Rachel Faulkenberry

My name is Rachel Faulkenberry, and I am a Language and International Health major at Clemson University, with an emphasis in Spanish. After graduation I plan to attend medical school, which will enable me to fulfill my passion of public health and servitude on a much greater scale. Throughout my career I plan to help support the health of underserved populations, especially in Spanish communities both in and out of the US. I plan to continue to develop my Spanish speaking abilities and cultural competency in order to most effectively connect and serve Spanish speaking populations in any circumstance.

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I have chosen medicine as my future career path because it facilitates the development of empathy, one of my core values. Because both my parents are social workers, the importance of this value was instilled in me at a very young age. I believe that empathy is a valuable tool to connect with and uplift others while improving one's personal understanding of the world around us. By investing in the perspectives and experiences of others, we become more knowledgable, more understanding, and better people. I see a career in medicine as one of the best opportunities to empathize with others. 

 

I have continued to explore the meaning of empathy through various involvements, including my status as a Crisis Text Line counselor, and  an EMT, ad most recently a palliative care qualitative research assistant. Crisis Text Line is a volunteer program which trains volunteers to deescalate and support individuals in emotional crisis. Working as both an EMT and a palliative care researcher will improve my understanding of both healthcare systems and the individuals who seek treatment in times of suffering. Being able to support patients or explore their experiences through qualitative interviews will further develop my understanding of patients' perspective in general, and therefore improve my ability to empathize with patients I may encounter in the future. These experiences will give me new perspectives and understandings of those around me, and one of my greatest goals in life is to continue the pursuit of connection, understanding, and empathy. 

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