For Michaelmas term 2023, Leah Brucal and Maria Murinova joined the VHI as part of the internship programme through Notre Dame’s London Global Gateway. After a successful term at the Von Hügel Institute, they reflect on their experience:
'I applied to the VHI internship through the London Global Gateway after hearing Katherine Pardy ‘24 talk about it at one of our Notre Dame London pre-departure meetings. The description of the internship sounded really interesting, and it looked like the perfect opportunity to conduct interdisciplinary research while studying abroad,' says Leah, an undergraduate studying Science Preprofessional Studies on the pre-medicine track with minors in Compassionate Care in Medicine and Poverty Studies. 'Once I was given the offer letter, I couldn’t wait to embark on this formational experience. I only had a small idea of what this internship would entail. The first few weeks of the internship were filled with time dedicated to reflection on what the internship is, the Cambridge community, the VHI research projects, and the partnership with Notre Dame. I really appreciated the formative and inspirational conversations I had with each member of the team. Each time I went into the office, I was always met with a collaborative, intellectual, and welcoming community. The VHI team is one of the most supportive teams I’ve had the honour of working with.'
Leah, whose research interests include healthcare delivery, poverty, and education, continues: 'As a pre-medical student at Notre Dame, my time working with the VHI has really encouraged me to think about the different ways interdisciplinary approaches to research can intersect with our understanding of the human experience. My goal one day is to work in medically underserved areas and dedicate my work to the service of vulnerable communities. This internship has shown me all of the different ways we can encounter another individual, and what it means to walk alongside another person, especially working on the ‘Shakespeare and the Common Good?’ and the ‘Disability and Knowledge’ projects. Professionally, I’ve grown by asking better questions while collaborating with people from different backgrounds. On a more personal level, this experience has encouraged me to think about other possibilities, drawing upon my interests in medicine and living or studying abroad again in the future.'
Maria, an undergraduate student in the Program of Liberal Studies on a pre-health track, with a minor in Theology, reflects: 'I really enjoyed interning at the Von Hugel Institute this semester and taking part in the life of St Edmund’s College. While being in Cambridge was a bit intimidating at first, I found the welcoming community and the stimulating academic atmosphere to be quite similar to the University of Notre Dame. By the end of the term, it really felt like another home, and I will miss walking through Cambridge each week and participating in the work of the VHI, which often brought unexpected, but always enriching experiences. The people I met at St Edmund’s, and especially the members of the VHI, have not only broadened my perspective, but have given me new possibilities to consider and deeper questions to think about as I move forward in my own life. Even brief encounters have been transformational in shaping how my views and thoughts have changed during my time in England. I am very grateful to everyone at the VHI and St Edmund’s for providing such a positive, rewarding experience, and I hope I will find myself back in Cambridge in the future.'
Leah concludes, 'I’m very grateful for my time at the VHI and in Cambridge. By connecting with so many different people in this community, I look at the world and how I approach things very differently. It’s amazing how much four months here can change your life [...] I’m looking forward to encountering every day with the same flexibility, grace, and energy as I did during my internship.'
Photo: Maria (left) and Leah (right) pictured at Formal Hall, St Edmund's College.
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