My name is D’Asia Baker and I am the 2018 recipient of the Hodges Scholarship.
I recently graduated from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke with a major in Sociology and a minor in Health Promotion. While obtaining my undergraduate degree I became involved on campus by joining many organizations. I joined the Campus Association of Social Workers, Psychology Club, Health Careers Association, Active Minds, and UNCP Spirit Squad. While being a part of those organizations I got the opportunity to grow my knowledge and also work on my interpersonal skills, which have helped to become who I am now.
When I came into college I was initially a Business Administration major. While sitting in those classes I began to realize that I didn’t have a true passion for Business, my real passion was helping others. That’s when I decided to change my major to Sociology at the end of my sophomore year. During my senior year, I was fortunate enough to have received an internship in Health Promotion at the Student Health Services at UNCP. In my role in this internship, I conducted programs such as a Think Pink Breast Cancer Walk and a World AIDS Day panel.
I got the chance to present at a Lunch and Learn event regarding eating Healthy on a Budget. For this event, I created a PowerPoint to give to students at the event in which I discussed what nutrition is, the food pyramid, and why it is important to eat healthily. I also got the chance to be a panelist at a Social Justice Luncheon about Covid-19 where I spoke alongside physicians, and professors. The internship provided me with the opportunity to be hands-on with planning and implementing programs for college students and community members. I have always had an interest in improving the health of others and raising awareness about healthy behaviors for the general public.
I am grateful for receiving the Hodges Scholarship because it helped me to receive the education that I needed for me to have a successful future. I ultimately aspire to work as a Dean of Health Programs for a college or go into Public Health. I have recently been accepted into graduate school, and I plan to attend East Carolina University to obtain my Master’s degree in Health Education/Promotion in Fall 2023. This graduate program will provide me with the extra knowledge and skills that will help me work toward my career goal. Currently, I work as the Senior Secretary for Emergency and Health Programs at a Community College.