Name: Riley Haleen
What other AHEC programs have you participated in? AHEC Scholars, Wisconsin Express
What’s your hometown? Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin
What school are you attending? UW-La Crosse
What is your intended profession/what’s your major? Public Health and Community Health Education
Why do you want to be a health professional? Why is it important to
you? I've had the passion to help people since I was young and it has been my main drive for what career I pursue. This passion lead me to becoming a health professional. The health professional field is broad which gives me lots of different ways and opportunities to help a variety of populations.
Where is your Community Health Internship Program (CHIP) host site? Boys and Girls Clubs of the Greater Chippewa Valley-Black River Falls site What are you doing there? Youth Development Specialist
Why did you want to participate in CHIP? To get more experience so that I can figure out what field I wish to pursue in the future.
What's something you hope to learn/have learned that will impact your future work? I have learned to be more open minded and look at someone's actions from all different directions r
ather than my initial one. This allows me to be more understanding and patient when a child or someone reacts a certain way. There are different past and current situations or things that could play into the way a person carries themself or reacts to something.
What are you most looking forward to/what has been your favorite part so far? My favorite part is working with the kids. I have learned so much and I have been able to help make a change in the kids lives. I love making them laugh and see a smile on their face. This lets me know that at least I was able to brighten their day up a little bit.
What advice would you give to younger students who are interested in working in public health? Get experience, it will allow you to understand each field better and get a better idea of what career you want. It also allows you to get amazing experiences that will teach you so much and gain more resources in the future.
Anything else to add? I'm extremely grateful for this opportunity and I have learned so much that I plan to take with me in my future health career.