Written by Mary Kornegay, Relate Contributing Writer
There are few people in this world who can pass college-level chemistry and biology with flying colors, become an emergency medical technician and move to South Africa to work and study all in one year. Brenna Keane is one of those people.
Brenna Keane lives her life to the fullest. Travelling to Africa for five months is only the beginning. Brenna, 20, was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, the middle child in a family of three girls. At her high school, she was a charter member of the Rotary club, eventually winning the position of president due to her intense dedication to helping others in the community. She organized a toy drive, successfully providing toys to children in a poor community in Charlotte. Upon graduation, she was awarded the Alumni scholarship because of her strong faith and good will.
In 2007, she began her college career at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, majoring in nutrition and chemistry. In 2008, Brenna started an EMT class which would allow her to assist medical professionals working in ambulances. There, she was able to gain insight into the medical world and witness incredible instances of her fellow EMT’s saving lives or comforting those who have lost loved ones.
As she grew up, her Catholic family inspired her to help others, instilling a passion in her that can’t ever quite be extinguished. Brenna’s chance to truly help others came when she was accepted into a study abroad program in Johannesburg, South Africa. She left in August of this year, and spent her time interning at a local Red Cross hospital, along with taking classes. “When Brenna told me she was studying abroad in Africa, I was not surprised. She’s always wanted to help people on a large scale, and this was her chance to make a difference. I was and still am so proud of all that she has accomplished,” Ali Duffy said, a childhood friend of Brenna’s from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
While Brenna’s time in Africa was life changing, she couldn’t help but feel frustrated about the lack of world changing work. “I can choose to feel useless and unworthy and be stuck in overwhelming helplessness and laziness, or I can take one day at a time and find a way to keep motivated. I must realize that I’m abroad to learn about a part of the world I would have never known or understood otherwise, having not actually lived here,” Brenna said.
Brenna took some time off from her busy schedule of working and studying to tour South Africa, including a trip to the coast to cage dive with great white sharks and a safari in Kruger National Park.
“Despite the 6 uncomfortable hours in the van, Kruger National Park made the whole thing worthwhile. I also saw zebra, giraffe, wildebeests, kudu, impala, guinea fowl, two warthogs and a few monkeys. All of the animals were truly remarkable and beautiful,” Brenna said.
Throughout the entire experience, Brenna kept her faith and strength. Her humbleness about her trip to Africa just shows how truly inspiring she really is.
“I’d love to be able to say that my being here has made a difference in somebody’s life, [but] that is almost always an unknown. I am just a girl trying to learn about this place, because that is all I can do,” said Brenna. While she may not see the impact she has on other’s lives, her passion and zest for life does inspire others. “Brenna is a great role model, especially because she doesn’t know it. She helps others so much, and she makes me want to be a better person,” said Ali.
If you want to learn more about Brenna’s inspiring trip to Africa, check it out!
