The three unpaid internships I was required to complete for graduation from my BSPH and MPH programs provided me with tremendously valuable field experience.

However, they also placed me further into student loan debt.

(A thread for transparency)

During my BSPH, I had to leave my main job (30 hr/wk), take on an additional part time gig, and take out additional student loans to get by.

As a first generation college student coming from a family that could not help with college or living expenses, my family wanted me to “choose another major” rather than work for free. The concept being able to complete an unpaid internship was new to all of us.

During my MPH, I had to take additional loans and work two part time jobs on campus to get by while completing my third unpaid internship.

For the majority of my academic life, I was working 2-3 part time jobs, volunteering, taking 12-15 course credits per semester, applying for every scholarship I could find, and completing required unpaid internships.

I also went on to complete an unpaid fellowship (more debt).

So yes, I am thankful for the experience I gained throughout my education.

But I will never forget the sacrifices I had to make (and the privilege I still had) to gain this experience. I will quite literally be paying for it for the rest of my life.

I recommend internships for every public health student. That being said:

Unpaid internships should not be a requirement for graduation. Pay your students. Pay your interns.

Any thoughts from the rest of #PublicHealthTwitter ?