My three IS courses all made me think about people and communication from different perspectives. In Psychology of Gender, I learned about gender roles, stereotypes, and the way society influences how people understand themselves and others. Transcultural Health made me think about how culture affects health beliefs, communication, and a person's experience with healthcare. My Spanish courses have made me more interested in language and how being able to communicate in someone's preferred language can affect their ability to feel understood and included. As a nursing student, I have also seen how important communication is when caring for patients. These classes and experiences made me interested in how culture, gender, and language overlap and influence whether someone feels understood or misunderstood.

Equality treats everyone the same, but equity recognizes distinct cultural values, language needs, and gendered experiences required to feel safe and understood.

Language skills open critical communication channels, prevent misunderstandings, and build immediate comfort for Spanish-speaking patients navigating unfamiliar clinical settings.