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Every year, St Jude鈥檚 conducts health checks for its 1,800 students across three campuses to identify any health concerns, monitor existing conditions, and tailor support for those with specific needs. This year鈥檚 Health Check team included some familiar faces, with three St Jude鈥檚 alumni returning to give back to the very place where their journeys began.聽

For Nadia, Class of 2019, coming back was a full-circle moment. 鈥淚t feels special to come back and contribute to the same process that helped me so much,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 remember the medical professionals from my own health checks when I was a student, and thinking 鈥業鈥檇 love to do that one day!鈥�

Nadia joined St Jude鈥檚 as a Standard 1 student in 2007 and is now in her fifth and final year of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, which consists of a year doing practical internship at Mount Meru Hospital, not far from St Jude鈥檚 Sisia Campus. Despite her demanding schedule, Nadia sought special permission to take two weeks of leave from her program to participate in the health checks, knowing it was an opportunity she couldn鈥檛 let pass by.

鈥淢y internship year is supposed to be uninterrupted, but I was fortunate the hospital team was very supportive and granted me the leave so I could be here,鈥� notes Nadia, who says her passion for pursuing a career in healthcare was forged during her time at St Jude鈥檚.

鈥淚鈥檝e always dreamed of returning to give back, and it鈥檚 everything I hoped it would be. I鈥檝e seen students who were in Form 1 when I was in Form 6 who said, 鈥極h Nadia, look at you now!鈥� and I told them, 鈥楨verything is possible. You just have to believe in it,鈥� she says.

Returning alongside Nadia was Erneus, Class of 2020, who vividly recalls his first health check after joining St Jude鈥檚 in 2018 as a Form 5 student. 鈥淚 was so happy as I had never had a check-up like that before. We were advised on how to improve our health, and it was crucial for me. It鈥檚 very fulfilling to now be a part of something that helped me in the past.鈥�

After graduating with a degree in Biotechnology and Public Health in 2024, Erneus felt there was no better way to kickstart his career than applying his skills at the place that helped shape his future. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 my first time volunteering in the Health Check team, and I鈥檓 learning a lot. It is so rewarding to see the students鈥� reactions and learn from an international cohort of experts,鈥� says Erneus.

鈥淚 have been working in the vision team, helping assess students鈥� eyesight to identify any issues that could affect their learning ability. If not detected, these issues can grow and start to impact a student鈥檚 education, which is why the health checks are so important,鈥� he says.

Like Erneus and Nadia, Winniefreda, from the Class of 2019, also volunteered in the vision team this year. She describes her return to St Jude鈥檚 as a homecoming. 鈥淚 spent so much of my life here,鈥� she says. 鈥淏eing back feels like coming home. St Jude鈥檚 is where I learned and grew, and now I鈥檓 able to return the care that I once received.鈥�

In 2023, Winniefreda completed her Bachelor of Nursing and Midwifery. She now works at a hospital in Arusha and doubles as a private nurse, providing home care as part of the government鈥檚 clinical nursing program.

鈥淚t鈥檚 incredible to see how much the school has grown. What excites me is knowing that we鈥檙e helping students who could very well be the next generation of health professionals. Some of the students we helped this year could be in our position in the future. That鈥檚 the power of St Jude鈥檚. It always comes back around,鈥� she says.

Nadia, Winniefreda, and Erneus are prime examples of how a St Jude鈥檚 education creates a ripple effect, coming full circle to give back to their communities and inspire future generations.