January

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 Spring 2026 - Volunteering Hours: 15

After returning from my visit to my parents, I came back to the program refreshed. I really enjoyed the first module on reproductive endocrinology, especially since, as a career-minded woman, I have had many experiences with birth control. It was also really fascinating to learn about diseases that are unique to women and people assigned-female-at-birth, especially after learning so much about conditions relating to erectile and prostate dysfunction. I am still adjusting to the new workload, which involves a lot more reading and presenting, with less emphasis on exams. 

So far this semester, I have been able to volunteer at the food pantry Saturday January 17th and the 24th, both for 6 hours. I also volunteered 3 hours on Martin Luther King Day, January 19th, cleaning up a public park in the lower ninth ward. Volunteering has been really fun, I made a commitment to be more consistent this semester, because reconnecting with the community I have through this organization is really fun and meaningful to me. It also helps me to feel like myself, especially when so much of my time is spent studying in isolation or taking care of my senior dog. Moreover, it is now only two months until my husband returns from his year-long deployment, and I am in high spirits anticipating his return. 

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