April

Monthly community service hours: 2 hours

Cumulative community service hours: 21 hours


Finishing this program online has definitely been interesting! I certainly have a lot more time to study but I miss seeing everyone everyday. There have been some definite ups and down but it hasn't been all bad. I started volunteering virtually with an organization called HandOn New Orleans in conjunction with Phone a Friend & Serve our Seniors Meal Delivery Program. I contact five seniors twice every week within the New Orleans community and ensure they get their free food deliveries every Monday and Friday. Not only that but I can voice any concerns my clients may have and I think our consistent communication helps alleviate some of the social isolation these folk are experiencing. Additionally, I am able point them in the right direction if they're struggling with anything else like inability to pickup medications.

Alas, I was placed on the wait list at Tulane, but I remain optimistic (and persistent) nonetheless. Keeping my fingers crossed that they pull me off but I'll be applying Early Decision if not come May 4th. This program has helped pave the way to my career and I am so happy I did it. I have gained exceptionally valuable information and met incredible people. I honestly wish the Pharmacology program was longer, can we add a couple more semesters?

Pharmacology Christmas Party 2019

March

Monthly community service hours: 3 hours hours

Cumulative community service hours: 19 hours


I think this last month has been pretty crazy for the lot of us.  It’s hard to come to terms with how quickly the world is changing.  I was concerned about COVID-19 a couple months back but was naive to how drastically it would change my day to day experiences.  I miss Tulane, the Pharm program, and seeing my friends every day.  My volunteer program abruptly ended as well so I’m finding myself at home 99.9% of the time.  It is difficult to find a silver lining in all this but I am trying.  I’ve put my contact information in for a few volunteer programs to help with COVID relief and am working at the urgent care still.  PPE supplies are short and we have to reuse our N95s.  It’s complicated because I don’t want to expose anyone to the virus but I also want to help the community in some way during this difficult time.  It helps to have something to study, a garden to nourish, and a dog to walk.... so I’m thankful for that.   I’ve always thrived under structure and this whole ordeal has been anything but structured!  I hope everyone stays healthy and stays safe.

Sunrise at Tulane's Undergraduate Campus as seen on walk with dog.

February

Monthly community service hours: 7.5 hours

Cumulative community service hours: 16 hours

February passed by in a blink of an eye.  Mardi Gras was both invigorating and exhausting per usual… but it was exciting to be amongst friends who have never experienced it before.  The break from reality was nice but it’s definitely time to crunch down and get back to studying.  Below is one of the floats from Endymion (parade in Mid-City) and another from the delicious Mardi Gras meal my uncle had spread out for his open house on Tuesday.

St. Anna’s continues to be a worthwhile institution to volunteer for.  Priyanka and I have been tutoring the kids with homework and serving dinner.  We even got to help them make masks out of red beans for their Krewe of Red Beans march on Lundi Gras.  KIPP’s library remains in a perpetual state of transition and we are happy to help be a part of that – who knew it would be such hard work organizing a bunch of books.

The program is coming to an end and it is bittersweet.  It is comforting coming to the medical school every day and seeing all these familiar faces.  The pharmacology program has provided an incredible amount of information in a short period of time, it will be sad to say goodbye.  Still waiting to hear back from Tulane’s M.D. program and the future feels uncertain.  My fingers remain crossed.

January

Monthly community service hours: 8.5 hours

Cumulative community service hours: 8.5 hours

It has certainly been a wild couple of months since I last posted!  Christmas break was warmly welcomed both for my mental health and for my bank account (I worked the whole time).  This semester has proven a challenge thus far with tackling several electives in addition to our already heavy course load.  There are multiple intimidating presentations in my near future, yikes, but the material we are learning is super interesting!  I now know that I love reproductive hormones and am curious about the effects of menopause and the pathophysiology of a number of uterine conditions.  Maybe becoming an OB/GYN is in my future?  I had my first and only medical school interview at Tulane on January 9th.  I dare say it went well however I have not heard anything and will literally be devastated if I get rejected.  I should find out soon... in the meantime Sharelle, Priyanka and I have picked up a new hobby: boxing.  It's difficult and I look like a fool, but I don't think I've ever gotten such a good work out in my life!

In terms of volunteering, we are still at it with KIPP.  Last session, Priyanka, Rebecca, and I spent organizing a closet or two as well as keeping the school bookstore in tip top condition.  Priyanka and I have also started to spend more time at St. Anna's.  We love it especially since we get hands on time with the kids and it's enjoyable seeing what they're learning academically.

I wanted to make sure I posted a picture of the memorial outside of St. Anna's.  It's heartbreaking, there's a massive list of names for all those who lost their lives in the 7th ward.  The primary causes of death are gun related, providing almost palpable evidence of how our city truly is struggling to survive in the face of violence.

November

Monthly community service hours: 7 hours

Cumulative community service hours: 20 hours 

We continue our weekly volunteer efforts at KIPP, organizing and passing out classroom materials.  Before the recent election, we handed out flyers to each class promoting voting within the community.  They used an incentive of “winning a free dress down day” if students went out to vote with their families and provided proof with their “I Voted” stickers.  It was awesome to see KIPP inspiring a younger audience to go out and vote.  We need as much positivity and youth involvement in politics as we can get.

Although I still have not heard back from Grow Dat Youth Farm, Priyanka and I have started to work with an additional volunteer program.  St. Anna’s Place is a church located in the 7^th Ward that offers artistic projects, cultural enrichment, healthy lifestyle education, and academic tutoring to children during after school hours.  The community that St. Anna’s primarily serves is the youth of Tremé and the 7^th ward.  This is a community that has unfortunately been severely affected by gang violence, drug use and distribution, as well as prostitution.  The mission of St. Anna's is to inspire academic intrigue and healthy living in order to promote a brighter future for these kids. 

Last night, we tutored math, Spanish, played UNO, and sang Christmas Carol’s.  There were music classes, private tutor sessions, and costume fittings for an upcoming production.  It was amazing how many separate activities were going on, yet flow was efficient and productive.  I can’t wait to go back.

October

Monthly community service hours: 8.5 hours

Cumulative community service hours: 13 hours


Volunteering for KIPP continues to be a rewarding experience.  Each week, Priyanka, Rebecca, and I head over after class to help with organizational duties that the teachers are struggling to complete with their busy work schedules.  Last week’s KIPP stint felt especially productive.  Each classroom ordered a number of essential supplies (i.e. hand sanitizer, pencils, tissues, graph paper, etc.) that we personally handed off to the teachers.  During each delivery we had a moment where we got to peer into the day to day activities of KIPP students.  Music is a constant in their learning environment, as well as group communication and participation.  Additionally, we’ve helped some of the staff set up bulletin boards in their classrooms where teachers will present student activities and work.  I look forward to setting up some more and contributing to the classroom aesthetic.

In terms of academics, things are still going really well!  Thankfully it has started to get a bit easier working two jobs as I fall into the groove of things.  Urgent care is as busy as ever: flu season has begun, and we are seeing up to 70 patients a day.  Get your flu shots y’all.

As for the future, I have applied to a couple other volunteer projects to work in tandem with KIPP.  I am an avid gardener so the one I am most excited about and eager to get involved with is Grow Dat Youth Farm.  Grow Dat is an organization that has built a sustainable farm in City Park where they grow and harvest a significant amount of fresh produce.  This produce is then either sold at farmers markets or distributed out to low-income residents (specifically those with children) who have little access, if any, to fresh food.  The program is also primarily youth based, providing New Orleans kids with opportunities for leadership skills and involvement in their community. 

September

Monthly community service hours: 4.5 hours

Cumulative community service hours: 4.5 hours


Having graduated from Tulane two years ago, I am enjoying being back in the academic arena.  As a New Orleans transplant living in New York and Ohio throughout much of my formative years, it has been exciting getting reacquainted with the community and city I consider home.

The Pharmacology Master's program at Tulane is challenging but fascinating.  I honestly believe I'm my happiest when running around with a million things to do, trying to tackle new scientific curriculum... so it's safe to say I found the right program.  So far we've taken two exams and completed a number of class presentations.  I don't think I've ever studied this hard in my life but the time and effort is definitely paying off.  When time permits, I continue to maintain two part-time jobs. I may, however, have to bid a temporary adieu to the lifestyle of barista and urgent care medical assistant as this program moves forward.

On September 27th, I participated in my first volunteer opportunity at KIPP Leadership Primary, a charter school in the Marigny neighborhood of New Orleans.  I joined two fellow students, Priyanka and Rebecca, for our first trip to KIPP.  During our two hours there, we helped some of the administrative staff re-organize the library by transporting books from the third to first floor.  Throughout this, we had the opportunity to mingle with some of the children (Kindergarteners - 8th graders) while they participated in a slew of activities (dancing, drawing, etc.).

In the weeks to come, I'm looking forward to getting better acquainted with the kids and staff.  We hope we will have some more hands-on time with the children but it is rewarding nonetheless knowing we are helping staff so that they can focus on what's most important: education.

Rebecca, Priyanka, and Emma (me) in front of KIPP Primary 9/27/19.