From the elementary classroom to community health initiatives, Kailyn St. John is discovering how a Master of Public Health can open doors to meaningful work while making a difference in the lives of others.

When Kailyn St. John decided to pursue her Master of Public Health (MPH), she knew she wanted to build on her interest in health and wellness. What she didn’t know was just how many ways public health would connect to her everyday life.

Originally from Hinsdale, New Hampshire, St. John graduated from Keene State College in May 2025 with a bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences before beginning her graduate studies at North Carolina Wesleyan University. Today, she balances several responsibilities: working as a first-grade teacher in Kinston, serving as a graduate assistant for NC Wesleyan’s MPH program, and completing a public health internship with Carteret County Health and Human Services.

It’s a full schedule, but St. John is working toward a goal that matters to her: helping people and communities live healthier lives.

“I would never say that it is easy, but it is possible,” St. John said of balancing graduate school with a busy life. “If earning the degree is something that is truly important to you, being busy does not automatically mean you cannot do it.”

Connecting the Classroom to Community Health

St. John chose NC Wesleyan’s MPH program in part because of its flexibility and its concentration in Physical Activity and Health, an area that first captured her interest during her undergraduate studies.

The online format allowed her to continue her education while gaining professional experience. Just as importantly, she found a program where she could build meaningful relationships with professors and classmates, even from a distance.

“I never expected to feel as connected as I do to an online graduate program, but NC Wesleyan has given me that experience,” she said.

Through her studies, St. John has also discovered that public health extends far beyond hospitals and healthcare facilities. In her first-grade classroom, she sees how nutrition, physical activity, emotional well-being, access to resources, and family circumstances can affect a child’s ability to learn and thrive.

Her internship provides another perspective, allowing her to gain hands-on experience with community health initiatives, health promotion, outreach, and connecting people with programs and resources.

Together, these experiences have changed the way she thinks about health.

Rather than focusing only on individual choices, St. John has learned to consider the circumstances surrounding them, including access to healthcare, transportation, income, healthy food, and opportunities for physical activity.

That broader perspective is one she plans to carry throughout her career.

A Degree That Opens More Than One Door

For St. John, one of the most valuable parts of earning an MPH is discovering how many directions a career in public health can take.

Her interests include children’s health, health education, chronic disease prevention, and improving access to health resources. After graduating in December 2026, she hopes to continue building her experience and explore opportunities to develop programs that improve health outcomes, particularly for children, families, and underserved communities.

She is also considering pursuing a doctoral degree in the future.

Her journey is a reminder that students do not need to have every step of their careers mapped out before beginning graduate school. Sometimes, the experience itself helps reveal new interests and possibilities.

“I certainly did not!” St. John said when asked what she would tell someone who feels they need to have their entire career figured out before pursuing an MPH.

Instead, she encourages prospective students to remain open to new opportunities and the different ways they can make a difference.

Your Next Step Starts Here

For anyone considering graduate school but wondering whether they have the time, St. John understands the hesitation. Between teaching, coursework, her graduate assistantship, an internship, and everyday responsibilities, she knows firsthand that balancing everything takes planning, prioritization, and persistence.

Her advice? Take things one week at a time, remember why you started, and don’t let a busy schedule automatically convince you that graduate school is out of reach.

An MPH can build on your existing experience while helping you explore new career opportunities and develop the knowledge to make a difference in your community.

Ready to take the next step toward your future? Explore North Carolina Wesleyan University’s Master of Public Health program and discover how flexible online graduate study can help you turn your passion for helping others into meaningful opportunities.