The late, great Canadian icon and Indigenous ally, Gord Downie, once sang, “With illusions of someday casting a golden light – No dress rehearsal, this is our life.” These lyrics are often interpreted to be from the point of view of a child, looking into a future full of possibilities. With the end of the school year upon us, students across the province are reflecting on their futures, moving on to new adventures next year, and for some, starting out in the world after graduation.
Sarah Dai is a grade 11 student who is quickly approaching the end of high school, the realities of adulthood, and planning for her future. Lucky for us, she is someone who cares deeply about her community, the healthcare system, education, and how public health contributes to the betterment of society.
As a volunteer for our Foundation, Sarah has learned even more about the power and impact of a robust public health system, and how we can all play a role in building a healthier future. We sat down with her to chat about her interest in public health, and when asked how she feels about what can be done to improve our public health system, she responded,
“We youth lack proper education about the concept of public health and its importance. When most think about public health, their first thought is physical or mental health. In reality, public health is shaped by all aspects of life including education, income, social and physical environment, food access, and even politics. Considering public health in a vacuum fails to acknowledge the significance of social determinants. Importantly, we can only make meaningful change when we understand that public health exists as part of a wider socioeconomic ecosystem and is often determined by inequity and injustice, rather than simply biology or genealogy.”
Sarah also thinks that students should be educated about public health earlier on, more often, and told about the many career opportunities available within the public health system, to help alleviate current workforce shortages.
With the current threats of climate change, a toxic drug emergency, mental health crises, and poor health outcomes due to inequity, we need young, passionate advocates like Sarah to bring her curiosity and caring to public health, shaping a safer and healthier future.
“We can build a more resilient future. With a stronger public health education, youth will be better equipped to face future challenges, especially climate change. Prevention, protection, and promotion mean creating a safer world for future generations and beyond.”
Thank you, Sarah, for thinking of others, and demonstrating that we can all impact the world for the better. With students like Sarah joining the workforce in the next few years, Gord’s vision of a future casting a golden light may just come to fruition.
