A Year of Pharmacology

Everyone warned me this program would fly by, but I didn’t realize just how quickly it would pass! We only have one more month until we’re done with classes, and I only have one more week as a Girls on the Run Coach in New Orleans. This past month, the girls worked more on their endurance and learned more life skills. One game the girls played this month was all about bullying and standing up for others. One coach gave them a scenario (like someone drops their lunch tray in front of the whole fifth grade in the cafeteria) and the girls had to run across the field to me and say how they would stand up for that person. It’s always fun seeing their individual personalities shine through when answering questions like that. In addition, the girls had their practice 5K. We always write a lap goal on their hands every practice (see picture) so they have something to keep them motivated. Most girls were able to finish, and I know they’ll be ready for the real 5K in just one short week. 

This month I’ve continued my Tuesday Girls on the Run coaching, and we’ve already hit the mid-season mark! Besides just running laps, the girls also learn life skills and perform team building exercises. One of my favorite activities the girls completed this month was the shower curtain challenge. This involved all 9 girls standing on a shower curtain laid out on the ground. They had to work as a team to flip the shower curtain over completely without anyone stepping into the grass. Many failed attempts and lots of bickering later, the girls figured out how to communicate their ideas and work together to flip the shower curtain. My favorite part about being a Girls on the Run coach is teaching the girls how to effectively communicate and learn skills they'll use their whole lives. It is so rewarding to watch them progress each practice. Tuesdays are turning into my favorite day of the week! Next month is the practice 5K and the real 5K is in April. This season is flying by! Th

The start of the new semester also brings a new season of coaching Girls on the Run! I'm volunteering as an assistant coach again for third and fourth graders at a local New Orleans school on Tuesdays and some Thursdays. We only have a team of 10 this semester so I've already gotten to know the girls and their individual personalities well. The goal of Girls on the Run is to use running as a tool to inspire girls to be healthy and confident. Today's lesson was all about inner beauty so the girls filled out a worksheet with adjectives that described themselves. Then we let the girls loose to run. On each lap, the girls had to add a positive adjective to describe a teammate's unique talents. At the end of practice the girls received their own worksheet back and got a boost of confidence knowing their team thinks so highly of their character! Some of the worksheets are featured in the above picture. I thoroughly enjoy Tuesdays and Thursdays with my team and look forward

This month has been a whirlwind! One of my big accomplishments this month was wrapping up my Girls on the Run season. My team had their last practice and hosted a bake sale for their required community service project. They ended up raising over $200 for Children’s Hospital. The girls learned how to work together to pick a charity then organize how they were going to raise money to help that cause.  They also had their 5K at Audubon Park as their season finale! It was so much fun seeing my girls celebrate all their hard work. Each girl got to make a tutu, put glitter in her hair, and apply face paint before marching to the starting line. Most girls ran with a parent and there were cheerleaders lined along the sidewalks to keep them motivated. I also ran the 5K alongside Esra and Hallie, fellow pharmacology classmates. It was rewarding seeing my girls beam with pride after they crossed the finish line, and they immediately received a shiny medal for completing the run. I’ll miss my t

    This blog post marks my first full month of community service here in New Orleans! I’ve been volunteering as an assistant coach at a local elementary school for Girls on the Run. Each practice is split in half between running and engaging in activities to teach the girls different life skills. The girls’ favorite activity this month was crumpling a piece of paper and stating an example of bullying. The next girl had to try to flatten the paper while stating a way she could appropriately handle that particular incidence if it were to happen to her. The girls get very animated and enjoy when the coaches come up with games to facilitate the lessons each practice. All of the coaches assigned to my same school are also my classmates in the Pharmacology program! It's been a lot of fun taking on these coaching responsibilities together and getting to know my classmates better outside of school.     The end of the season is fast approaching! Next month, my team will participat

Somehow the first month of this pharmacology program has already flown by! We recently had our first block exam on inflammation, and it went well! This program has definitely been challenging at times, but the professors and my classmates have kept me motivated and enthusiastic about the material. We have our second block exam so soon, and I’m hoping it goes as well as the first one. (Fingers crossed!) During this program, I am working with Girls on the Run to fulfill my service hour requirements. This program is a non-profit organization that works with elementary and middle school girls to teach them about self-confidence and encourage healthy lifestyles. The main mission of Girls on the Run is to teach every girl that she has limitless potential. I will be working as an assistant coach for a local team here in New Orleans. As a coach, I will go to practice with the girls twice a week to help with running games and facilitate conversations about healthy relationships and teamwo