This month: Meet Sarah!
(Corey, Sarah, Kate, Melissa)
Name: Sarah C.
Position: Adolescent Health Educator at Washington Irving High School Campus
Brief bio: I graduated from Brown University in 2010, where I concentrated in Gender & Sexuality Studies and conducted the student-run Brown Band (the world’s only ice skating band). I spent the following summer riding my bike across the country (Providence to Seattle!) with a group called Bike & Build, and then started with HealthCorps in September ‘10. This is my second year in the same position – I love the work I’m doing and NYC has sucked me in. Interests include cooking; eating; reading and/or talking about feminism, gender, sexuality, social justice, etc.; thinking about how I should really pick up my sax or bike again.
What is your hometown? Ellington, CT
What is the best part about living in NYC? What is your favorite place in the city? I love that I can find any type of food, any type of person, any type of experience right here in my own city. I can’t imagine getting bored with it. Living in Brooklyn and working in Manhattan, I get the best of both worlds. And there’s always gorgeous Prospect Park or the Brooklyn Botanic Garden if I need to escape into nature. I also love that, while it can be expensive to pay rent here, there is no shortage of cheap things to eat and do!
Where do you work and what kind of tasks do you do each day? I work at the School Based Health Center at Washington Irving High School Campus. Because the four schools in the building are lacking in sex education, I develop sex ed curricula/lessons and go into as many classes as I can as a guest presenter. I do some sort of comprehensive 8-12 class sex ed curriculum in all the schools (for example, working with all 9th grade health classes), and I also present individual workshops when teachers request them. Most of my day involves teaching and lesson planning, but I’m also available for students to come in and ask questions one-on-one, and I do a lot of outreach for the health center as well. For instance, last year I started a program called Healthy Mondays, where I go into the cafeteria every Monday with activities and contests on various health-related themes. It’s also a chance for students to learn more about the health center and get enrolled.
What is your favorite part of the job?
My favorite part of the job is probably the anonymous question box. At the beginning of every class, I hand out index cards for the students to write anonymous questions, and I collect them at the end to answer next time. I try to create an environment where the students feel comfortable asking anything that’s on their mind – and they really do! Sometimes the questions are hilarious, sometimes baffling, and sometimes poignant, but I always love answering them. I also just love the connections I make with students – it’s so gratifying to see students I taught last year popping their heads into the health center to say hello, ask questions, and tell me that they miss the class. And I love, LOVE those breakthroughs in class where students really start to think critically – when they question gender stereotypes or homophobia, or have a brilliant insight on barriers to teen sexual health. This job has really made me love and appreciate working with teens, and I think I’ve become a lot more empathetic as a result.
What is the most difficult part of what you do?
It was tough at first to be thrown into a situation where I really had no lesson/curriculum-planning or teaching background – truly a trial by fire. But that got easier with time, and now I’m much more confident in the classroom. Right now, the toughest part is simply doubting myself and wondering if I’m making enough of an impact. Some of these teens have SO much stacked against them – who am I to think that health education is enough? I think that’s where the connection to the health center comes in – I’m not just talking at students about making sexually healthy choices, but we’re also providing free and confidential care right here at their school, so they can actually access some of the tools to take charge of their health. But it can be tough to know how much I can tackle, what the root of the problems are. Strict gender roles? Imbalance of power in relationships? Lack of education about birth control and condoms? Lack of access to birth control and condoms? Low self-esteem? Feeling powerless due to years of racism, sexism, poverty, and violence? Lack of models for partner communication and consent? I think it may be all of the above, and sometimes I get overwhelmed with that.
Why do you enjoy being a HealthCorps member?
Well, I have the greatest job in existence, for starters. I have so much free reign to make my own curricula and projects, but my supervisor and coworkers are incredibly supportive and I always feel like I can go to them for help or to debrief after a stressful encounter. My site is just a really wonderful environment; I feel spoiled! Also, I love having a whole team of HealthCorps members – even though I don’t see most of them on a daily basis, our twice-a-month trainings and unofficial socializing really helps us to bond as a group. It’s refreshing to be around folks who are as passionate about health disparities and social justice as I am, and who aren’t afraid to jump in and do something about it. At the same time, we can always gripe to each other about a tough day or ask for advice when needed.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
HAH. Good question. If I can always make a living talking about sexuality and sexual health in some capacity, that would be awesome. Right now I’m just trying to explore my options with an open mind. Definitely not med school (I’m too squeamish) – maybe an MPH? And then…? Outlook hazy, but I really am enjoying the process of figuring it out.
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