October

It's been about a month since my last post and I feel like a lot has changed with me since then. I've begun volunteering at Zeus' Rescues, I've completed three of my pharmacology modules, and I'm now more than halfway to the end of the semester. It's hard to believe it's almost November. The end is in sight.

This past month I have finally felt settled here in New Orleans. My feelings of homesickness have faded away and have been replaced with a community of friends from the masters program. Our shared experiences stressing over our pharmacology exams, complaining about our cramped little apartments, and expressing our hopes and dreams for careers in the medical and biomedical fields have fostered our connections. Occasionally I still find myself longing for a cold Seattle day or a hug from my dog Toby but those feelings are brief and eclipsed by the pride I take in moving to a new state, finding friends among my peers, and performing well in a rigorous program. Some warm gumbo doesn't hurt either!

In class, we have completed modules on inflammation, antibiotics, and the autonomic nervous system. We are in the midst of the cardiovascular-renal module, historically one of the most difficult topics. It's interesting to see how complex this topic is and how the drugs involved in treating vascular diseases have a cascading effect on other organ systems. We may be learning the topics in a piece-meal fashion but all of the concepts are intricately interwoven and fit into a larger puzzle that solves some of our most fatal diseases. The pressure is on to keep performing well on exams but I make sure to check-in with myself to make sure the stress doesn't affect my health and well-being. Despite the academic stakes and the workload, I still enjoy what I'm learning and feel privileged to be at Tulane.

On a lighter note, I started volunteering at Zeus' Rescues. While working there, I learned about the growing need for animal adoptions in New Orleans post-Hurricane Katrina. The organization works diligently to find comfortable homes for all of its animals. As a volunteer, I helped by assisting in a pet adoption drive at the Freret Street Market. I was assigned a dog and was tasked with introducing him to visitors at the street market, providing his personal information and history. I was lucky to be assigned an energetic little pup named Vegas. A little over six-months old, Vegas is a bundle of unbridled joy and energy. As a rescue dog, he doesn't get a tremendous amount of personal contact so it was rewarding to see him enjoy some freedom and make friends with people and other dogs alike. I also volunteer as a dog-walker occasionally when I have open availability in my schedule.

I'm going to end this month's post by sharing two photos I took while volunteering. My next post will be after Thanksgiving. Thanks for reading!

October Volunteer Hours: 6.0
Fall Semester Hours: 6.0