It was only two weeks ago that I was closing up all of my accounts and responsibilities as the SEA of Lawyers Have Heart at American Heart Association | American Stroke Association, and packing up my apartment and saying goodbyes to my friends, colleagues, and acquaintances in the Washington, D.C. Metro Area. The thought of putting on a backpack, spending hours conducting researching, analyzing underlying issues in developing countries, and writing research papers, seems foreign to me right now. I'm not nervous, I'm excited and ready for the challenges that await me in the next two years in New Orleans and abroad, as I set out into the world to design, implement, and evaluate life-saving health programs for mothers and children alike.
As I stepped into the foyer of the Tidewater Building, reality began to set in. Seeing the welcome sign ignited a spark inside of me, it was not long until I began to spread my infectious, positive attitude and passion with my future classmates. Migrating from table to table and individual to individual, I was beginning to feel back in my element. Diversity is a highly valued characteristic in my book. From my first impression, I could not be more pleased with the amount of diversity that lies among the student body, academic faculty, and staff of the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. With students from all parts of the world; stretching from my backyard in South Florida to Humphrey Fellows from China, there really is a wide array of individuals who share similar interests, and a collective goal to bring effective and sustainable solutions, both domestically and internationally, to low-income and low-resource communities that are subjected to social, economic, and political obstacles. Unlike other public health programs, Tulane really focuses on supplying students with the technical skills, knowledge, and resources needed to implement change in the form of sustainable solutions.
One of the factors that sets Tulane apart from institutions like Johns Hopkins and Emory, is the large community feel, that both Tulane and New Orleans have been known for, for many year. Although New Orleans is conveniently located in the southeastern region of Louisiana, it feels very much like a third-world country. Even though I am living in one of the most affluent areas of this rustic city, blocks away I can witness the amount of poverty, crime, and struggle that the citizens of New Orleans face on a day-to-day basis. Driving straight down Jackson Ave, which borders my apartment complex, there are homes that are dilapidated; shacks if I'm being politically correct. Having the opportunity to travel to the Caribbean on many occasions, I see a lot of similarities in the city of New Orleans. New Orleans, although rich in culture and history, is a hotbed of social and economic issues. Compared to other universities, I do not believe that other public health programs offer the same opportunities that individuals are able to experience in terms of having that true real-world, hands on experience of working in an at-risk community. Months before I made my decision, I began heavily researching organizations in the area, and I am looking forward to working with many of them during my time here.
I've only been here two days, classes have not even started yet. All of my courses have been selected, and I'm ready to turn on my flashlight and start my scavenger hunt. I know that this blog might seems irrelevant, though I can promise that my next blog will have a lot more public health content.
Bienvenue to TULANE! Hold on tight, it's going to be a long, bumpy, though a ride that will be worth it through these Green Waves ahead. I'm strapping on my life vest, in preparation for the wipeouts that lie ahead. I advise you do the same thing! Life is not meant to be a calm ocean, storms prepare us for the real challenges that lie ahead. With that said, let's ride the GREEN WAVE!
