🌍Faith and My First International Research Conference Experience🌍
One of the biggest leaps of faith I took last year was submitting the #abstract of my undergraduate dissertation, Quality of Life Among LGBT in Kenya, to the AKU Brain & Mind Institute Conference. It was my very first abstract submission, and I sent it to an international conference—and it was accepted for my first-ever poster presentation!
Talks about serial wins!😎✨
In November 2023, I presented my poster among a distinguished group of researchers from renowned institutions, including the University of Oxford, AGA KHAN UNIVERSITY, UC Irvine, Makerere University and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Also represented were research organizations like KEMRI - Wellcome Trust, Shamiri Institute, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and SCARF INDIA. I shared the room with researchers from countries as diverse as Cameroon, Tanzania, the US, the Netherlands, Uganda, Pakistan, and India.
The highlight of the day, however, was receiving feedback from Beverly Cheserem, one of only four Kenyan female neurosurgeons. She posed a question about my findings that made me rethink my entire project—it was an honor to connect with such thought leaders in global brain and mental health.
As the only #undergraduate participant, presenting #unfundedresearch, and one of just two solo presenters in the room, it was nerve-wracking. Rookie mistakes were expected—and definitely in abundance—but the experience was incredibly educational and inspiring. I look forward to more presentations like this in the future, hopefully with funded, institutional research!
I also hope to ignite a similar joy for research in students and train them through Better Comrade to make bold attempts at learning. No risk, no reward!
Special thanks to Mental 360 for the support and Jasmit Shah (Sumaria), Ph.D. for his patience with my rookie submission mistakes!
#LGBTResearch #MentalHealthConference #QualityOfLifeStudy
#UndergraduateResearch #PosterPresentation #ResearchConference
#MentalHealthAwareness #AKUConference2023 #PraiseGod