Each year, Taft invites student to apply for fellowship grants that support summer travel, service opportunities, arts programs, and academic exploration. Many fellows share their experiences through Morning Meeting talks and Summer Journeys stories. Ruhi Vidhun ’25 has been paying attention.

“I watched my peers explore their interests through service trips and engaging programs. Having the opportunity to go abroad on their pursuits inspired me to follow the same path,” says Ruhi. “When I learned about the Meg Page ’74 grant*, I was ecstatic. It was perfect for me because it aligned with both of my aspirations for the trip: stepping outside of my comfort zone and learning more about global health.”

Ruhi’s keen interest in medicine has guided both her academic path and her commitment to service. Over the years, she has dedicated time to volunteering at a local hospital. Last summer, she took her interest and experience to Costa Rica. Ruhi was part of a group of volunteers fully immersed, living and working in the local community. Each day was filled with service and learning opportunities around medicine and community health, from the treatment and prevention of common conditions in Costa Rica, to the issues facing the most vulnerable members of the community. The volunteers spent time at a local clinic learning about universal healthcare in Costa Rica and the privatization of healthcare services. They heard from guest speakers, and visited senior centers, nursing homes, and schools.

“We worked with ophthalmologists to administer eye exams to local school children,” says Ruhi. “This part of the overall experience stood out to me because I could finally make a definitive impact in the community.

“Because of the Meg Page ’74 Fellowship grant, I had the chance to travel abroad, discovering a beautiful country and making close connections that will last a lifetime. I realized that the only way to learn and explore is to keep an open mind when going into the unknown. My service trip to Costa Rica not only shaped me as an explorer, but also deepened my understanding and curiosity about global healthcare. Above all, it made me love medicine even more.”

*Ruhi’s time in Costa Rica was made possible in part with support from a Meg Page ’74 Fellowship grant. To honor Page’s commitment to compassionate health care, this fellowship is 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.