Leadership beyond Cambodia and ASEAN
Chheang Sreylin ‘22, a Harpswell Cambodian Women’s Leadership program alumnae, is a current sixth year medical student at the University of Puthisastra. This past October, she was selected to participate in the prestigious Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) at the University of Omaha, where she joined other young changemakers in ASEAN as part of the Civic Engagement program. Sreylin shares her reflections on applying and joining YSEALI.
Motivations: Home and Community
I am so grateful for everything I have learned from Harpswell. I gained skills in organizing, planning and problem solving, which are essential for civic engagement. Harpswell also gave me hands-on experience in leading and contributing to initiatives that address community needs. In addition, all the Core Curriculum classes I attended at Harpswell shaped me into a competitive and outstanding candidate for YSEALI. For example, through my group’s Civic Engagement project, Mental Health Awareness, I learned the importance of approaching mental health issues with a multidisciplinary perspective.
As a medical student, I was motivated to apply by the opportunity to develop my understanding of community issues beyond healthcare, including strategies for community-based problem solving. Personally, I want to see people around me stay mentally and physically healthy. I want to promote health in my community because where I live, as well as other provinces, people prioritize work over their mental and physical well-being.
Someday, I hope to be a part of a healthcare system that is willing to support and positively change my community to be healthier and stronger. I believe that engaging with civic issues can strengthen a sense of responsibility to promote public health and contribute to positive social change.
Key Takeaways: From YSEALI to Healthcare
Initially, I thought of civic engagement as just community service or advocacy. But through YSEALI’s classes and activities in Nebraska, I’ve come to see civic engagement as a holistic, proactive approach to addressing systemic issues, from health disparities to education gaps. Seeing how communities and non-profit organizations in the U.S. organize and empower themselves has encouraged me to consider long-term community building strategies for mental and physical health.
From my peers across Southeast Asia, I’ve learned about the diverse challenges and strengths each country brings to civic issues, healthcare and social development. They shared their perspectives on dealing with educational challenges, cultural practices and government structures that impact their communities. Through our exchanges, I have gained insight into creative, localized approaches to problem-solving, from grassroots advocacy to policy innovation. This has broadened my understanding of how community issues are interconnected, and how approaches that work in one place might inspire new solutions elsewhere. Seeing my peers' commitment to making positive change, despite limited resources, has inspired me to be more resilient, collaborative and resourceful.
In the future, I hope to improve access to healthcare for underserved populations, advocating for health equity and addressing both individual and community health needs. From YSEALI, I’ve learned the importance of community-centered approaches. I learned that understanding a community’s unique needs and involving them in the decision-making process is crucial for creating effective health solutions. Another lesson is the value of collaboration across sectors. Civic engagement requires teamwork with diverse stakeholders, which aligns with the interdisciplinary nature of healthcare. YSEALI has strengthened my commitment to prioritize patient-centered care by being a compassionate and engaged physician.
