By Ted Miles, MPH
The experience of attending APHA the first time is often mixed, though I think I really got what I came for this year. After attending the opening session with Isabel Wilkerson and it reminding me of exactly why I was interested in public health from the beginning, my motivation going forward was higher than ever.
While the speakers, business meetings, and poster sessions I went to provided enlightening information for my field of interest, my favorite part was by far the networking opportunities. I think these left me with the largest feelings of accomplishment as I could see the relationships I forge in meetings like this being important in my future career. I was even able to meet old friends from past lives, allowing me to tend to those connections that have gotten me to this point in my career.
In summary, the opportunity to tend to my network, while building it out was very invigorating and the conference as a whole provided a motivating force just before the semester ended, which hopefully will keep me going until next year in Chicago!
Ted Miles is a doctoral student in the Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences at Tulane University where he is pursuing research in adolescent sexual and reproductive health, particularly among very young adolescents, and the social determinants of health.
