When I applied to the CRISSP internship at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), I shared my story growing up in Botswana, witnessing the ongoing impact of HIV/AIDS, and my dream of becoming a physician and global health researcher. I didn’t know that those few sentences in my application would lead to a full-circle moment. So when I learned that my research mentor had lived and worked in Botswana for five years—and that the lab focused on HIV implementation science in my home country—it felt surreal. The work I did that summer connected me not only to science but also to home.

I shadowed clinicians caring for HIV affected mothers and children, observed case conferences where compassion met precision, and built data systems to support a Botswana-based health project. The highlight was conducting informational interviews with CHOP and Penn Medicine researchers and physicians who spoke candidly about their journeys, their doubts, pivots, and the “why” that keeps them going.

This internship reaffirmed my dream of becoming a physician and global health advocate who gives back to communities like my own. Sometimes, the path forward begins by looking back and realizing that where you come from can guide where you’re meant to go. My advice to other students: share your story when seeking opportunities. You never know which part of your background might connect you to the right mentor—or take you home in unexpected ways.