The Answered Letter

Looking back on my first blog post where I wrote a letter to myself and everything that I hoped to accomplish and learn through this program, I surprisingly did. This Detroit Community Based Research Program did allow me to gain experience in solving public health issues and to guide me in choosing a career. Though I still do not know exactly what I want my career to be I do have a better idea after working in Osborn. This program did open my mind to problems in the community that I was unfamiliar with and I  gained a new love for Detroit! I was born and raised in Detroit but I still had a lot to learn and continue to have a lot to learn. I explored midtown and all parts of Detroit and it helped me to gain a better understanding of its history and current situation. I gained lifelong friends, nonprofit work experience, public health research, and a new and enlightened perspective of Detroit. I had an amazing summer while also giving back to the community of Detroit.

Working with the Osborn neighborhood alliance, all of my goals came true. I got involved with the residents of the community and received a better understanding  of  what they needed and wanted and what was best for their community. I also used my researching skills that I gained from UROP to learn more about feeder patterns and public health problems  and I discovered what I could do to solve them.

My perspective of Detroit is relatively the same because I still believe that Detroit is a city with so much potential and I love the progress that I see though I acknowledge that more progress needs to be made in more important areas like education, housing, and crime prevention rather than just the downtown area for tourists. But now I know how vital it is for the progression of  the area of education and housing! I look back at my first blog and I have come a long way and I truly feel like I have reached all of my goals for the program!