During the last school year, I was awarded the Meg Page Grant, which supported my summer travel to the Philippines. I chose to volunteer in the Philippines because of the significant differences between my own background and the Filipino culture. I spent three weeks on the Island of Palawan, Philippines, where I participated in a volunteer program focused primarily on educating local children. I taught daily lessons on subjects that included healthcare and hygiene, and sometimes basic subjects like math and English to elementary school children.

      A typical day as a volunteer involved teaching two morning classes, followed by an hour of lesson planning with a local teacher, and then teaching again in the afternoon. We were often given important and more complex topics to cover, including mental health.

      One of the most meaningful parts of the experience was the opportunity to both educate the children and build genuine connections with them. Each day, they showed their appreciation for me as their teacher, which made the work feel truly impactful. Their ability to retain information and their eagerness to learn amazed me; they demonstrated a level of resilience I admire. This experience has inspired me to continue exploring public health and to raise greater awareness at Taft about global health challenges and the importance of community-based education.

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Meg Page ’74 Fellowships honor Meg’s commitment to compassionate healthcare. They are awarded annually to students who wish to explore an experience or course of study devoted to the provision of better health care in areas such as public health, family planning, medical research, mental health, and non-Western practices of healing.