II. October's Odyssey


-         Monthly Community Service Hours: 6

-         Fall Semester Community Service Hours: 6

Throughout the month of October, I have volunteered with the Samaritan Multi-Services Centered on Living (SMCL) Foundation and Associates located in New Orleans, Louisiana. The purpose of this non-profit organization is to improve the quality of life for military veterans, people with disabilities, and economically challenged populations. The purpose of this organization is one that I hold near and dear to my heart and incorporates one of my favorite activities to participate in and watch, sports.

To commence, I began each volunteer session ensuring that all the participants were signed in for the session. Each session was made up of 6 to 10 participants. Once I ensure that all participants were signed in, I aided in setting up tennis racquets and tennis ball carriers a long the court to complete the drills that were done each day. In the sessions that I volunteered and participated in, backhand and forehand drills were demonstrated and taught to participants with any needed modifications if the participant had a disability.
 Furthermore, participants learned how to serve and return the tennis ball when facing competitors. After each drill, I would aid in collecting all the hit tennis balls to ensure the safety of all participants. Concluding each session, I assisted in cleaning the tennis court, collecting all borrowed equipment, and moving the equipment to its respective destination. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this experience, and I cannot wait to return and engage with all the wonderful people that I have met through this community service opportunity.


Academically, the month of October was challenging yet rewarding within our curriculum. The autonomic nervous and cardiovascular systems were the focal point of this month’s curriculum where we learned very essential mechanisms and resources used regarding diseases such as heart failure, which has impacted at least 26 million people globally.

Professionally, this month was extremely beneficial to me as I gained a new professional mentor with an extremely similar drive and passion for medicine as myself. My mentor has given me great advice on how to approach different aspects of my medical journey that I am extremely appreciative of. During the next upcoming months, I aspire to challenge myself socially by getting out of my comfort zone and continue to build new relationships. I am excited to see what is to come for my journey to medicine. 



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