Pharmacology and Service

During the month of March, I continued to volunteer for Girls on the Run at McGhee. This month we decided on our service project for the semester. The girls decided that they want to raise money by doing a cookie and lemonade stand after school to give to the ASPCA. We also had our practice 5k for the girls to prepare for the end of the season 5k on April 6. Some of the lessons we learned this month include learning how to compromise, being a good friend, making healthy choices, and supporting friends and family. Being a coach for Girls on the Run has helped me relearn simple lessons like these. It has also been a joy being able to see the girls learn and become strong young girls all while learning to love excercise and running. Taking the NBME exam this month was also a great accomplishment and relief to be over with. March hours:12.5 Total hours: 25

Although February was a short month, I was still able to do a lot of service! Girls on the Run has continued to be exciting and fun twice a week. Our team this semester is half the size of last semester, so it has been exciting getting to know each girl on a more personal level. In addition, the other coaches and I have been able to more efficiently teach the lessons from the curriculum. Some lessons we have learned this month include how to be a good friend and how to solve conflicts. The weather has been pretty rough though with the off and on rain, but we continue to run up and down the stairs inside to make sure the girls are ready for their 5k in April. I have also continued to see my hospice patient once weekly, but sadly, she has passed away. I am now waiting to be assigned a new patient to have weekly visits with.  GOTR hours: 10.5  Hospice hours: 2

Over the Christmas holidays, I was able to stay in New Orleans and continue my service because my family is from here. Although Girls on the Run ended in November, I continued to visit my hospice patient once weekly at his home. He has since passed away, and I will meet my new patient in February. I was also able to contribute to Compassus hospice in other ways such as helping with administrative work and with holiday activities. One of my favorite Chirstmas activities I was able to volunteer for was baking and delivering cookies to various hospice patients in the greater New Orleans area. It was so fufilling to see the joy on the patients’ faces when I had freshly baked cookies for them personally deleivered to their different nursing homes. In addition, I was able to be reassigned to McGehee School for a second season of Girls on the Run this January. We have had 5 practices so far and the girls are already showing improvement in both running and life skills. I am excited to see w

This November, I commenced volunteering for Girls on the Run with the 5K and also continued to volunteer twice weekly for Compassus Hospice. For GOTR, the 5K consisted of every girls on the run team at most grammar schools in New Orleans. Each girl had a running buddy whether it was their parent or a coach. The event was a lot of fun and exciting to see that every girl on our team finished the 5K. I definitely want to continue GOTR next semester. As for hospice, I have continued the twice weekly service. Being there for a fellow community member is so rewarding even on tough days. I also look forward to continuing my service with Hospice next semester. I also look forward to our class Christmas party next weekend. This semester of school has taught me skills and knowledge that I am so thankful for, and I look forward to so much more next year. GOTR hours: 6 Hospice hours: 7 November hours: 13 Total Fall Hours: 31

The service hours that I completed in the month of October included Girls on the Run and Compassus Hospice. At Girls on the Run this month, we had our practice 5k in order to prepare the girls for the final 5k in November. In honor of Halloween, we used spider rings as lap counters to ensure each girl finished the 3.1 miles.   On the other hand, I have also continued to volunteer at Hospice twice a week. Once weekly, I continue to do administrative work at the office. The other time in the week, I am assigned a patient that I visit with. This month, I visited my patient 5 times each for about an hour and a half. This experience has allowed me to give back to my community by providing comfort and support to my patient and his family. The family and patient’s gratitude for my small acts of support are so rewarding.  Hospice hours: 11.5 GOTR hours: 7.5 Total October Hours: 19  Total Fall Hours: 31

The activity that I participated in for the month of September was Girls on the Run. Girls on the Run is a non-profit organization with the goal of teaching young girls their limitless potential. As a volunteer for girls on the run, I must act as an assistant coach once a week at a 90-minute practice. As an assistant coach, I have the responsibility to prepare ahead of time for each practice as well as the responsibility to attend and help lead practice weekly. Before participating as an assistant coach, I assumed working with girls ranging from 3rd to 5th grade would be simple. However, girls at this age are very impressionable and need good role models. I have also learned that confidence-building and inspiration is crucial at this age in order to navigate later teenage and young adult years. In addition to volunteering at Girls on the Run, I have also been volunteering at Compassus Hospice as an administrative once weekly for an hour and patient support volunteer as needed. As an a