Clairiola M. Etienne ‘18

Clairiola M. Etienne

Vassar College Class of 2018
Weill Cornell Imaging at New York Presbyterian Hospital

There were not many places upon my move to the United States where I truly felt a sense of belonging until the day I received an email from Andrew Meade, the summer from transitioning into a college student at Vassar College. Since day one, the Vassar Haiti project has represented an anchor for me as I traveled through what it means to be a student and also a professional. My involvement in this project was in no way microscopic because it had profound impact in the way I now shape my personal life and changed my whole perspective of a country I was raised in but barely knew about.

My work in the project has been the most fulfilling to me as it brought me closer to my country, shift my career goals in many different ways and redirected my purpose. Through my work in VHP, I have met, engaged in conversations, participated and created projects and built long lasting relationship with people who have now become a second family to me. A year post my degree from Vassar, I carry all the words of wisdom that I gained through Lila Meade and the many hands-on professionals who are actively working towards this common goal of ours. Most importantly, I get to retain knowledge that I would have not otherwise found through my classes at Vassar and such was practical knowledge. The Vassar Haiti Project has changed my life, and I am grateful that I will always get to call this organization a place of home.