Elizabeth Fasbender has been a GGAL mentor and Healthy Relationships Intern since February 2021. She is currently a Biochemistry major from the University of Minnesota and hopes to become a family doctor with the ultimate goal of developing sexual health education programs in Minnesota.
Why did you choose your major?
I choose to study biochemistry because I am fascinated with human biology and how our bodies function. I found science to be interesting, stimulating, and there is always something new to discover.
What are your plans for after college or what is your dream career?
I would like to attend medical school to earn a Medical Degree (MD) and a Master’s in Public Health (MPH). My dream career as a family doctor would be to develop or expand sexual health care programs and education in the state of Minnesota. I also hope to treat and care for patients recovering from sexual assault and the trauma that comes along with it.
What motivated you to mentor or intern with us?
I was impressed and intrigued about WISE's Healthy Relationship Program and how this outreach empowered immigrant/refugee women to set healthy boundaries in their lives and relationships.
“I loved being the go-to mentor for helping the girls with their biology or chemistry homework. I hope they realize how capable they are and fields saturated with men doesn’t mean they shouldn’t pursue their dream jobs.”
What were your personal or professional goals as a WISE mentor or intern? My goals were to help educate and inform program participants about sexual assault, how to cope if trauma did occur, addressing rape culture, and becoming an active bystander. I also wanted to do (and I am currently doing) a research project investigating the disparities immigrant/refugee women face when trying to find sexual health care in their local community. What did you learn or take away from your experience with WISE? It is hard for me to put my takeaways into words. I have just been touched by the young, determined, and bright minds of the girls in WISE. Their resilience and willingness to learn these tough topics amaze me. On the other side of things, helping with the Healthy Relationship workshops has given me the opportunity to see how to teach and explain sensitive topics and facilitate constructive conversations.
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