April Service- KIPP School and Wrap-up

Hello friends,

This month was a whirlwind. Its hard to believe this year-long master's program is finally coming to a close. I had my last couple presentations last week, took my last exam two days ago, and spent all day yesterday moving out of my apartment, and am finishing up my last bit of work for the program today.

The year didn't pan out as I expected. At first I thought I would come here, take the courses, explore New Orleans, than leave. I wasn't expecting to make exceptional friends, or engage in cutting edge research. Thanks to the opportunities provided by the pharmacology program, I was able to do all those things. I definitely feel like I have sharpened my study skills and learned how to prioritize more efficiently over the past year. Above all, the courses and style of lecture I experienced during this program have given me confidence that I have what it takes to not only succeed in medical school, but to thrive there. I'm definitely looking forward to what comes next!

As for service this month, I continued my work at the KIPP School and have now gotten the chance to interact and even connect with some of the children. I was amazed at how motivated and driven they were to succeed. It made me feel even better about volunteering at this wonderful institution for the past year. I would like to thank Josh Lowe, one of the administrators at the KIPP school for being incredibly accommodating and understanding as he helped us coordinate our service. It was great getting to know him, he made me look forward to service every week.

Finally, I would like to thank Ms. Linda, Ms. Debbie, and Ms. Phyllis for their amazing work this past year. I would also like to thank Dr. Katakam and Dr. Clarkson for their engaging lectures, as well as their advising. I fell much better about my position as I navigate this next year and going forward as I apply for medical school.

This is Tarun, signing off.

April service: 12 hours
Total Spring Service: 24 hours

March Community Service- KIPP School

Hey friends! It hard to believe we're headed into the last month of our master's degree program. I've been so busy I haven't really had time to reflect on this matter. This semester has been even busier than the last semester. In addition to keeping up with work for class, I've also tried to study for the MCAT I will be taking this upcoming summer. So even when I have free time, its not really "free" because there's always more you can do for the MCAT. However, I still make it a priority to squeeze in some volunteering and give back. I didn't get the chance to help out much last month, but this month I made sure to do 9 hours at the KIPP School.

Since I've spent more time at KIPP, I've had the chance to interact with some of the kids. They truly have an eclectic set of personalities. Some are shy and refuse to make eye contact, while others are confident and boldly introduced themselves with swagger. It was adorable! I've always been fascinated by the way personalities are shaped through a complex interaction of genes and environment. Its difficult to parse out what is the more dominant factor. In the sample size I have observed, the kids mostly come from the same socioeconomic background. However, I have no way of knowing their familial situation at home and how that might play into their personality. Regardless, I can't wait to get to know and understand these children more and do what I can to help them reach their goals. Until next time!

Total hours for the semester: 12

February Service

Hey friends hope everyone is doing well! Its been a slow start to service this semester, but I finally managed to get a solid 3 hours of service at KIPP this month. The more I work here the more amazed I feel with the motivation and drive of these talented kids. Pictured above is me trying to figure out the best way to optimize the stacking of these boxes so the students and faculty will have an easier time accessing important resources. I don't mind helping out in this way, but I hope in the future I will have more opportunities to interact with the kids and get to know them better.

In other news, we finally finished our last Principles of Pharmacology test of the Masters program. Its honestly surreal, that this year is coming to a close. However, I can't rest on my laurels yet, we still have a big NBME shelf exam coming up in Medical Pharmacology that is going to be a cumulative exam about everything we have learned this whole year. But first, I am going to enjoy the week we have off for Mardi Gras to get some much needed rest. Until next time! Total service hours for the semester: 3 hours

Its January!

Hello friends, it’s the first month of the New Year! It’s hard to believe I have already spent 4 months in the city of New Orleans. Time really flies! I've learned a lot about pharmacology and treating patients in a clinical setting, more than I could imagine. I've also made a lot of great friends. However, as I was reflecting on my first semester over the holiday break, I realized something. I may have amassed a large amount of scientific and clinical knowledge, but I didn't really know the city of New Orleans. I got a sense for the New Orleans creole flair, but I didn't really know much about the culture, the best places to eat, or get coffee. I hadn't even seen the city's biggest attractions, like the world-renowned WWII museum. So, this semester, in addition to completing community service and interacting with the people of New Orleans, I am going to make it a point to really explore the city of New Orleans and acquaint myself with its unique cultural identity.

This month, I haven’t done any community service yet. However, I had a chance to eat at Antoine’s, a famous restaurant in New Orleans that has been open and family run since the 1840s. Its one of the oldest independently owned restaurants in the United States. Through its 100 years of existence, they restaurant has done a good job maintaining the traditional décor and design it had in its early years. I felt like I was taking a walk back in time when I visited. My friends and I also had the chance to go on a tour of the restaurant and its multiple rooms. The most interesting window back in time was the entrance to the speakeasy in the women’s restroom. Men would use this entrance to drink alcohol on the sly during the prohibition era. I read about these hush-hush rooms in my history classes, but this was the first time I got to see one. It was exciting! As I finish up my Master’s Degree this semester in New Orleans, I look forward to more of these adventures back in time!

Total hours for the Semester: 0