​ANASTASIA ROMAYRIE LEGOUTÉ
Faith ~ Knowledge~ Opportunities
Namaste!
Discover my journey to India.
During Summer 2023, I had the amazing opportunity to stay a month in India as an FIU Global Health Research Fellow. This trip was life-changing as I worked with the Public Health Research Institute of India (PHRII) and learn about their work in Cervical Cancer screening. I had the chance to participate on their peer education groups with women and help setting cancer screening camp in rural villages of Karnakata, India.
During my time, I also did a focused work investigating on the education system in India, more preisely girls education, and how the cast system (social and ethnic classification) plays a role in their education.
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But why a Study Abroad in India?
During Summer 2022, I had the chance to go to the Middle East for an FIU Study Abroad Program. This study has been a turning point, making my experience at FIU even more memorable. For two weeks, I studied the politics of the region, especially the relationship between Israel and Palestine. As an international student from Haiti, I cannot explain how those experiences are helping me of becoming a better leader and global citizen.
Doing a dual major in Psychology and Political Science, I wanted to experience another Study Abroad, this time with the Department of Psychology. Therefore, this summer, I was selected to go to India for the Global Health Study Abroad Program with Dr. Dionne Stephens. This program is one of the most selective at FIU with over 50 students applying, and only 14 of them are chosen each year. I was encouraged two years ago to apply by one of my mentor, Dr. Rachel Ritchie. This Study Abroad is giving me the opportunity to not only visit a new country but also gained more research experience and be a more competitive applicant for graduate school.
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What I intended to do?
During this one-month immersion, I will be working with other undergraduates from different universities. In fact, during my time abroad, I will be taking three classes such as Global Health and Illness, Senior Seminar, as well as an Independent Honors Research class. Those classes will not only contribute to my major but also to my Global Learning Medallion requirements as well as Volunteer Service Hours to the Honors College. This degree also relates to my chosen career and the passion that I fully intend to pursue. In fact, I love advocating for education, and last semester, I was selected as a Millennium Fellow with a project focused on Haitian female heroes’ representation in history textbooks. I want to use history as an empowering tool that reminds Haitian girls and women that they have the power to change the world. This project is now selected to be a part of the Clinton Global Initiative. I also had the privilege to work as a Learning Assistant in Introductory Psychology classes alongside two faculty members. In a post-pandemic classroom, I observe students working in groups, being distracted, and struggling with some concepts, but eventually ending up understanding the materials.
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How it relates to my future career?
Right now, I am completing my Honors Thesis at the Honors College where I have done research on metacognitive and cognitive flexibility among undergraduate students in post-COVID classroom settings. On campus, I am also a learning Assistant which gives me some experience in how to connect with the students, hold Office Hours, and write exam questions.
Later, I will be pursuing a Ph.D. in Education. This program will help me meet my goal, as it will give me a broader perspective of research. With Dr. Dionne Stephens, the faculty-led program, I am planning to do descriptive research on India’s education system. My goal will be to analyze previous research as well as do interviews with teachers and students. I have experience doing research through Qualtrics, analyzing data, writing a proposal, submitting it to the FIU Institutional Review Board, but I still have a lot more to learn about conducting interviews, especially abroad.