Global Perspective
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How to Grow a Global Perspective
PC’s strong pre-professional medical science program did not lead Kaley Peek to dental school via the traditional route.
Kaley Peek '08 decided to spend nearly a year attending an organic farming school in Japan and volunteering at an orphanage in Honduras before beginning dental school this fall.
From August through November of last year, Peek volunteered at the Asian Rural Institute, an organic farming school that teaches rural community leaders from Africa, Asia, and the Pacific Islands how to produce sustainable agriculture. The school itself is 80% self-sustainable, growing their own foods and buying only a few items such as salt and sugar.
"It was such a learning experience cooking and sharing stories with these women from different backgrounds," Peek said. "And the food was the best I've ever eaten."
She arrived home just in time to drive to Augusta, Georgia to interview at the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry. Then, she left to go to Honduras, where she volunteered at an orphanage from January through June.
As the clinic volunteer, Peek bandaged cuts, drove children to the hospital, gave out medicine, slept in the clinic with sick children. She also helped in the dental clinic when dental teams arrived, assisting the dentists and translating. She also cut hair, painted, organized movie and game nights, helped with the toddlers and children with special needs, sang in the choir, and more.
"It was a totally life-changing experience," Peek said. "It made me so deeply thankful for the life I have and for all of the opportunities I have had."
PC’s medical science pre-professional programs continue to grow. Graduates boast impressive acceptance rates into graduate programs, and many of them become valedictorians and class presidents in those schools before beginning their careers. Help PC attract students like Kaley, future world dentist, with a gift to the Raise the Torch campaign today.