Week 1

This past week I started my volunteering at the San Jose Clinic. I had the orientation on Monday and volunteered on Wednesday. On Wednesday I had the opportunity to work with the secretaries and organize patient files. Usually when a patient enters the clinic they are given a blue piece of paper, where the doctor or nurse or whoever they see will write on it and then the patient is supposed to give it back to the secretaries and pay a very small amount. A lot of the time, patients may walk out with the sheet without knowing they need to give it in, as it is a free clinic. As well, sometimes the nurses throw them out. So my job is to look up the patients that may have done this, and organize the information. Did the patient truly come in that day? What were they seen for? Is there an out standing balance? Just straight forward stuff like that. But being that I don't want to be a doctor, I thought the best way to help the clinic would be to help with the paper work there.

A weird week

This week wasn't exactly the most productive week in reference to volunteering. The orientation was supposed to be yesterday, Saturday. However, being that it was the holiest day of my religion and thus I was unable to attend the orientation. Thus I haven't started volunteering yet.

HOWEVER, I made an appointment last week - as soon as I found out the orientation was on Saturday- with the volunteer coordinator at San Jose to have a private orientation tomorrow. So tomorrow- Monday September 20- I will be going for orientation at the San Jose Clinic.

When I spoke with the coordinator at the clinic last week, we discussed what I would like to volunteer in, and she said I might have the opportunity to work with patient files. That's honestly what I really wanted! Because I don't really want to deal with patients par ce, but I would love to learn how the clinics work from the inside.

I am super excited for the orientation and to start volunteering :)

The beginning...

This past week, I decided that I would apply for a volunteering position at the San Jose Clinic as part of the service learning element of cellular biology. I can't say that volunteering at an unserved clinic has ever really crossed my mind, but honestly? It's more than just being to fulfill a part of a class requirement or putting in on my Tri-Beta hours. It's definitely more than that

Last year, I volunteered at a health fair that was aimed toward the homeless. It was a life changing experience. I was volunteering with a friend. We would put packs together of essentials. Toothpaste, shampoos, socks, etc. Even underwear. Underwear! That was just shocking. I know that there are homeless people in this world, but to finally see what they are really missing. Well it was kind of a slap in the face, to be honest. I saw all sorts of different people volunteering their time to ensure that all people can have the same things. That everyone can get a flu shot, a fresh lunch, a blanket, shampoo, or a bunch of bagels.

It was daunting to realize truly how lucky we are. The way I can just go to the store and buy whatever food I may crave. It was truly an amazing experience, and I look forward to volunteering at the San Jose Clinic and seeing how it provides help to the under served people of Houston.

Hopefully, I will hear from Samantha Sherman tomorrow and will be able to begin my service learning project this coming week.