Thursday, April 30, 2015

The final post!

Wow, I can't believe it is all over! This year flew by! I feel like it was just yesterday that I started this program, and here I am writing my last post after the last exam we had today.  I have learned so much in this program and met some amazing people!

This past month, I was able to complete a lot of community service hours in Habitat for Community as well as with the Prom of Champions and through representing our program at the University of New Orleans' annual health fair.  By far, one of the most rewarding experiences was volunteering for the Prom of Champions that was put on by Children's Hospital of New Orleans. This prom was for children who are ill and receiving care at the hospital.  It was great to be able to volunteer and see these kids smile who are going through so much.  My friend Antonia also volunteered this event with me, as well as Kristin, who has volunteered at this event for many years.  Antonia worked one of the photo booths, Kristin worked the guest registration, and I worked the root beer float station, which was awesomely located within this huge candy bar! Not only did I make some awesome root beer floats, but we all got to enjoy a night of dancing and eating an unlimited amount of candy! Overall, it was a great experience and it was capped off with fireworks at the end of the evening and visits from two Saints players, who were both really wonderful with the kids and made many of their nights, including Antonia's haha.

Prom of Champions with Robert Meachem :)
Volunteering with Antonia to represent this program at the Health Fair was also really fun! We had many students who were very interested in learning more about the program and it was great to be able to tell them all about it and how much we think it really benefited us.  We also got to hang out with Sewann for the day, which was also really fun! 
Antonia, Sewann, and I representing Tulane's Masters of Pharmacology Program!

I can't forget to discuss the really fun adventure we had doing Habitat for Humanity this month either.  Kristin and I volunteered along with Gram and Ashtian who are also in the program.  We had a blast putting up the insulation on the side of the house and took a few opportunities to take some selfies of our progress haha. 
Hard hats on! (minus Gram...he was took cool for his at this point in time I guess) haha
Overall, I had such an amazing experience in this program and I can't believe it is all over.  Graduation is in a few weeks and my family will be coming down to celebrate.  I can't believe I have my Masters of Science....what a year it has been!

Total volunteering hours this semester: 
Second Harvest food bank: 2 hours
Habitat for Humanity: 16 hours 
UNO health fair: 5 hours
Prom of Champions: 8 hours 

Total hours this semester: 31 hours
Total hours in the program: 61 hours

Cait the Bostonian signing off! 




Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Getting towards the end!



March 31, 2015


Wow, I can't believe it is already the end of March! We just finished our huge shelf exam a few weeks ago and I am so relieved it is over.  Today we finished our second to last exam ever in the program! It finally hit me that we are graduating so soon the other day, as my Mom told me she can't wait to see me next month for graduation! Next month?!?! Time really has flown by and I am going to miss everyone in this program so much! 

I am really looking forward to this Thursday and Friday as Antonia, Kristin and I are volunteering for the Prom of Champions! This event is for children who are receiving treatment for cancer and blood disorders in New Orleans.  I can't wait to meet these children and help make their prom a great memory for them.  The Prom of Champions this year will be taking place in Champions Square and there is a red carpet event for these kids.  It really is a great program and I am really excited to get involved.  Also, this Thursday I will be volunteering again for Habitat for Humanity.  I am looking forward to spending more time volunteering as we now have more free time to spend helping out instead of studying so much.  I am also looking forward to my best friend from Florida coming down for my graduation.  I haven’t seen her in a few years, so it will be great to see her again and be a tourist with her in the city! This has been a challenging month, with our shelf exam and other exams crammed in, but it is all downslope from here (hopefully). 

Will update soon!


Cait the Bostonian


Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Mardi Gras Break

February 25th, 2015


Well, I can't believe it, but March is right around the corner! Looking back, I feel like this year has flown by! Mardi Gras was earlier this year than last year, so we were able to get a much needed break. We had two big exams back to back in the weeks prior, so it was great to be able to enjoy the parades after those exams and relax for a bit and enjoy the city.  Endymion was an absolute blast, and my best friend who is also in this program got some great news that she got into LSU medical school! Yay Antonia! I am super excited for her and proud of her for such an awesome accomplishment. I have decided that I am going to stay in New Orleans after this program and establish residency so I can try and join her next year at LSU New Orleans. I really love this city and I love the great people I have met through this program.

Antonia and I at Endymion right before she found out she got accepted to LSUmed!




A few days ago, we received an email about picking up our caps and gowns.  I haven't seen my family since Christmas, and given this awesome winter up in Massachusetts I so luckily avoided, my entire family is more than happy to fly down south for graduation haha.  I am excited to graduate and see everyone, but I will really miss everyone in this program so much.  We won our second flag football game the other day, after a tough first loss.  Our big win the other day was due to a forfeit by the other team haha but nevertheless we are 1-1 and were able to have a great practice during our scheduled game time.

We have one more med pharm block exam and then comes the studying for the huge NBME exam which is only a few short weeks away!

More updates to follow but I am thankful to be avoiding the Massachusetts snow and looking forward to getting my Louisiana license and becoming an official resident!

-Cait the Bostonian/ transitioning to NOLAian


Friday, January 23, 2015

The start of the last semester!

January 23, 2014


So, it is the start of the last semester already! I can't believe it! We already had our first exam and Mardi Gras is in the horizon, as well as the Super Bowl.  I am a little tired of hearing the deflate gate arguments, being a Patriots haha, but nevertheless, I love my team and can't wait for the Super Bowl! Woohoo! Go Pats!
Second Harvest Food Bank

A few weeks ago, I started my first volunteering of the semester as well.  A small group of us volunteered for Second Harvest, which is a non-profit organization that provides food for families in need.  We got to weigh a bunch of food items and package them in boxes for shipment.  It was kind of fun working the scales and boxing up the items (until I cut my hand of the scale not once, but twice). I am beginning to see a pattern in my volunteering where if anyone gets injured during the volunteer time, it is usually me haha. Oh well, at least I am surrounded by a bunch of soon-to-be doctors, so at least I am good hands! :)

The Tulane Masters' students are on the Second Harvest Wall of Volunteers!


I am excited to see what this semester is in store! I am also excited to start our co-ed flag football season...go team :).

Cait the Bostonian