the future.
Additionally, I am excited to have the opportunity to pursue my interest in nutrition as a Health Promoter at Heartland Health Center. As a lifelong vegetarian, when I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease at age 17, I had no idea what I was going to eat anymore. My diet was primarily wheat based, with pasta and bread as important food staples. I have come a long way since my first my first gluten free grocery trip where I walked down the aisles bemoaning that nearly every product I usually bought contained gluten. I have discovered new foods and cuisines so that my diet is not only vegetarian and gluten free, but healthy and delicious. I'm excited to share my personal food discoveries with others, so that everyone, even people with food intolerances and allergies, can begin to enjoy eating healthy foods.
This blog post was written by NHC Chicago 2016-17 member Cara Kraus-Perrotta.
