Five years to become a dentist. Eight (or more) years to become a doctor. It’s a long road, but for many, the payoff is worth every sleepless night and sacrificed weekend.
For Rawan Taha from Africa, that wasn’t the case. “I studied dentistry for my undergraduate degree, but I quickly realised I didn’t want to be a clinician,” she says. “I just felt unhappy all the time.”
That unhappiness forced her to pause and reflect. She didn’t have a plan, but she knew one thing for sure: she wanted a career with a broader impact.
That led her to public health.
“I was never passionate about public health or health in general,” admits Taha. “But it seemed like a field that would open up many non-clinical opportunities and allow me to contribute meaningfully to people’s lives on a larger scale.”
When she’s not in the field volunteering, Taha is working to solve a growing crisis in public health: youth unemployment and underemployment. Source: Rawan Taha
A reason to begin again
Ikigai is a Japanese concept that refers to a reason for being or a reason to live. Something that gives your life meaning because it fits your passions, strengths, values, and the world’s needs.
Taha’s ikigai was public health.
“The most difficult part was making the decision to leave a life I was unhappy with,” she says. But once she made the leap, there were no regrets.
She’s honest about the reality, though. “Career changes take time. It might take months or even years,” she says.
Her advice? “Take it slow. It’s okay to spend time changing a career you don’t like. What’s not okay is spending your whole life doing something you don’t enjoy, just because you’re afraid of change or the time it takes to change.”
Taha’s passion took her to an MSc in Public Health and Health Promotion at Swansea University.
And while studying abroad wasn’t always in Taha’s plans, she saw it as an “exciting challenge” and an “investment” in herself.
Swansea awarded her with the Eira Francis Davies Scholarship, a full tuition scholarship granted to one exceptional female student each academic year.
“As a young scholarly African woman, I was looking for a university that nurtured potential and leadership,” she explains. “After applying for the scholarship and being selected, I knew Swansea was the right choice. It felt the university was validating my hard work and potential.”
The decision proved to be a rewarding one. In an article with Swansea, Taha shared what stood out most during her time in the programme: the academic freedom.
“What I liked most about my public health degree was the freedom to write my assignments on topics that I chose, and to develop my own curricula, my own reading lists, and my own interests,” she shares. “That freedom allowed me to explore far beyond the public health field, giving me a deeper, interdisciplinary understanding of health systems.”
Public health didn’t just shape Taha’s career; it ignited a purpose that led her to write a book and empower others in their job search. Source: Rawan Taha
Where a public health degree can take you
Taha was aware that her decision to change career paths would come with challenges — particularly when it came to finding a job after graduation.
“After applying to over 500 jobs and hearing nothing, I realised — if it was this hard for me, how much harder must it be for someone without my support system or resources?” she says in an interview with Alliance for Good.
But instead of seeing that setback as a defeat, she used it as a turning point. “That moment taught me resilience and helped shape my future direction.”
She got involved with various initiatives:
- A 12-month leadership journey in Zambia through the African Young Women Leaders Fellowship as a Programme Analyst, managing projects and strengthening operational and communication strategies.
- Becoming an International Development Fellow at Catholic Relief Services, where she organised a 200+ participant regional business development summit for West Africa and joined a field monitoring mission on sustainable livelihoods in Ziguinchor.
- Being one of 20 selected mentees in the Protégé Young Women Mentorship Initiative by the African Union to the United Nations in New York, focusing on empowering African women in global affairs, peace and security, legal and socio-economic fields.
She also worked with the World Food Programme (WFP) as a Research Assessment, Monitoring (RAM) and Reporting Consultant.
“My role is focused on producing tangible impact towards zero hunger,” she says in a video with WFP.
“I’m particularly proud of rolling out a community feedback mechanism, including a hotline, email address, suggestion boxes, and help desks for the people we serve, so that they can have their concerns addressed and have our project tailored to meet their demands.”
These days, Taha’s still doing what she loves — helping others thrive. She’s now a Volunteer Alumni Ambassador with the British Council, working on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.
“This is a dream come true for me,” she says. “I’m hoping and praying I can make a real difference for unemployed youth.”
She stays busy organising events, building alumni networks, and helping unemployed graduates secure grants and support.
According to her, none of it would’ve been possible without switching to public health.
“Getting an international master’s gave me a solid foundation,” she explains. “It helped me grow, stand out, and believe in what I could offer.”
Her proudest work is writing her book “No More Job Secrets.” It is packed with over 300 practical tips, including winning CV and cover letter templates, simple interview prep strategies, insights on applying to the United Nations and other global organisations, and even ways to earn through freelancing and blogging.
“I wanted to help others find a job so that it’s easier for them than it was for me,” she says.
The feedback she’s received proves she’s doing something right. One reader shared:
“Taha’s honesty and transparency were inspiring and conveyed in a simple, powerful way: ‘Don’t trust your motivation to get you through the job search, you need to be persistent and have grit.’ Having lists of resources — from email templates to practical dos and don’ts — gave me renewed focus and bouts of positivity. It’s incredibly helpful to have a guide specifically dedicated to those of us looking for work in international organisations and social impact.”
Taha’s public health work has taken her from Zambia to Senegal, where she ensures that food assistance reaches those who need it most, from schoolchildren to smallholder farming communities. Source: Rawan Taha
No looking back
Taha’s long-term goal is to help create millions of jobs for youth, especially in Africa.
“I want to continue combining innovation, policy, and advocacy to build sustainable career ecosystems for the next generation,” she says.
Her drive to make a difference stems from a personal journey of change.
“The transition was challenging, but it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” says Taha. “I had to let go of a clear path and embrace uncertainty, but I’ve never looked back. I’m proud of myself for being bold and brave enough to pivot toward something that truly aligns with my values.”
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