When Alyssa Taylor transferred to the UW from Tacoma Community College, she was working as a caregiver and administrative assistant for a chain of adult family homes. At the UW she sought opportunities to explore cultural impacts on health care, and found the Comparative History of Ideas (CHID) major to be a perfect fit.
EMBRACING CHID
As a health care worker, Alyssa experienced firsthand how patients’ backgrounds and personal experiences influenced their attitudes and health. That’s one reason why CHID, with its emphasis on diverse perspectives, appealed to her. The ability to individualize her study was another. “CHID really pushes you to expand your horizons on a topic that drives you and motivates you,” Alyssa says. “Every student can have their own focus.”
LEARNING HISTORY
Alyssa, who is half Filipino, was particularly influenced by a course on Filipino history, taught by history professor Vicente Rafael. The course begins with the indigenous history of the region, which Alyssa knew nothing about.
THE FAMILIAR IS NEW
Although she’d visited the Philippines with her mother many times, Alyssa gained a new perspective when she participated in a study abroad program there, led by CHID professor Third Andresen. The program explored the effects of American colonialism in the Philippines. “I was able to dive more into my own identity,” Alyssa says of the experience. A CHID MacRae Study Abroad Scholarship helped cover her trip expenses.
NURSING REVISITED
With an enduring interest in health care, Alyssa is now applying to an accelerated UW program aimed at students seeking a doctorate in nursing. She is particularly interested in the program’s population health track, which explores how culture intersects with health—the focus of her CHID studies. “Seeing that population health option made me feel that this is fate,” Alyssa says.