Ayra Charania
BS in Biology, BA in Global Health, Class of 2024
When I lived in Texas, being part of the Red Cross was one of the best ways for me to learn about my community at a deeper level. I remember how excited I was every morning as I headed to our next installation site for the Sound the Alarm campaign because I would have the opportunity to meet someone new and hear their experience. I saw this same amazing opportunity to better engage with the community of Durham through becoming a Help Desk volunteer. What excites me about being part of Help Desk is gaining an enriching learning experience that allows me to better understand health in a more holistic way. While I have had the opportunity to discuss the social determinants of health during GlobeMed club meetings, within my Bass Connections Project, or within my addiction psychology class, I believe the best educational experiences are the ones which allow you to see what you learned in the classroom firsthand. Furthermore, as someone who loves to connect with others, whether that be through community service, writing news stories for The Chronicle, or doing tarot card readings, I hope that through this position I can continue to improve my patient communication skills and develop a better understanding of the community resources available in Durham. Overall, I believe this experience will be extremely enriching and aid me on my path as a future physician.
