Sample Coursework

Linguistic Proficiency

SPAN 4180: Literature Review

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Culture & Literature

Spanish Culture & Civilization: Final Paper

While in Spain, I wrote this paper for my Spanish Culture & Civilization course, analyzing Spain’s unique daily schedule and its social and health-related impacts, such as how late dinner times lead many Spaniards to be sleep deficient. This research helped me understand how historic events influence traditions and culture, and how these work to shape modern life in Spain. Because of this research, I have a better understanding of how health behaviors and decision-making in general are influenced by cultural context, which is a perspective that has helped me continue to develop my cultural humility skills. As a result of this paper, I understand the importance of health or lifestyle recommendations that align with cultural norms to create sustainable changes that respect tradition and well-being.

Spanish Contemporary Literature: Author Paper

I wrote this essay for my Spanish Contemporary Literature course, where we explored the life and works of Irene Vallejo. This was my first time analyzing literature entirely in Spanish, which pushed me to think critically in a second language and consider how different cultural aspects impact literature. For example, Vallejo often wrote about real-life challenges in her writing like the fight against censorship and the Spanish civil war, which allowed me to better understand some of the cultural and political issues the country has faced over time. Additionally, while creating this paper, I collaborated with a classmate, which required us to combine research, share ideas, and write cohesively. The experience of researching and writing this paper boosted my confidence in reading, writing, and interpreting complex ideas in Spanish and helped to further improve my teamwork and communication skills, which I will be able to use in my future endeavors.

Health Sciences

HLTH 2400: Literature Review

This literature review was part of my Determinants of Health Behavior course and discusses the topic of poor sleep hygiene among college students and how it can affect their mental, physical, and social health. This paper taught me how to compile, organize, and evaluate peer-reviewed studies, compare intervention strategies, and apply behavioral health theories such as the Social Cognitive Theory to real-world issues within a specific study group. Within this literature review, I investigated the many different internal and external determinants of health that impact people’s decision-making. For example, how excess stress and screen-time before bed negatively impacts the sleep hygiene in college students and leads to poor quality of sleep, impacting overall health. This holistic approach to addressing health challenges reinforced the importance of considering all aspects of a situation, which will continue to be necessary in the future. This was my first time conducting a literature review, so I faced some challenges initially, but I worked extremely hard to further develop my time management and scientific writing skills to make this my best work and serve me for any future endeavor.

HLTH 4700: Final Project Infographic

As my final project for my Global Health course, I developed this infographic, analyzing Madagascar’s progress toward achieving the United Nations’ third Sustainable Development Goal, “Health and Well-Being for All.” During this project, I reviewed national and international health data to identify key challenges and risks to public health, like increasing communicable disease rates and low vaccination coverage, to propose practical recommendations. Additionally, while researching Madagascar, a low-income country with different resources, policies, and population needs than the United States, I gained a valuable perspective into how cultural contexts shape healthcare practices and priorities and therefore, must shape solutions. The ability I gained from this project to link evidence to practical, culturally relevant solutions will help guide many of my future professional projects.