Through public health, Jasmine Carter wants to help Kansas Citians thrive
Get to know our students, and you’ll know what UMKC is all about.
Jasmine Carter, ‘17
Program: Bachelor of Health Sciences
School: School of Nursing and Health Studies
Groups and organizations: Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc.
Hometown: Warrensburg, Missouri
What brought you to UMKC?
It was far enough from home so I could be independent, but it was close enough for me to go back if I wanted to see my family.
What do you study? What is your eventual career goal?
We’re discussing urban health, global health and Kansas City as a whole, and what we can do to help make it a better community.
I hope to work for the Kansas City Health Department and dig a little deeper into homelessness and other disparities. How can we get people off the streets and increase health as a whole? That’s what draws me in.
Why is it important to you to help people become healthier?
My mom is in a health-care field, so growing up that’s what I saw. I get excited when I get to help someone be successful. You can do so much with health care and reach a lot of lives. In public health, I can be one on one with people find solutions that best fit their needs.
Where do you think UMKC is taking you?
UMKC is setting me up to become successful in my field. The Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHS) program pushes you into having an internship your last semester, helping you get your foot in the door wherever you’re trying to go. It’s pushing me a little bit out of my comfort zone and allowing me to do some things I never thought I’d do.
At the same time, UMKC is welcoming. All of my professors make sure my classmates and I are comfortable in the course and that we have an understanding of what’s going on. If we don’t, they have an open-door policy – they want us to come in and ask questions. I’m always asking, “what can I do to better myself in this course?” I know them by name, they know my name and it’s a great atmosphere.
What’s the best advice a professor has given you?
I was at that point in my semester when assignments were all due at the same time. I pulled my professor, Janis Ellis-Claypool, aside and told her I didn’t have an assignment done. She knew that wasn’t in my character. She was really understanding and basically said, “you can’t always strive for an ‘A.’ A ‘B’ is okay. I like ‘B’ students!” That was reassuring to me that even though I’m doing my best, I don’t always have to be perfect. I love Dr. Ellis-Claypool.
In high school, I was a straight-A student. Coming to college and not getting all A’s kind of tore my spirit. I felt like I was in a new world. But with the reassurance of some professors and my mentor, I was able to get over that and I’ve been doing great so far.
Why is getting a degree important to you?
It’s rare for any of the kids in my family to finish college. To be only the third person in my family to finish college means a lot, because my parents sacrificed a lot for my siblings and me. To be able to finish, and give back to my parents like they gave to us, is my absolute goal.
I feel like I have big shoes to fill, but it’s great to have that support system and encouragement. I want to be able to make my parents proud and tell them, “you guys didn’t do this for nothing.”
What kind of legacy do you want to leave?
I want to be known as someone who gave back to her community. People can count on me. If they need anything, I want to be there at any given time.
From across the country and around the world, our students come together in Kansas City to study business, medicine, theatre and more than 100 other academic areas. Roos become leaders in their fields and give back to their communities.
>Learn about our new undergraduate public health program