September's Update

 September’s Community Service Hours: 4 hours

Cumulative Hours: 4 hours

Hi everyone! It’s been about 1.5 months since starting the Pharmacology program at Tulane, and the transition from California to New Orleans has been both an adjustment and a warm welcome. This month, I got to engage with the community by volunteering for Grace at the Green Light, a non-profit organization that assists the unhoused community of New Orleans by providing them with basic essentials. I helped out twice with their “Meals with Love-Breakfast” events where they serve the homeless population with hot breakfast and coffee. On September 7th, I worked the front desk, distributing tickets, keeping the line organized, and delivering meals to those unable to enter. I really enjoyed this role because it allowed me to interact with everyone that came that day and get to know them more personally (~200 people served). I have signed up to return on September 30th.

For our Pharmacology curriculum, we have had 3 rounds of exams. Every exam seems to be more difficult than the last, but we are provided with ample resources to succeed. My favorite module this month was the Inflammation Module, because it gave us an introduction to how this year will be and included detailed information on drugs we use in our regular lives that we can relate to. The Infectious Disease Module was the hardest for sure, but was cool because I can now say I have a much greater understanding of bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Thus far, I have been performing well, but I have had to make adjustments in how I study to be more effective in my learning. Overall, I’m performing well, learning a lot, and excited to continue adjusting to graduate-level coursework.