Get Started

Chyenne Tran

As a daughter of Vietnamese immigrants, Chyenne Tran became interested in international affairs at a young age. In her first year of high school, she joined the Model United Nations Club and developed an interest in one day working with the United Nations (U.N.) divisions for refugees and children. Chyenne later founded the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) club at her high school. When she specifically became interested in healthcare after arriving at the University of South Florida (USF), she felt it was important to raise awareness about the need for improved healthcare access across borders, especially mental healthcare needs in immigrant populations.

Chyenne is a University of South Florida (USF) Judy Genshaft Honors College (JGHC) student majoring in Health Sciences and pursuing a double minor in Political Science and International Relations. As a second-year student, she sought ways to expand her understanding of other cultures and foreign healthcare, but lacked the funding to make it a reality. Her high school experiences led her to identify Germany as an ideal study abroad location due to its status as a mental health treatment leader, specifically for immigrants in Europe. She requested information on the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship after viewing advertisements for the opportunity in the JGHC. After she visited the Office of National Scholars (ONS) and met with Ms. Lauren Roberts, Chyenne decided to apply and worked closely with Ms. Roberts on her essay revisions.

Chyenne selected Germany for her study abroad experience because she sought to explore the history behind Germany’s prestigious higher education institutions and study German federal policies, which offer immigrants a safe haven from war-torn countries. She applied for the Judy Genshaft Honors College Germany Beyond the Classroom program with the intention of learning about Germany’s mental and emotional health programs for its immigrant population.

She departed from her hometown of Land O’ Lakes, Florida and traveled to Osnabrück, Germany to begin the three-week program in May 2019. While in the country, Chyenne spoke with students from the University of Osnabrück about mental and emotional health programs offered for immigrants. She discovered that German asylum laws require availability of emergency treatment to refugees without fear of legal consequences. Additionally, Germany offers group therapy sessions and mental health counseling for people seeking asylum and individuals diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

In addition to learning about health programs for immigrants, she took a German language course and embarked on tours with her peers across Germany. While sightseeing, she discovered similarities between German and American cultures, such as appreciation for individuality and work ethic. Chyenne and her classmates navigated through several cities, including Berlin and Dresden. Together, they traveled throughout Germany using common transportation methods such as trains, subways, and buses. Additionally, they visited historical landmarks, including the Königstein Fortress near Dresden and St. Peter’s Cathedral in Osnabrück. Chyenne says it was enlightening to be fully immersed in the language and culture.

When Chyenne was notified that she was a Gilman Scholarship recipient, she was excited and thankful for the opportunity to study abroad in Germany – one of the most acclaimed countries for research and development in the world. As a first-generation college student, receiving the award gave her a sense of pride and accomplishment.

Inspired by her experience in Germany, Chyenne plans to continue learning more about emotional and mental health resources for immigrants. After graduating from USF, Chyenne plans to work with UNICEF or the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, specializing in public health education, strategies, and policies.