September

This month I was finally able to get started on my volunteering, and I really enjoyed the experience. I spent one Saturday working with Habitat for Humanity, helping with painting the exterior and putting floors down inside. By the end of the day I was completely exhausted, but had such a positive experience and wanted to do it again as soon as my schedule would allow.

I was really surprised by my experience, as I have never worked with Habitat before, and did not really know what to expect going in. I assumed we would just be helping with smaller tasks, not really being held accountable for much, but we were really encouraged to get as involved as possible, and I even had the opportunity to use a power saw to cut pieces of hardwood floor- something I never thought I would do. At the end of the workday, being able to look at all the work I had put in throughout the day and see tangible results was really gratifying, and was definitely worth waking up early.

All in all, I would say my first experience volunteering in New Orleans was a very positive one, and I am very excited to continue doing so throughout the rest of this semester.

September Hours: 8

The First Post- Adjusting

After four seemingly short years of undergrad in New York City, I thought moving to New Orleans would be an easy transition. Clearly underestimating how unique this city is, I learned over the course of the last two months that not much was similar between here and my previous homes. In addition to adjusting to one-way city driving, thick humidity, and an endless supply of seafood, I have taken my time adjusting to the fast paced rigor of the Pharmacology Master's Program here. 

At first, the thought of dense block exams every few weeks was mildly overwhelming, and as time passed this changed to significantly overwhelming- a direct relation to my entering the CV block, which probably consisted of some of the most expansive material I have ever attempted to absorb. I have learned a lot from my time adjusting to New Orleans, and studying for this exam, learning to pace myself but never wait to ask questions, was a large part of that. Further, I begin my volunteering this Saturday with Habitat for Humanity, and I could not be more excited to finally be getting involved with something! I hope to find a few other places to give my time, but for now, still getting adjusted, I'm starting off slow with one place, and hopefully I will be back there several times over the course of the year. 

Overall, I can say with confidence that moving forward, I am excited for what this year has to bring, both academically, and generally, and I hope to continue to make this beautiful city feel more like home with every passing month and blog post.