I came across a poster about PLEN in the political department at my school. I didn’t think about applying to the seminar, as I thought it was for students who were interested in political science, until I took a closer look. The seminar entitled “PLEN Science and Health Policy: Critical Issues Seminar” caught my eye, and I knew I had to apply. Before coming to this PLEN seminar, I simply expected to be given tools to prepare for the professional world. Coming out of the seminar, I have learned much more than I expected.
I began my undergraduate career as an economic and business major. After two years, I decided to change my major to biology and environmental science. In my spare time, I am passionate about exploring the policy world in a debating society. I saw no connection between the three seemingly distinct fields, as much as I had wanted there to be one. However, after attending the Science and Health Policy: Critical Issues Seminar my desire to find a connection was quickly resolved.
The Science and Health Policy: Critical Issues seminar is an experience I will carry with me for the rest of my life. This seminar pushed me to think outside the box, illustrated the structure and mechanism of the professional world, and brought me and my fellow alumnae to a policy world that I might otherwise have never known how to enter. Perhaps I am even more confused than ever before, but now I am able to navigate myself and reaffirm my resolution of pursing what I want to do in the future. Thank you to Novo Nordisk for giving me the extraordinary opportunity to attend this seminar that has forever altered my life.
Chinhsien Tsai attended the PLEN Science and Health Policy: Critical Issues seminar as a junior at Wesleyan College. She received a scholarship sponsored by Novo Nordisk.