A Year of Pharmacology

And just like that, the program is over! This month also wrapped up my time as a Girls on the Run coach. For their end of the year community service project, my team raised $300 for the local animal shelter by selling homemade cookies and lemonade at carpool. They sold out of all their cookies, and were so proud of themselves. We officially ended the season with the 5K in Audubon Park (see picture). The girls got to make tutus, get glitter sprayed in their hair, and get face paint prior to the race. Each girl ran with a parent so I just ran the course with the other coaches and encouraged girls as we passed. I'll miss the girls who were on my team this entire year and will definitely miss being called "Coach Hannah." Hopefully, they found the experience as meaningful as I did. My plan now is to move back to Baton Rouge for my gap year and work in an OBGYN clinic while still coaching for this organization in my hometown. As for the academic side of things, this month&

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