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April 2022 Community Service

  April 2022: 2 hours Total Spring 2022 Semester: 12 hours This month, I was tasked with delivering flyers and creating informative brochures for those who needed home repair after a natural disaster in Arabi and Laplace. The Home Improvement Masters were still busy on the weekends patching roofs and removing damaged drywall from homes in Arabi after the latest tornado. Getting a hands-on experience last month led me to wonder what more I could do for those who still did not have their homes. Though I was unable to help with roof patching, the task at hand was still insightful. The number of times I was asked, “Are you sure it’s free?” astounded me. I realized how rare it is these days for people to just help because they can, not because they want some kind of incentive. Most people were grateful, but others were skeptical. That was my cue to be as informative as possible, and seeing people’s faces light up was truly the best part. After this, I will be going on to continue volunte
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March 2022 Community Service

  March 2022 Community Service - 2 hours I had the privilege of being part of a team at a local construction company that was providing free estimates and clean-up services for people affected by severe weather. Additionally, The Home Improvement Masters were performing restoration and roof repair free of charge to those affected by the tornados that tore through Arabi and New Orleans East. Volunteers were assigned tasks for painting, building, floor removal, and even drywall removal. Initially, I was afraid I would encounter insects or roaches, but once I was in there I found myself not even thinking about it. As someone who was personally and deeply affected by Hurricane Katrina, I finally understood why people come together to rebuild damaged communities. To me, it felt like my own self was repairing, able to let go of past turmoil through a healthy outlet. Though seeing the dilapidated homes brought back memories of my own childhood home in shambles, the realization of growth cam
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February 2022 Community Service

2 hours During the Mardi Gras break, I was inspired by people I met in my community who were concerned with the spread of COVID-19 in assisted living communities after the parade season was over. There was an emphasis on concern that needed to be further acknowledged. Though the residents themselves most likely did not attend parades themselves, they could still be pre-disposed by family members or faculty who had engaged in the festivities. This talk led to the idea of facilitating virtual experiences for residents at an assisted living community. In order to determine the feasibility of this idea here in New Orleans, I contacted someone I had volunteered with previously in Massachusetts. I communicated with administration regarding the potential of expanding the community theater to install a device with FaceTime capabilities that is easy to use for residents. By creating a self-report questionnaire that asked residents to rate an array of hobbies to determine technological skill lev
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January 2022 Volunteering

Over the break, I had the privilege of continuing volunteer work I was doing last year at a nursing home in Massachusetts during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. I spent about 6 hours on a Sunday helping out around the community and assisting with anything that needed attention. The happiness that radiated from one of my favorite couples was worth every minute and equally as rewarding for me. The residents were excited to share that a soft-serve ice cream machine had been put in place after I left. Great timing! I can't say I wasn't excited to have a cone myself, so I happily followed suit when they offered to show me where it was. I was happy to socialize with the residents, assist with meal deliveries, and provide updated information and guidelines from the CDC on the best ways to remain safe. I also assisted with transportation of residents for convenience needs and coordinating a visit from health care professionals to administer booster shots. Because staffing has been a
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February 2021 Volunteer Hours

I was fortunate to continue my volunteer work talking to the elderly from the local senior retirement home totaling 6 hours this month. After some of the residents received the vaccine, they were feeling blue due to isolation from their friends and family. To avoid unnecessary contact, I called each of them and spoke to them on the phone for an hour each. Though it was just a phone call, it took their mind off of their discomfort for the hour and made all the difference in their moods. I also helped schedule vaccine appointments for those who were unable to do it themselves.  During these trying times where travel and interaction is so restricted, this experience has taught me that it is important to not forget about those who cannot speak up for themselves; It’s hard enough for those of us who can. 
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January 2021 Community Service

 On January 16th and 23rd, I visited a nursing home to accompany the elderly during these lonely times of COVID-19. Volunteers were being sought out, as many residents were experiencing an increased level of depression. Being a graduate student from Tulane University School of Medicine in need of service hours  sparked hope in the tired eyes of the overworked staff members when I offered my help. That moment made me realize just how much of a national impact Tulane’s name has, especially in terms of community service! I had previous experience working with geriatric patients as a former mental health technician and Psychometrist, and knew they weren’t the only ones who would benefit from this experience. I spent two hours each Saturday hanging out with and talking to some older folks who couldn’t have their families visit them. It was great to make new friends and be helpful for people who had been losing hope. The experience has even been uplifting for me, as it has given me a rewardi
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11/2020

 This month I continued my volunteer work at the local animal shelter, where one of our cats, Niñita, had a whole litter of kittens! It was certainly a sight to see.  All of the volunteers came together to ensure Niñita had a safe space all to herself. I made sure the vet was called and that all the other animals were tended to.  The next time I went, I bottle fed some of the kittens that were malnourished and made sure their eyes were free of debris when they opened them for the first time. It was a very nurturing moment, and opened my own eyes to see the beauty in the world around me for seemingly the first time. I looked around and realized how different the place seemed from the first time I had walked in. This entire experience has changed my perception on human behavior and the significance of every interaction. I realized that you don’t have to be loud to be heard; you don’t even have to talk sometimes. Our actions help us communicate with our loved ones just fine, ask Tucker! I
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