Veterans Day, Service, and Purpose
BUA classes will not meet tomorrow as we pause to mark Veterans Day as a community. Next week, we will also welcome back alumna Jenny Chen (BUA ‘00), who served for nine years as a physician in the United States Navy in postings around the world. Students will hear about Jenny’s path through BUA, where, like so many, she “found her people” and thrived under the mentorship of loving, inspiring teachers. Jenny will talk about her decision after medical school to serve her country, the fulfillment she found in that service, and how it has prepared her for her role now in emergency medicine as a civilian.
I find it helpful for students to hear from graduates like Jenny – people who sat in the same seats – who have found purpose in service to others. For some, that sense of purpose comes through taking care of family or friends; for others though community engagement, philanthropy, or careers. For all, that service is a source of deep fulfillment, motivation, and joy. That’s why our strategic vision commits BUA to helping students find “purpose through research and action that matter.” We know how important it will be to them to feel a sense of purpose later in life. And we can think of no better way to prepare them for that than for all students to get a taste of what it’s like to live purposefully while they are here with us.