I helped make fleece blankets through Medlife that we then donated to the Salvation Army for the homeless. This was our third annual holiday blanket making event - and it was successful! I hope this yearly tradition will continue even after I graduate next year!
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I hosted a booth for Medlife at Honors Scholars Day. I enjoyed meeting with prospective students as well as faculty at Lamar and discussing our chapter of Medlife. I was able to network with other organizations on campus and meet new people. The event was successful and I hope to see more Honors Days in the future!
A group of Medlife/AMSA members took a day trip to visit Baylor College of Medicine's Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences during their symposium event. I learned about their PhD program as well as post-grad research programs and overall really liked the campus. It was a fun trip and we learned a lot!
At this event, we invited current nursing students to teach Medlife members how to take vital signs such as blood pressure, pulse, and respirations. It was helpful to learn from other students and practice on one another. I hope this will inspire collaboration among pre-health professional students of all majors and paths.
I received an OUR Grant for my project in Dr. Lian's lab. The project will study the effect of microplastic treatment on the wound healing ability of 3T3 and HaCaT cell lines. I am excited to complete the "wet" part of the experiment in the fall semester, and continue doing gene analysis in the spring semester.
I worked on a research project with Dr. Lian over the summer and learned a lot about writing a review paper. My topic was about therapies that target the YAP/TAZ pathway for cardiac and respiratory conditions such as atherosclerosis.
I volunteered on a Service Learning Trip to Lima, Peru this summer. I took patients' height and weight as part of their initial assessments and guided them through various stations of the mobile clinics. Our group was responsible for setting up the tents in which the doctors saw patients. I was also able to observe the physicians counseling patients on their conditions- many of which included insulin resistance, gastritis, and malnourishment, especially in children. This experience was unique because I was able to see firsthand how donations to Medlife are used to better the quality of lives for so many communities.
I recently attended the fourth quarter board meeting for the Red Cross. Being involved in this organization has been really eye-opening for me, as I discovered aspects of our society that I did not realize were so interconnected. In our most recent meeting, we discussed the shift in the Red Cross approach. We discussed how people regularly affected by natural disasters often enter a cycle in which they are displaced from their homes for a long period of time, and they cannot have a steady source of income, proper healthcare, or a safe home. Each time a disaster such as a hurricane or tornado strikes, they enter this vicious cycle which can take years to escape. These people oftentimes are already living in poverty even before the disaster. The Red Cross will now focus on partnering with external social support services to provide disaster victims with necessities such as proper nutrition, housing, jobs, and education. The Red Cross is now shifting its focus to be able to provide people with these basics for a successful recovery from disasters. I think this really showed me how crucial the work of the Red Cross is, and will become in the near future.
Being involved in the board so far has improved my ability to understand the way in which emergency situations are approached and how important it is to work together. Everyone's individual skills are required in order for the Red Cross to be able to operate efficiently. The board impacts the vision for the nonprofit and is responsible for ensuring that the nonprofit stays in alignment with its mission and morals. I think having a student in this position is so special because the fresh perspective of a student contributes to the direction of conversation during board meetings. My advice to future Honors participants in the Stepping Up program is to get involved! Actively reach out to the board even when they are not meeting. Keep up on the work of the nonprofit by reading and think about what more can be done. Use being a student to your advantage by thinking about how the nonprofit impacts people near your age and don't be afraid to bring up new ideas! The board, at least in my experience, is always open to new ideas and thoughts. I attended the play, Split, this weekend and really enjoyed it. This was the first play I have ever attended and it was such an interesting experience. I loved seeing familiar students display their talents during this creative, thrilling, and exciting play. I really liked how the audience sat on three sides around the stage. The props were built well and served a purpose in the telling of the story. I really enjoyed this play and hope to attend more in the future!
As the year almost comes to a close, I wanted journal my thoughts about being part of the Stepping Up Program. In the last few months, the Red Cross has been quite busy with planning events and disaster relief from the tornadoes that affected the Texas Gulf Coast region near the end of March. The Red Cross hosted a Veteran's Stand Down in February of this year which provided services for homeless veterans, their families, and the homeless. The services provided included clothing, housing/shelter information, mental health and medical screenings, and services for women veterans. It was amazing to see over 30 nonprofits providing services to those in need.
I helped organize this panel featuring several women working in STEM: an engineer, physician, two nurses, and a dentist. The event was held in March to honor Women's History Month and encourage students at Lamar to continue their education and follow in the footsteps of these accomplished women.
I volunteered at the Health Fair in Beaumont and helped provide helmets to children to promote safety while riding their bicycles. I was able to meet a local pediatric neurosurgeon who had been practicing for around 50 years and talked with him about how much the field of medicine has changed since he was in school. I enjoyed serving the community by providing education and helping prevent injuries.
I helped judge elementary science fair projects at Harmony Science Academy in Beaumont with a group of Lamar students and Dr. Kucknoor. It felt like a full-circle moment because of the simplicity with which students explained their projects relating to respiration, the carbon cycle, and other topics. It feels like I was just in their shoes learning about these for the first time, yet now having studied these in college, it was nice to be able to revisit these topics in a fun way.
I attended the Asian Market Night hosted by several cultural organizations on campus. I enjoyed the food and small vendors that showcased their businesses. I really liked the Dragon dance because it was interactive and engaging. I learned about the many different cultures in Asia and was proud to represent my own!
As half the year has almost gone by, I wanted to talk about my experiences with the Red Cross as part of the Stepping Up Program. After attending a few board meetings and learning more about the organization, it became clear to me that this nonprofit does a lot more than what most people think when they hear about the Red Cross. They not only provide support for victims of natural disasters and emergencies, but also have a history of doing interesting things like keeping families in touch with military who are overseas. I also learned that our local Red Cross chapter serves all of Southeast and Deep East Texas which includes 13 counties and is expanding to cover more. The board is primarily responsible for keeping tabs on the nonprofit's operations and voting on various ideas. I cannot vote, but it is interesting to see how organized the nonprofit board is.
I helped plan and host this healthcare panel in which we had an optometrist, a surgeon, a pathologist, and a cell biology researcher (Dr. Lian) speak to students about their careers. I gained a lot of insight from this event and was able to secure a shadowing opportunity with a physician.
I helped organize and performed at India Night, a cultural event hosted by the Indian Student Association. I enjoyed working on decorations and practicing the dances with fellow students. In the end, it was worth it to see students and faculty enjoy the event.
I participated in my first Chapter Board Meeting for the Red Cross as part of the Stepping Up Leadership program. Before the meeting, I was curious to learn more about what the Red Cross does and even felt a little intimidated knowing I would be the only college student in the room. However, the board members made me feel comfortable and welcome in their office located in Orange, TX. I introduced myself to the group and found comfort in the fact that there were a few other new board members. I am excited to be able to serve my community through the Red Cross. I hope to be able to assist where I can and become more confident in my leadership abilities.
I hosted this event to help students practice medical Spanish terms while playing a fun game of Lotería, which is similar to Bingo. We included prizes as incentives and collaborated with LU Hispanic Society to help us make the game cards and call out the terms. We are grateful to Tacos la Bamba for sponsoring the food at this event as well!
I played badminton at the ISC GGAP Tournament. I was able to practice my badminton skills and compete with fellow students. I won first runner-up in mixed doubles.
This was my first time participating in The Big Event at Lamar, and it was so much fun! My group was assigned to volunteer at The Arc of Greater Beaumont, whose mission is to serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We helped the staff with landscaping and organizing supplies. Overall, it was a great experience and I enjoyed meeting this organization!
Medlife hosted a Healthcare Panel that featured several professionals including a microbiology professor (Dr. Kucknoor), a nursing professor (Dr. Hale), two occupational therapists, and an orthodontist. They provided insights to our pre-professional students and I was grateful for the advice they provided me for my career.
I volunteered several times at the SETX Food Bank to package 1,000 food boxes for local families through the Honors Student Association and Medlife.
This summer, I read The Great Influenza by John M. Barry for Dr. Hale's book club. This book was so pertinent to the COVID-19 pandemic. This book was a wealth of knowledge about the nature of the disease, its origins, and the reformation of medical education and scientific research in the US. It allowed me to draw parallels between then and now which made for some interesting conversations about racial health disparities, government response, and how today's pandemic affects societies around the world. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed participating in this year's book club, and it left me feeling as if I was living a milder version of the story in real life.
Medlife hosted a fundraiser to purchase and deliver food for rural communities in South America who were severely affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many individuals residing in those areas were put out of work and did not have the means to put food on the table. Donations to Moving Mountains from all over the world helped deliver food to over 60,000 people since the pandemic started. Our Lamar chapter raised over $1.8K in less than two days to support this effort!
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