Thinking to myself that I'm one-eighth of the way done with my higher education is daunting but also terrifying. I've learned this year more than any other that the more you learn, the less you know. Being at college has opened my eyes to so many new areas that sometimes I'm overwhelmed by how much I want to learn about global health, public health, social justice, politics, education, biomedical research, economics, design thinking, and coffee and tea. Finding my passions for the year have brought successes and challenges. Two words that I find sum up my passions I have discovered this year are sustainability and empathy. Before coming to college, I knew working in a free clinic as a physician was important, but I didn't really realize why. Even though I still have much to learn, volunteering with Bearcat Buddies first semester really opened my eyes as to why donating your time and skills to people who need it most is so important. To see what I mean, read this essay I wrote in Intermediate Composition about my experience below. Through GlobeMed, I learned that becoming vulnerable to the people you want to help and realizing that they have as much to offer to you as you have to offer to them creates an equal environment where the most can be accomplished. Having empathy puts yourself at the same level as another human, not above them (watch this video I discovered this year through several places about empathy, it really helped me understand this concept). However, relationships cannot remain concrete without sustainability. Having mechanisms to maintain links and support even after direct help is gone is so important to patient populations and people living in third world countries. I learned this year in both Bearcat Buddies and GlobeMed that education is one of the best ways to accomplish sustainability in an environment.
If I had to give myself advice for the coming year, it would be to make time for myself, to enjoy the things I love. Spend a Sunday afternoon at the art museum. Try that new coffee shop in OTR. Take a nap. Emily, you need those things in your life. You don't want to survive, you want to live. (Sorry if I'm writing a motivational speech to myself right now). I will set a goal for myself in my sophomore year to not be so stressed out over academics. Yes, they seem like they matter A LOT now, but in the grand scheme of things, it's okay to get less than an A. Don't break down if you lose 10 points on that chem lab (and yes I might still be bitter about that). Learn to be okay with your definition of "failure." Everything will turn out all right.
If I had to give myself advice for the coming year, it would be to make time for myself, to enjoy the things I love. Spend a Sunday afternoon at the art museum. Try that new coffee shop in OTR. Take a nap. Emily, you need those things in your life. You don't want to survive, you want to live. (Sorry if I'm writing a motivational speech to myself right now). I will set a goal for myself in my sophomore year to not be so stressed out over academics. Yes, they seem like they matter A LOT now, but in the grand scheme of things, it's okay to get less than an A. Don't break down if you lose 10 points on that chem lab (and yes I might still be bitter about that). Learn to be okay with your definition of "failure." Everything will turn out all right.