An SAU student AIDS around the world
Katie Matoon
Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: Features
Waking up in the mornings to the sun peeping over the tops of the mountains and tropical birds cooing, seeing colorful flowers pop with color and doing research on HIV testing and the treatments for AIDS-- this is the life of senior St. Ambrose student Samantha Lee for the next 10 months.
Lee has been the recipient of the Fulbright Grant, the fifth SAU student to be given this honor in the last six years. Lee, an industrial engineer major left for the Caribbean Islands in early January. There she will spend the next 10 months working with facilities that treat AIDS and trying to improve the process in which they do their testing.
"Working with these facilities has allowed me to use my background for more than just bettering a product for commercial use," Lee said. "It allows me to actually improve the quality of life for people suffering from a terrible disease."
As an industrial engineering major, studying AIDS is not usually included in the curriculum. This is one aspect of her program that Lee says she's thankful for.
"Industrial Engineering is all about how a process works…making a pencil, shipping a package and how tables are set up in a restaurant," Lee said. "[It] could apply to anything that involves people or things moving. Here, I am applying it to AIDS facilities hoping that it can help the staff have more time to spend on patients and less on paperwork and computer forms. The idea of helping people with my degree was what made me want to conduct this research."
While helping people with a life-threatening disease has its perks, living in St. Joseph, Trinidad through the Midwestern winter months has to be nice too.
"Especially since I arrived in January, my favorite part has been the weather and plant life," Lee said. "Everything is green and the colors of flowers are more vibrant than at home. It really is quite beautiful."
While some adjustments are made easily, others take getting used to, Lee explains.
"Getting settled and used to such a different place has been a challenge, but has also been really exciting," Lee said. "Trying to learn their public transportation system and how to get groceries or mail a letter, all those types of things happen on a learning curve. I think one of the hardest things is not being able to drive and having to relay on public transportation,"
Lee has been involved in many things around campus including soccer, Bible Study, Residence Life and the Student Success Center. SAU classroom time and these experiences have all helped Lee be prepared for an experience like this one.
"Obviously the Industrial Engineering program and classes have been a big part of my preparation, but the gen. eds. have also given me a rounded point of view," Lee said.
With that rounded point of view, Lee leaves the SAU community with some advice.
"I recommend to anyone considering applying for Fulbright or just going abroad to go for it,," she said. "You'll learn a lot about yourself and have an amazing experience."
Lee has been the recipient of the Fulbright Grant, the fifth SAU student to be given this honor in the last six years. Lee, an industrial engineer major left for the Caribbean Islands in early January. There she will spend the next 10 months working with facilities that treat AIDS and trying to improve the process in which they do their testing.
"Working with these facilities has allowed me to use my background for more than just bettering a product for commercial use," Lee said. "It allows me to actually improve the quality of life for people suffering from a terrible disease."
As an industrial engineering major, studying AIDS is not usually included in the curriculum. This is one aspect of her program that Lee says she's thankful for.
"Industrial Engineering is all about how a process works…making a pencil, shipping a package and how tables are set up in a restaurant," Lee said. "[It] could apply to anything that involves people or things moving. Here, I am applying it to AIDS facilities hoping that it can help the staff have more time to spend on patients and less on paperwork and computer forms. The idea of helping people with my degree was what made me want to conduct this research."
While helping people with a life-threatening disease has its perks, living in St. Joseph, Trinidad through the Midwestern winter months has to be nice too.
"Especially since I arrived in January, my favorite part has been the weather and plant life," Lee said. "Everything is green and the colors of flowers are more vibrant than at home. It really is quite beautiful."
While some adjustments are made easily, others take getting used to, Lee explains.
"Getting settled and used to such a different place has been a challenge, but has also been really exciting," Lee said. "Trying to learn their public transportation system and how to get groceries or mail a letter, all those types of things happen on a learning curve. I think one of the hardest things is not being able to drive and having to relay on public transportation,"
Lee has been involved in many things around campus including soccer, Bible Study, Residence Life and the Student Success Center. SAU classroom time and these experiences have all helped Lee be prepared for an experience like this one.
"Obviously the Industrial Engineering program and classes have been a big part of my preparation, but the gen. eds. have also given me a rounded point of view," Lee said.
With that rounded point of view, Lee leaves the SAU community with some advice.
"I recommend to anyone considering applying for Fulbright or just going abroad to go for it,," she said. "You'll learn a lot about yourself and have an amazing experience."
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