Getting into the Spirit!

First of all, I want to thank EVERYONE who reads my blog. I really didn’t think that so many people would take the time out of their schedules to check out what’s going on in my life. I’m still getting used to this immediate response thing from people, whom I don’t directly speak to about my life’s happenings... but yes, THANK YOU for all of the encouragement, prayers, words of advice... etc

Research has been nonexistent over the past week. I feel REALLY bad and guilty. After I submitted my research update to my fellowship administrators, research took the back burner. It’s not like I can afford to do that though, because I have a five page paper due by August 15th, (which I am still not clear about), as well as a stack of articles to read, AS WELL AS a book list which I am sure has at least 50 books (of course I won’t get through all of them, but I would like to get through the important ones). As I told my research mentor, I see my project morphing even more, but as it does, it is becoming more concentrated. I have become interested in looking at the African American physician, not in the Jim Crow era as I originally expected, but in the Civil Rights Era. I still want to look at this figure in terms of his/her activism and fight for equality, but I want to look at them now in the context of hospital integration. It is a very interesting argument to look at within the black medical community: some advocated for the dissolution of black hospitals in the name of greater equality and integration, while others advocated maintaining black hospitals in an effort to accommodate “separate but equal” policies, at least until integration could be reached. But I will give more information about the evolution of my topic in posts to come.... as of right now; I have more pressing things to be concerned with

So, as you may recall, the non-profit that I work for-The Charlotte Coalition for Social Justice—is in a dire situation at the moment. Closing looks inevitable, which is very disappointing to me. I have been EXTEREMLY busy with my internship. As of now I have dropped my mental health project, because it is just physically impossible for me to maintain that, while also helping to shepherd this organization through a transitory period, and while maintaining yet another research project. Out of this dire situation, however, I am learning some valuable tidbits. Melissa (the other intern) and I are planning a press conference where students who have been affected by the organization can share their stories with the Charlotte community. It has been an ORDEAL…collecting media contact information….drafting and redrafting a media advisory and press release… editing statements for students…. Contacting students… and planning every little detail of the conference so that it runs smoothly. The press conference will occur tomorrow, so I hope it goes well! I might upload some video later.

And YES, I am still enjoying summer. I have been hanging out with friends, and taking breaks from everything in efforts to keep my sanity, but I have just been so BUSY! I would not have expected that this summer….Anyway, it is all for a good cause, and I am learning a lot—but I am ready to go back to school. I realized yesterday that I have little under a month to do everything I need to do here, and go back to school. Already I am beginning to speak more with students from school, beginning planning of events and meetings, while looking at my schedule of 18 credits. I will be SUPER involved this year (which I found out is the only way to keep me on top of academics is to keep me moving…with many extracurricular). There is still a little doubt in the corner of my mind though---am I taking on too much? I am the external VP of a diversity advocacy organization, I will more than likely have a work study job, I will be an alternate facilitator for an LGBT organization, I will probably be working with a friend on her design and diversity initiative, and I will be planning a pre-orientation program for next year, as well as planning my own design and diversity event (which I hope will be huge!).. All on top of 18 credits and research. Please don’t tell me that sounds like a lot because I KNOW that it is! But can I handle it? Of course I can…and if I can’t…well, I don’t know because I love EVERYTHING that I am doing.

Well. I’m just getting in the “back to school” spirit. Which reminds me...? I went to Target the other day, and they ALREADY have their back to school section set up… in JULY. I guess it’s never too early though! Here I come WUSTL