Nothing comes easy that is worth having. Filled with excitement, I was ready to start the Pharmacology Master’s program at Tulane. Our first week was filled with knowledge and resources prepping us for our first exam. Concomitantly, we began preparations for what was going to make landfall as a category 4 hurricane, Hurricane Ida. Ida destroyed the coast and left millions without power all through southern Louisiana and western Mississippi. I wanted to return back to the city and help in the recovery efforts, but no one was allowed in unless they were first responders. People lost their food, access to drinking water, and no air-conditioning, which is a big deal in the Louisiana heat.
As if enduring a global pandemic and a mass quarantine wasn’t enough, I moved to a new city and was then forced to evacuate for a major hurricane in a period of two weeks. Like so many of us, we hear all too often “these are trying times”. They are trying for a reason; it’s testing grit and strength. The communities in New Orleans overcame the huge adversity Hurricane Ida and the pandemic brought. It was amazing to see people all over our state, government leaders, and electrical linemen from our state, and those around us coming to help get this city back on its feet. I smiled as we pulled up to United Way, seeing so many people dropping off gas cans, water, food, and medical and cleaning supplies that were going to be delivered to the areas most affected, Houma and Lafitte. Even though these are “trying times” the sense of community has not been forgotten.
What a crazy way to start the school year. I didn’t know anyone starting the program, and now even after the hurricane made us go back to online learning, I have made 22 amazing friends. With just two exams under my belt, I have made the best decision in my life to come to Tulane. With the enormous amount of community service, the constant desire to innovate and research, and the eagerness of the students to learn and the professors to teach, I am truly ecstatic. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to do any volunteering this month because of the damage from Hurricane Ida. I will take the lessons learned from Hurricane Ida and apply them to my career at Tulane University. As things return to normalcy and more knowledge is gained, I continue to be eager and ready for what’s to come in this program.
