students

Roots of Revolution, Change, & Activism in America (Spring Break 2019)

On the road again!

Once again, I planned and participated in one of MUNDO’s alternative break experiences! This was yet another ‘education vacation’ and an opportunity for me to see a part of America for the first time in my life. It allowed me to deepen my knowledge about this nation’s history. This spring break 2019, we visited Colonial Williamsburg, VA, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Maryland to explore the theme of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Furthermore, we aimed to explore “Who tells your story?” because there are histories that are commonly known about whereas there are others that are unknown or hidden. Some individuals’ or groups’ histories and stories do not get told fully or even at all. For this spring break, we had a host of different experiences that enhanced our knowledge and challenged us to critically think and inquire. A few of them were visits to the Jamestown Settlement, National Holocaust Museum, and Great Blacks in Wax Museum, and a dinner with Pulitzer-Prize winning author, Wesley Lowery.

Fun Fact: MUNDO first went to D.C. in the spring of 2001. Ever since, the organization has gone back regularly (but not every school year). Each time is a different experience!

I used Canva to create an informational flyer.

The spring break action team held biweekly planning meetings in autumn semester and weekly meetings for spring semester. To be brief about our experiences coordinating the trip, we encountered many roadblocks and hurdles that helped our team strengthen and bond over obstacles. We were able to execute this experience successfully, with 20 participants (16 students and 4 OSU staff members/mentors). MUNDO partnered with the Morrill Scholars Program Learning Community so we had new faces and new perspectives. Our trip was predominantly underclassmen (first- and second-years!)

Here’s the day-to-day run-down:

Monday March 4th
The action team held a 30 minute Pre-Travel Meeting for the participants to attend, unless they had other circumstances that prevented them from coming. We added people to the GroupMe and shared a Google Drive folder with the itinerary, room assignments, and restaurants in D.C. and Williamsburg. In our presentation, we made sure to discuss what people should pack (such as packing layers of clothing to wear), and for specific days, people should wear nicer clothing – ‘snappy casual.’

Friday March 8th
I packed one large suitcase and stuffed my backpack full of items. I was most excited for Washington, D.C. and warmer weather.

Saturday March 9th
I slept about six hours before taking a Lyft to campus. MUNDO has three pick-up locations on campus: Archer House, Drake Performance Center, and the Ohio Union. We have an OSU charter bus throughout spring break, and I stocked four of its cubbies with snacks bought from Kroger. We had quite a stash of food for our participants, including Krispy Kreme donuts, apple sauce, Poptarts, apples, mini oranges, juice boxes, granola bars, chips, and fruit snacks. We also distributed MUNDO drawstring bags to each participant; each bag contained the itinerary and resource guide (with maps and lists of places to eat), a brown paper bag to store food, and Wesley Lowery’s book, They Can’t Kill Us All! Participants were encouraged to read the book on the bus ride since there were hours to spend.

Around 12:30 PM, we were in Lexington, VA and had an hour long rest to eat lunch. A large portion of us went to this restaurant called Cook Out, which has burgers, fries, and shakes, among other items. On the bus ride, I did online homework and was happy to be finished. I also spent time looking at classes for Autumn 2019 semester.

We reached Williamsburg, VA around 4 PM and checked in. We had free time until 6:00 PM when we met up for a group dinner. Dinner consisted of pizza and salad and we talked some more about the itinerary. That evening, I tried some ice cream from Bubba’s Ice Cream Shack just minutes away on foot from our hotel. The ice cream there was a tad expensive, but thankfully we used a buy-one-get-one-free coupon which made it more worthwhile. I had a great sleep at the hotel we were in; the bed was very comfortable.

Sunday March 10th
After an early breakfast at the hotel, we departed for a three-hour guided tour of Colonial Williamsburg. Our guide was named Mr. Drewry. I liked that he was honest and encouraged us to ask questions and challenge him. He was born and raised in the area and said he would spend the rest of his life here. This site is incredibly large that no single person can get through all of it in a day!
Here is the website for this living museum: https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/

We were ready for a day of exploration and education!


The group made our way to a silversmith, a jail, some homes, a carpenter’s area, and the Capitol Building. It was an information-packed time. My favorite part was visiting the silversmith. For some reason, I remembered the most from that session. It was interesting to see that people’s coins in the 18th century were literally cut in half to make a half-dollar. Coins could also be cut into fourths and eighths. Silver was also converted into jewelry and household items (spoons, coffee pots, bowls, etc.). A peer asked if people could get sick from using silver spoons for eating and the presenter replied that silver has antimicrobial properties.

I did find that the jails were very unhygienic at that time in history; this was not surprising to me though. Jail cells had poor ventilaton and usually had one window. Inmates would use a blanket to cover the window in the winter to block snow (and sunlight). They would relieve themselves in a corner, but the stench would be strong in the summers and winters.

This was where “the colony’s representatives struggled with the British governor over the meaning of American liberty.”

This tour provided me with greater insights into African Virginians in the early 1700s. Africans made up 52% of the population in Williamsburg. We heard stories of enslaved peoples and their experiences in this area. A salient point I remember is that when an enslaved person was new to the quarters of an estate, the other enslaved people already there would welcome the person in. They shared clothing and tools in crowded conditions. Their meals were simple and made out of one pot. Mr. Drewry, our tour guide, talked about some of his heroes and heroines from the colonial era. Some stories he told were saddening, but there were some that included triumphs and perseverance.


We took a break for lunch and explored the area on our own afterwards. I took the chance to quickly stop by the College of William and Mary to see what its campus looked like. A small group and I looked at a statue and one building. Since we were hungry for lunch, we left to get food. As we walked to a tavern, we saw a cow on a leash, bulls in a field, and plenty of people walking their dogs in Williamsburg. This was a pet-friendly environment. We found out that Chowning’s Tavern was closed, so we went to Trellis Bar & Grill. After lunch, we browsed in shops. My friend and I strolled through bookstores, a candy shop, and an outdoor festival. I appreciated this free time to explore; I purchased dessert from a festival vendor to support local and small businesses.

This public research university is the second oldest institution for higher education in America. The oldest is Harvard.


I ended the afternoon in Colonial Williamsburg with meandering through the Art Museums. I enjoyed viewing the installations at the Public Hospital for Persons of Insane and Disordered Minds, the first of its kind in British North America. It housed 24 patients and a live-in attendant in a remote area of Williamsburg. At the time, there was a belief that medical intervention in a hospital setting would cure insanity. Since its opening in 1773, mental illness treatment, and our knowledge of it, has transformed during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Seeing this exhibit appealed to me because I study public health and have interests in medical anthropology and history. Approaches to mental illness had a new outlook beginning in the mid-19th century, when caretakers used more optimism and kindness, which was referred to as moral management. Anyone could fall ill to mental illness. The hospital changed rooms to improve patient comfort (and health outcomes). Each patient still had their own room (called apartments) with wooden bed and furniture. The rooms looked more domestic and suitable for humans. The windows and walls were also different in order to give the sense of a welcoming environment. It was unsettling to see how patients were held in previous centuries, but comforting that eventually, medical practices and views changed.

In the early years, hospital cells felt like prison cells. Patients spent most of their times inside and were provided with a straw-filled bed, chamber pot, and blanket. There were no structured activities.


In another area of the museum, I gazed upon examples of American and British antiques and decorative art dating back to the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. There were also colonial and contemporary folk art pieces in the galleries.
In the late afternoon, we returned to the hotel for rest. Just a handful of us ate dinner before the evening activity.

In the evening, we embarked on the African American Music Experience, back at the same location, but inside one of its buildings. I did not know what to expect, but this was certainly a nontraditional discovery opportunity! (The NDO part of MUNDO stands for Nontraditional Discovery Opportunity). We stood the entire day and it was very interactive. In the hour or hour and a half we had, we began with singing Funga Alafia, which is a cheerful rhythm about welcoming and blessing. “Greetings I bring to you, ashe, ashe.” That was fun. Then we followed and sang along to other words in different African dialects. Another song I remember was in English and it was called “One Day.” Enslaved folks sung while they worked to keep their morale up and to preserve and pass along cultural traditions. Song and music can help people communicate and express their myriad of feelings, from despair and mourning to hope and encouragement. Additionally, singing along with others can uplift one’s own spirit and help form closer relationships over a shared struggle. We did several different dances and songs. Each of us also had to do our own unique dance which could not be similar to anyone else’s. It was also amazing to see MUNDO participants step up and help make rhythms using instruments like African drums. By the end of the night, we had some lighthearted fun while also learning about the realities of enslavement and how African people survived centuries of slavery and its aftermath and thrived.

The staff had wonderful voices and helped us sing, dance, and play instruments along with them.

Monday March 11th
We ate breakfast and stored our bags in the charter bus. We had a guided tour of the Jamestown Settlement, America’s first permanent English colony. It is a living history museum with indoor and outdoor displays, as well as replicas of ships and recreations of the original James fort from 1607 and a Powhatan Indian village. Our guide, a retiree and a veteran of two wars named Ali, started us inside the museum to walk us through history of colonization and settlement. We actually know and use Algonquian language without realizing it: the words skunk, raccoon, Potomac, and tomahawk are Algonquian. In addition, many words in everyday English come from Native American languages.

The group witnessed a musketeer firing a rifle. Some of us also tried on musketeer armor and helmets!

To briefly explain Jamestown and its history, from what I took in from our guide, Europeans came over to this land we now call America for economic, religious, and political reasons. Some came to settle to escape persecution, but there were some with insidious intentions who wanted to exploit the rich resources of the land and other negative actions. Some Europeans were colonizers. Building this settlement and building this nation required human, natural, and capital resources. In 1618, the first documented Africans arrived in Virginia for indentured servitude. By the middle of the century, slavery was incorporated. These facts and findings about Jamestown was more eye-opening for me because it added to my knowledge of colonialism, specifically in the context of Virginia.

I enjoyed learning about Powhatan life. Women did farming, harvesting, cooking, and childrearing. Men hunted and fished. Farming accounted for at least half of people’s food supply, but people, including many elementary school visitors, think that hunting is the main source of food for Indians. Something else I learned was Pocahontas’s story and role in saving America. Pocahontas is a nickname given to her by her father because she was his “playful child.” She was an important figure who helped bring peace between the Powhatans and English while she was alive. It is intriguing that she is a popular Native American figure and there are many books, poems, and films about her, including the Disney film. Stories about her can differ and we do not know the entirety of her short life, but I learned much more about her from my visit to Jamestown (and later on, D.C.’s National Museum of the American Indian).

Overall, I really liked the Jamestown tour and how much history and information we were provided. It did not feel like we were being lectured at. Our guide emphasized a few points: 1) each culture is great and valid; no culture is better than the other. 2) We should thank our teachers/educators sincerely because without teachers, society would not function. Teaching is an often underappreciated profession, but teaching helps pass on knowledge to younger generations.

An actor shared with us facts about Powhatan lifestyles in the 17th century.
“The re-created Powhatan Indian village is based on archaeological findings at a site once inhabited by Paspahegh Indians, the Powhatan tribal group closest to Jamestown, and descriptions recorded by English colonists.”
From historyisfun.org

For more information on Jamestown, this summary should suffice:
https://www.historyisfun.org/jamestown-settlement/history-jamestown/

We went on to our next city, Washington, D.C.! Some students take a class trip to D.C. during middle school or high school; this is a phenomenon for Ohio students for some reason. I was supposed to go in eighth grade but it did not end up happening. Perhaps it was because of funding issues, as I attended a public school in a low-income inner-city. I always wondered when I would get to see the nation’s capital, and finally as a 21-year-old, I was able to!

After arriving and checking in, we had the rest of the time to explore. My friends and I walked to the Washington Monument, where we ran into public health Buckeyes, and then we headed to Chinatown. The D.C. Chinatown area is smaller than the ones in NYC and L.A. of course. It also is different in terms of atmosphere and feel compared to my hometown Cleveland’s AsiaTown. For this spot in D.C., many establishments had signs in English letters and Chinese characters. I enjoyed looking at the architecture of buildings and the traditional entrance gate. A group and I had dinner here in a family-owned restaurant called New Big Wong. We got bubble tea afterwards at a Vietnamese-owned cafe that sells banh mi sandwiches and Taiwan-invented bubble tea. It was a good evening.

“Full stomachs and happy hearts” is how I like to describe our dinner.


In the future, I want to delve into the history of this Chinatown because from what I have briefly researched online and noticed in person from walking on the streets, there is some gentrification going on. Apparently, many people of Chinese descent have been driven out of this historic area. Gentrification is not a new occurrence for communities of color, and as someone who is passionate about sociology and social justice, I want to examine this issue and its effects.
For more information on Chinatown:
https://www.tripsavvy.com/chinatown-washington-dc-neighborhood-guide-1039373

Tuesday March 12th
The D.C. hotel does not provide breakfast, so we are responsible for finding food ourselves. I tried to eat leftovers of my beef chow fun, a Cantonese Chinese dish, but I wish I had eaten more filling and nutritious food as well. In the morning, our group walked together to the Smithsonian Castle, home to the Smithsonian Visitor Center. This is a good stop to get oriented to the Smithsonian museum complex. It is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex. I learned about the history of the museum and how an Englishman named James Smithson founded the Institute to promote and diffuse knowledge and learning around in America.

Smithsonian Castle. Source: smithsonianmag.com

A few friends and I had a small window of time to wander the halls of the Freer Art Gallery. We only had 20-25 minutes to look around, and part of the time, we spent in the gift shop. I did not get to go back to this art gallery later in the week for its exhibits and gift shop. However, I saw Asian art pieces when I was there. In particular, I saw Buddhist and Hindu ancient art and shrines. It would be nice to visit D.C. again to get to the museums and art galleries I did not get to the first time I was in the city.

Information on the Institute: https://www.si.edu/Museums/smithsonian-institution-building

Our MUNDO group visited the National Holocaust Museum. This was self-guided, so we went at our own pace. I have been to a holocaust museum in Cleveland and Los Angeles, and now this one in D.C., where I learned even more about the genocide. I had a card with the name and photo of a young girl; as I progressed through the museum, I learned what happened to her and her family. She did not make it out of the Holocaust alive, and perished in a camp.

I took photos of many of the walls that had text descriptions on them. A few facts I want to share are:

– By 1939, there were less havens available for Jewish refugees. Latin American countries took in around 39,600 Jewish people, and 15,000 people found safety in Shanghai. In October 1941, emigrating out of Nazi Germany was forbidden. It was upsetting that America did not let in as many refugees as they could have, in part because of anti-immigration sentiment.
– Some Jewish children who were sick and hospitalized were killed by starvation, lethal injections, or overdoses of medicine. About 30 institutions carried this heinous practices out, intentionally harming instead of helping. These “special children’s wards” were also places where any youth with disabilities, mental or physical, were killed. German physicians carried out Operation T4 to eradicate the Jewish people and preserve genetic impurity. Learning of this was atrocious to me; it was especially horrific hearing how children were treated.

Here are hundreds of photos of people in a Jewish community in Eishishok, in what is now Lithuania. These are from 1890 to 1941.

In the museum there is also an exhibit about the systemic killings occurring in Syria since 2011. This is the greatest humanitarian crisis since World War II. Half of Syria’s population, 11 million, have fled. While I have heard about this crisis in the news, I have not done much thorough investigation of my own. It feels removed from me for some reason, and I know that I should do something like educate myself and/or donate. I should share this information so that we do not turn a blind eye to this issue of human rights as well.

Here is the website for the museum: https://www.ushmm.org/

After the National Holocaust Museum, I went straight to another museum, which also dealt with heavy history: The National Museum of African American History. I spent a few hours here, and was not able to read every detail. I learned a lot here as well. The museum began in the basement, where we were introduced to Africa in the 1400s. Slavery was not yet based on perceptions of race and it was a temporary status. People traded gold, salt, and spices. Later on, the concept of whiteness developed, along with other races to categorize people and ascribe characteristics to them. Race was also a factor in determining freedom, like in the case of John Punch. He and two European servants tried to run away but were caught and trialed. The white indentured servants had added-on time for their service, but Punch was sentenced to a life of enslavement. This was unbelievable.

This exterior design resembles a golden basket to me.

In addition to the exhibits on slavery, I found this learning center fascinating. There were interactive stations and I engaged with one of them, where I learned how people find artifacts in the deep Atlantic Ocean to help us uncover some more of the story of the slave trade. On other museum floors, I saw African American music and art, and how those influenced our world to this day. African Americans have made so many contributions to society and are an integral part of our history. This was not the first African American history museum I have been to; the first one was in Detroit, but this one was the largest! You can spend a whole day here if you want to devote intense interest to the museum.

I liked a quote on the wall: “The great force of history comes from the fact that we carry it with us, are unconsciously controlled by it… History is literally present in all that we do.” – James Baldwin
This quote will stick with me, since I hold history to be so important and necessary in understanding the world around me. From the museum’s food court, I enjoyed delicious, soul-soothing mac and cheese and corn bread. I recommend these two items! After that, I returned to the hotel for a quick rest.

MUNDO attended a Shear Madness performance at the Kennedy Center. I was in charge of booking seats for this murder comedy show. We had to keep contacting the center to update them on how many seats to reserve. I liked the show as it was interactive and funny, and I liked how they used retro colors and styles. It was similar to the movie Clue. During the intermission, we were able to talk to the performers to try to figure out who committed the crime. The performance was a nice way to end the night.

Wednesday March 13th
We completed service in the morning at A Wider Circle, in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Our group spent about three hours with this organization, and I really enjoyed volunteering here to help with organizing the different sections. Some people worked on making furniture and glass look polished and like new. Other people sorted out donations and even unloaded furniture from a truck. Those in the workforce development room worked on tidying up the areas and sorting belts, clothing, and shoes in preparation for a major event. Later, some of us examined puzzle boxes from the children’s section and counted the number of puzzle pieces in each box to make sure nothing was missing. This was all a fun experience for me. I learned about this great community-based organization that wants to continue growing and offering all that it can to support anyone in need.
They help people make houses or apartments into homes, help secure jobs and look good for the workforce, and help families make the most of what they have.

Expand your mind and expand your efforts at http://awidercircle.org/ 

The next group activity was our tour of the Capitol! 

Our tour guide was engaging and charismatic. She was open to all of our questions. She, like many people in D.C. in her words, is not from the area.

MUNDO had to do an OH-IO in front of the Capitol building!

While the architecture of the Capitol was gorgeous and impeccable, there was one room with many paintings and sculptures that made us think deeper into the art. No enslaved peoples were in any of the art in the room. There were a few Native Americans and these depictions were often racist as they painted these indigenous Americans as non-human/sub-human. There was a large painting of Pocahontas being baptized and becoming “white” or “acceptable.” Her true story rarely gets told, and I wonder why this is the case. Congress has the ability to change out these paintings and commission new ones that can tell the story of America better, and bring justice to the lives of Native Americans and African/African Americans as well as other people of color who built this stolen nation.

Our tour ended at 4:30 PM and we were free until 6:15 PM, when we had to be back at the hotel. I rushed to the U.S. Botanic Garden, an attraction on my bucket list. When I finally made my way into the building, I had about 10 minutes to zoom through its galleries and set my eyes on the lush vegetation and landscapes. A peer took photos of me before we were asked to leave. I’d love to return in the summer when everything is in bloom.

In the evening, MUNDO had a group dinner with Ohio State alumni at Harriet’s, a family-style restaurant inside of our hotel.

Thursday March 14th
This was a free day for MUNDO participants. I spent time with friends eating breakfast at a café called Abe’s Café (there are two locations). We stayed there for a while to work on homework and applications. I finished a study abroad scholarship application and had a friend look it over. We then went to Smithsonian museums of our choice! First up was the Library of Congress. Three of us went to get our library cards! The rooms of the library were marvelous. If I lived in D.C., I would check out some books and study in that library. What a great resource for people who want to learn and research any topic of choice.

My friend Kayla snapped this shot of me on this sunny day of exploration.

Then one friend and I explored the National Museum of the American Indian. Prior to this, I had never been to a museum dedicated towards Native American history and heritage. I was very thankful that this museum existed to educate people and celebrate the many diverse cultures and traditions of different Native groups.

Did you know? About 60% of the world’s diet today is derived from Native American foods, such as potatoes, chilies, tomatoes, and chocolate! Native Americans also grew a variety of food together, which is called biodiversity and lead to healthier crops. European colonists, on the other hand, used monocultures, which is not the most beneficial for agriculture.

This museum offers information and artifacts about American Indians in the Western Hemisphere of the world.
https://americanindian.si.edu/about

My friend and I witnessed a Native American man perform a song he wrote; he is a scholar and artist. This performance was a nontraditional discovery opportunity, and he opened the floor to questions from the audience: three from children and three from adults. We explored the museum and learned of different communities and their ways of life. I learned how different groups perceived their universes. We looked at the:
Pueblo of Santa Clara (New Mexico)
Anishinaabe (Canada)
Lakota (South Dakota)
Quechua (Peru)
Hupa (California)
Q’eq’chi’ Maya (Guatemala)
Mapuche (Chile)
Yup’ik (Alaska)

It is our duty to pass these teachings on to succeeding generations 
For that is the way to keep our traditions alive

Emil Her Many Horses, NMAI, 2003

These exhibits, including the introductory video NMAI suggests you watch on the top floor, was eye-opening for me and helped me gain a greater appreciation for Native Americans and their legacies. I would not have gotten all of this information and insight elsewhere. I strongly believe that all school curricula should have comprehensive sections on Native Americans and their experiences. I remember learning about them in second grade and fifth grade. As an adult, I have a more nuanced understanding of the complex histories. I still want to learn more and one way I can do this is to find books and works from indigenous scholars themselves.

I had an Indian taco from the food court. It had buffalo chili, which tasted like normal chili to me. I paired the meal with a refreshing agua fresca.

Afterwards, I checked out the NMAI gift shop and debated on what to get from there. Leaving empty-handed except for educational pamphlets, we embarked for the National Portrait Gallery. According to the gallery curators, it is a place for our nation’s stories to be told. The arts are a window to our history. The first major sculpture my friends and I saw was the dying Tecumseh, a key player in the Indian resistance to America’s expansion into the Midwest. We saw portraits and sculptures of important figures who played a role in shaping America. I was more interested in figures who are alive today, although everyone is important. I especially liked the most up-to-date exhibit. In particular, Michelle Obama’s and Barack Obama’s portraits were absolutely outstanding. This art gallery had pieces related to responses to the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement, and other events. It is a very interesting gallery aimed to provoke emotion and thought.

The artist displayed on the TV screens what he associated with each state.

The last part of the day was spent having dinner and conversation with Mr. Wesley Lowery, a journalist at The Washington Post. We ate at Ollie’s Trolley, around the block from the hotel. It was a fantastic opportunity to hear from him and his upbringing in Ohio and his experiences as a journalist fighting for justice. According to his biography,  he was a lead on the Post’s “Fatal Force” project that won the Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting in 2016 as well as the author of They Can’t Kill Us All: Ferguson, Baltimore, and a New Era in America’s Racial Justice Movement. In 2017, he became a CNN political contributor.

Mr. Lowery went to Ohio University with a MUNDO staff mentor, who helped us connect with Lowery and coordinate this meeting. For about an hour and a half, we had his presence. He explained to us how he had always known he would pursue journalism. It was an enlightening conversation. We asked him questions during dinner as well as afterward. I still struggle with coming up with questions to ask guests. It is something I need to work on. I also read a little bit of his book, but not all of it. It is on my to-do list.

For the rest of the night, a few peers and I looked around in the H&M store down the street from us. We tried on clothes and had fun. That was it for the night. I knew I should turn in at a reasonable time to get sufficient sleep, and for the most part, I have slept fine in Hotel Harrington.

Ollie’s burgers are good. The fries are seasoned with 27 spices, they boast! Sadly I could not try one of their shakes; the machine broke right before it got to me.

Friday March 15th
We had a free morning to do our final exploration of D.C.. I got to visit Palmer Alley, which had beautiful pink lanterns to celebrate cherry blossom season. This is a great spot for photographs! Also, this spot is pretty close to Chinatown. I wanted to see more art installations and murals around, but I did not want to go alone to these spots, and there was a limited amount of time.

In the summer, the lanterns get switched out for beach balls.

At 2:15 PM, we met up for an afternoon walking tour. MUNDO walked all the way to the Tidal Basin, and around it, we met with our guide. We started at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial and then made our way to the Korean War Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and Vietnam War Memorial. This was an interesting tour with tons of tidbits of facts. Many people were touring the area and looking at the memorials.

 

On the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, we took a nice photo. 10 students and one MUNDO advisor are in the photo!

We had the evening free to ourselves after the tour. I met up with a friend from the summer research program I did in summer 2018! I am fortunate that she lives and goes to school in the DC area, and her spring break had just started as mine was coming to a close. We went to Ricebar for dinner, where we caught up over our meal, and then walked to The Wharf at the suggestion of my friends. At the Wharf, there’s a substantial amount of seafood sold, which is not surprising. Then there are restaurants and bars all around. I want to return here as well. If we had walked all the way down its boardwalk, we would have seen the giant swings that my friends got to go on. My friend and I went to get red velvet cupcakes and we ended the night. It is hard to find cheap desserts in DC. The cupcakes were $3 or so, which is not too bad because they were quite tasty and rich.

(For the week in DC, I gave myself an allowance of $200 to spend on food and souvenirs. A month later at the time of this posting, I still have not checked exactly how much I spent. I know I saved a significant amount of money by using an app where certain dishes from restaurants were $1 and I had credit on the app so I was getting free meals once a day! The app is called Ritual.)

Saturday March 16th
We had an early breakfast before checking out and storing our bags on the bus. At 8:00 AM, we departed for Baltimore, Maryland for a tour of the Great Blacks in Wax Museum. I believe this was my first time going to a wax museum. (There were a lot of ‘firsts’ for me on this trip). This museum was certainly unique and unforgettable, as it presented Black individuals in life-size dimensions, and they were quite realistic. There was so much to this museum. We began with the slave trade and I learned more pieces to the story. My knowledge of the world is constantly expanding. It was such an experience to see the figures accompanied with text to explain the context.

I saw so many important figures, some of whom I learned about in elementary school during African American History Month. My school’s library teacher taught me the most about civil rights and social justice. She taught me lessons that I take with me to this very day. Educators like her have inspired me in ways that I cannot express verbally. All over the museum were African Americans as pioneers in fields where nobody looked like them, as warriors and fighters in the midst of tumultuous times, as dissenters and activists to get their rights. There were many people I was unaware about, and this filled I recommend this museum too. My favorite part was seeing the wax figure of Barack Obama and the poems that people wrote about him.

Here is more about the museum: http://www.greatblacksinwax.org/index.html 

We had lunch in the Baltimore Inner Harbor before continuing on the long journey back to Columbus, Ohio.
The inner harbor is a historic seaport, tourist attraction, and landmark for the city of Baltimore. My small group of friends ate at Shake Shack. We were originally going to eat at Cheesecake Factory but our party of seven would have had to wait 45 minutes before sitting down. After eating, we perused Barnes & Noble. I also want to return to this harbor to try out the dragon boats available for tourists! I’ve rowed a boat before in Finland, but I want to try a boat here in America. We had a short time in the Harbor. I wanted to finish this blog on the bus ride, but slept for several hours. Surprisingly, by 7 PM, MUNDO reached The Ohio State University’s campus! I was happy we had gotten back before it was dark outside. Even more so, I was relieved that this experience was successful.

Source: Baltimore.org

REFLECTION
This experience was the most stressful to plan to this date. The frustrating aspects of planning were the government shutdown making us wonder about how we would adjust our agenda, participant recruitment, participants canceling, and museum and tour bookings. Since our group’s number of participants changed constantly, it was difficult to give museums and service sites an exact count. Being an action team member has sharpened my skills in patience, public speaking, problem solving, communicating, planning, budgeting, and email etiquette. I also helped facilitate Monday MUNDO meetings that connect and contribute to the themes of our experience. Furthermore, I was the administrator for the group’s GroupMe, where we communicate with each other. I put in reminders for where the group had to be and what they had to do for each activity. Additionally, I am pleased that we had a smaller-sized group because it was easier for us to fit into spaces and navigate museums. We got to know each other better as well. We discussed heavy and controversial topics and found common ground. My peers are very admirable and interesting.

I look forward to planning and participating in more MUNDO experiences. For the 2019-2020 school year, MUNDO is going to New York City for fall break, Los Angeles for winter break, and Charleston, South Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; and Savannah, Georgia for spring break. I would like to be a part of the Action Team for both winter and spring breaks to continue to create meaningful experiences and further explore the country.

Tune in next year when I serve, learn, and lead even more with my beloved student organization, MUNDO!

CHAMPS: Careers in Health and Medical Professions

In June 2017, I had the opportunity to work with the 2017 cohort of CHAMPS: Careers in Health and Medical Professions, a three-week long academically enriching summer institute held at Cleveland State University. Cleveland residents and 1st ring high school students of Cleveland are able to participate at no cost to them, thanks to the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation and The Cleveland Foundation. Founded in 2009, CHAMPS is “an academic and skills-based program designed for high school students who are interested in professional careers in the medical and/or health fields.”

Cleveland State University photograph of its Student Center

Students in the summer cohorts build awareness of medical and health careers while increasing their science and math knowledge. CHAMPS improves college readiness and sharpens the students’ personal skills through the hands-on activities and interaction with students from other high schools, teachers, college professors, and career professionals in a college laboratory setting. The 2017 program officially began June 12th and would last until June 30. Each of the 24 students would receive a $650 stipend after completing the program! Coming into CHAMPS, I was hopeful that I would serve as a great role model for the high school students and complete my duties efficiently and diligently. My position was being a college mentor and assisting the teachers and students. The camp was from 9 am to 3 pm Monday through Friday.

No automatic alt text available.
The fun and learning does not cease after the program ends each summer! There are four Academic Year Follow Up
meetings for the students to participate in as well. Students have engaged in activities such as first aid & CPR training,
and learned about immunology and the different body systems.
This year, the research revolved around testing and evaluating the effectiveness of various spice extracts and
their antibacterial effects. These would then be compared to effects of known antibiotics. Students would review
scholarly articles, write a paper, and present their findings to the rest of the cohort. The students were divided
randomly into six groups, each group studying either garlic, cinnamon, clove, ginger, cumin, or turmeric for the
three weeks. They would do a lot of the research independently and collaborate together to present as the six groups
at the end-of-program banquet/luncheon. This banquet would be open to their families and teachers to attend.
In charge of the program is Dr. Ferguson. He has three high school teachers facilitate the lessons/lectures: Mr. Keller,
Ms. Stuhm, and Ms. Girard. There were two student workers, Jackie, and Jemima, and then two AmeriCorps members
named Constantine and Stephanie, who plan to attend medical school in the future! I was assistant also and got to
interact with the teens and accompany them on the field trips.

 

 

 

Summer Curriculum

Week One

  • Monday: Administrative Tasks, Team Building, Spice Research, Antibiotic Research
    • This day was spent doing icebreakers and introductions and getting students settled into the program. Drawstring backpacks containing journals, pencils, pens, post-it notes, and a ruler were given so students could keep lab notebooks and remain organized during their activities. In the afternoon, they read articles about antibiotics and resistance to gain background on the topics for the institute. Each of the six groups presented to the class about their specific article.

      This was one aisle of the lab we were in. There were about four aisles total.

  • Tuesday: Aseptic Technique Intro, Agar Preparation
    • Students received their own lab coats and neon biohazard safety goggles and were able to begin the hands-on lab activities. Each group chose a spice to study. They also prepared agar using beakers, graduated cylinders, petri dishes, hot plates, and heat gloves. This can be an hours-long process to boil, but the students were patient. Agar is a medium that can be used to grow microbe cultures.

      Cart full of flasks containing agar

      Boiling the agar

  • Wednesday: Broth Media Preparation, Spice Extract Preparation
    • Students continued with their experiments using their group’s spice. I witnessed them pounding their spice using mortar and pestle, and then pouring over it using water and mixing it with a type of alcohol until it got to a consistency of a Slushy drink.

      Which spice is this?

      They then poured this into a funnel and over a filter to get it into a beaker.

      A colorful array

      They poured their agar onto plates, like the one shown.

      Photo is from Wiki Commons

    • We also attended a talk/Q&A session with Dr. Sonja Harris-Haywood, M.D. and M.S., who is a very distinguished and diligent professional! I learned that it’s not about natural gifts or intelligence; a lot of efforts can be obtained through GRIT. She struggled with dyslexia, which lead to difficulties especially in English classes, but her competitiveness helped her overcome this. She forced herself to keep at it and not give up because her passion was medicine. I had to leave early but I am glad the students got to hear about her experiences and how some bad grades do not determine someone’s worth or mean that they are automatically excluded from success. Even failing all her classes freshman year, she turned it all around.
      (Read more about her here: https://www.csuohio.edu/news/dr-sonja-harris-haywood-appointed-director-neomed-csu-partnership-for-urban-health)

      Dr. Harris-Haywood telling us about how GRIT got her places

  • Thursday: Bacterial inoculations, OT lab experience
    • We inoculated broth media and used the bacteria: e. Coli, staphylococcus epidermidis, enterococcus faecalis, and klebsiella pneumonia. Afterwards, students researched the morphology, habitat, transmission, symptoms, and treatment of each bacteria. CHAMPS has our own collection of MacBook’s for the students to use!
    • We attended a session with an Occupational Therapist! Dr. Keptner has a Ph.D. in epidemiology and biostatistics, and has had experience in hospitals, schools, and other places. She has worked with people of all ages, and people who committed criminal offenses, who were injured at work, or suffer from mental illnesses. This was my first time meeting an OT and learning what the field is all about! I learned an enormous amount about what the work entails as well as what innovations are available to improve people’s lives and help them with functioning tasks like eating, sleeping, using the restroom, etc. I was left amazed at how this field is so versatile and influential.

      “OT, OT, is never much love when we go OT” – Drake

      (http://facultyprofile.csuohio.edu/csufacultyprofile/detail.cfm?FacultyID=K_KEPTNER)

  • Friday: Plate spreading, adding extract to plates, serial dilutions
    • This day was the most lab-heavy (we spent all day in the lab in our disposable lab coats and goggles). Students did serial microbiology, spread plates, and added their spice extracts and antibiotics to these plates. I was more involved in going around to each group to assist them through the over 20 step procedures.

      A kid was amazed that I knew most of the 24 students’ names already! Honestly, it was not that hard to learn their names; plus, it make anyone feel special when someone knows their name. We accomplished so much this day. On Monday, we will be checking to see where and in which Petri dishes the bacteria grew, and if the students’ hypotheses were correct for whether a spice or an antibiotic would have more antimicrobial activity than the other.

      A microbiology lab at CSU

      Listening to and watching the teacher demonstrate is very important. This is in our normal lab room.

Week Two

  • Monday: Dittrick Medical Museum, Creating Data Tables, Measuring Zone of Inhibit, Research Paper Intro, PT Lab Experience
    • First thing in the morning, we took our first field trip to the Dittrick Museum of Medical History, located on Case Western Reserve University’s campus. I LOVED the museum! It’s filled with images, artifacts, rare books, and archives. The walls are super thick because the architects/builders wanted to ensure these items wouldn’t be harmed from explosions/bombs back in the day. We went up an ornate staircase, where we saw two massive paintings of Greek gods/goddesses.

      The beginning of our tour of the Dittrick Medical History Museum

      The CHAMPS cohort, minus Dr. Ferguson, and Jackie and Jemima
      Photo credit: Ms. Girard
      Bottom row in the middle are Constantine and I

      Next were rooms of books, and some students were there studying (most likely medical students). A Research Associate named Dr. Brandy gave us a tour and provided us with valuable information about how medicine has come a long way. I could tell she was so passionate about what she does, because she kept us engaged and hanging on her every word! We learned about the origins of defibrillators and stethoscopes. We learned about how/why contraceptives were banned and that literature about it was seen as obscene. I was amazed at everything, and I will definitely return to continue looking at the artifacts here. Some parts of the museum were interactive, like a four-panel touch-screen TV wall. The galleries range from diagnostic instruments to doctor’s offices in 1870s and 1930s to surgery to hospital medicine, and much more. It’s FREE to the public so please check it out!!

      Source URL:http://case.edu/affil/skuyhistcontraception/exhibit/still-link-panorama.jpg

      https://dittrickmuseumblog.com/
      http://artsci.case.edu/Dittrick/

    • In the afternoon, students reviewed their petri dishes and measured in millimeters the Zone of Inhibition, or the area where there is no growth of bacteria. I helped a few groups figure out how to measure and record the data into their lab journals. Some growth was peculiar and I was instructed to call this “experimental error.”

      Me examining a student’s petri dish’s growth of bacteria

      This student group calls themselves the Professional Savages, but they’re actually the sweetest bunch of kids.

      One of my favorite parts of this job is the students and their unique personalities.

    • We then went to the Center for Innovations in Medical Professions building down the street from us at CSU and interacted with Doctor of Physical Therapy students and staff! We saw and got to touch different aids like walkers and crutches, and balanced on different balances (some square shaped, some circular, and some were foam mats). We also got into wheelchairs to test our maneuverability in an obstacle course.

      Physical therapy – for athletes, the disabled, the elderly, and more

       

  • Tuesday: NEON Medical Center Visit, Effect of Drugs Lab
    • In the morning, we visited Northeast Ohio Neighborhood Health Services, Inc. (NEON Health Services) at one of their seven locations, in the Hough neighborhood of Cleveland. They are a Federally Qualified Health Center and  provide accessible, community-based health care in a sensitive, caring environment. There’s dental services, family medicine, primary care, optometry, pharmacy, podiatry, nutrition and behavioral health. Everyone was friendly to us and welcomed us warmly to NEON.

      Ms. Saleem, a very animated, friendly woman who one CHAMPS participant said reminded him of his grandmother, to her face

      We were greeted by a provider relations manager, health administration intern, pre-med student, and diabetes empowerment program coordinator. After an introduction about the facility, we learned about the Ohio Infant Mortality Reduction Initiative from Ms. Saleem, a Centering Pregnancy Coordinator. She talked with us about infant mortality, including in Cuyahoga County, and she shed light on the subject and I found out that in 44128 (Warrensville Heights), the rate for infant mortality was especially high for African American babies. This can be attributed to multiple factors like families being higher up on the career ladder experiencing more stress and pressure from jobs, and from racial discrimination from healthcare providers.

      Centering Pregnancy room at NEON-Hough. It’s a group setting so pregnant women bond with each other while coming in for their exams.

      Additionally, we learned what a Baby Box is. Ms. Saleem asked us many questions so we would play an active part in the discussion and retain this information better! Later we heard from Mr. White, Daddy Boot Camp coordinator, and he was extremely funny while relaying his information. We took a tour of the health center; I saw some adult medicine waiting rooms, the Centering Pregnancy room in the basement, and an X-ray room. It never ceases to amaze me that I learn a great deal each day I am with CHAMPS!

      The baby box is multi-purpose. It carries supplies but can also serve as a bed for the baby, which comes in handy especially when being transported between parents and to caregivers like grandparents’ homes. Also, some people cannot afford cribs.

      http://www.neonhealth.org/
      https://www.babyboxco.com/

    • The afternoon comprised of an Effects of Drugs lab, in our chemistry lab classroom. Each of the six groups were given a different drug, such as aspirin, caffeine, adrenaline, lactic acid, and nicotine. We used live organisms: brine shrimp, or daphnia (basically sea monkeys) to test the effects of the drug on their body systems. The students measured how many times a shrimp subject would flap its appendages for 30 seconds, and do this for a total of three trials. They multiplied this number to get the number of beats per 60 seconds. This would serve as the baseline, for comparison. After adding the drug, they counted how many times their shrimp flapped, for 30 seconds, and multiplying it for 60 seconds. They then recorded the increase or decrease in beats per 30 seconds and for 60 seconds. They also found the averages for this data. Sadly, many of the shrimp died, as their lifespan is incredibly short.

      Daphnia (Rest in Peace)

  • Wednesday: Center for Innovations in Medical Professions (CIMP) Building Tour
    • The entire morning, we spent in the CIMP building at CSU, which opened in 2015 and is 100,000 square feet. It cost $47 million to complete.

      Outside view of the Center of Innovations in Medical Professions building, in the center of CSU’s campus

      We heard from a nurse, an audiologist, and speech-hearing pathologist. We watched videos about these three career fields. We also toured part of the building, which truly is a work of art. It’s a hub of activity because there’s nurse simulation labs here, as well as a health & wellness clinic that all students and staff can access. Furthermore, there’s a healthy café, speech & hearing clinic, OT/PT rooms, Distance Learning rooms, meeting rooms, and quiet study areas.

      Audiologist and speech & hearing pathologist!

      It was exciting to visit the audiology rooms and speech-hearing therapy rooms as well as to hear about some experiences the professionals had that make their work worthwhile.

      An audiology testing area

      We stopped by an audiology therapy room, which has a ball pit (one child patient can only focus and cooperate when in the ball pit) and also a tall cylindrical lamp that contains water and changes colors (this helps kids focus, too.)

      A therapeutic room for all ages

      We visited one training room where a man in the CSU-NEOMED (Northeast Ohio Medical University) Partnership program spoke to us about blood pressure. Two students checked their blood pressure. The ideal number is 120/80.

      A nursing simulation lab with a realistic, responsive mannequin boy with ‘flushed red cheeks’

      We went into a nursing simulation lab, which had over a handful of mannequins (they do not like being called dummies.) Only two mannequins were specialized and much more technological. They could sweat and cry as if they were real! A voice (the nursing instructor) could emit from their mouths. The eyes could open and close. It was very fascinating. These mannequins are extremely heavy and costly. The nursing program here truly strives to make this setting as realistic as they can for the students to learn and treat the patients. For example, to create a foul smell from a wound, the instructor would combine parmesan juice and lemon juice, I believe. They actually have a book with ‘recipes’ on how to construct different wounds and bodily fluids/acids.

      Additionally, we discussed the Iron Lung, which was a key invention that helped people suffering from polio. Iron lungs are no longer needed in this day, thanks to Jonas Salks’ vaccine for polio in 1955! The disease is basically eradicated completely. In one corner of the CIMP building is an iron lung, painted in a bright pastel yellow color. It suits its nickname “The Yellow Submarine.”

      Iron Lung, donated by MetroHealth Medical Center to the Center of Innovations in Medical Professions

      Overall, it was a wonderful tour that expanded my knowledge some more. For example, we were told the distinction between a BSN and RN. BSN is an academic degree while an RN is a license and depends on the state one practices in. Another fact/life tip was that if you have headphones on and cannot hear someone talk normally to you, your music/audio is too loud! In this century, more younger folks are experiencing hearing loss and may require aids because of their too loud tunes.

    • After lunch, students compiled their Effect of Drugs data into charts to discuss their findings with the rest of the cohort. The room was full of chatter and cooperation for the hour we had left for the day. I helped groups with their questions and designing their tables. They also wanted assistance in writing their hypotheses and conclusions. I was so happy to be of help, and I loved the conversations I was having with the students.

      Artsy lab picture by Jemima

  • Thursday: Epidemiology activity, research paper
    • The morning and early afternoon revolved around preparing to write their major research paper! The six groups of students would begin working on their research paper, which has seven parts to it: (1) The title page, (2) Abstract, (3) Background Information, (4) Methods, (5) Results, (6) Discussion, and (7) Reference Page. Mr. Keller informed them that Purdue Owl was their #1 resource when writing their paper. He told them about proper in-text citations. At least two graphs of data would also be required in the paper. Furthermore, credible sources like PubMed or articles from Google Scholar were needed; not every source can be trusted and therefore cited.

      Classroom 420

    • For an hour, we touched base on the fascinating earth-shattering field of epidemiology, which I am also considering as a career path. Ms. Stuhm began by having students write down as many infectious diseases as they could think of. She introduced what epidemiology was, which is more than just about infectious diseases. It involves being a ‘disease detective’, as she calls it, and finding out the sources causing an illness or health issue. Ms. Stuhm gave out an activity about John Snow investigating a cholera outbreak in London.

      http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2013/3/14/1363295337709/johnsnowillustration.png
      John Snow, father of epidemiology

      One side of the room would be John Snow scientists who argued that contaminated water was the culprit, and the other side had scientists of the time who refused to accept new knowledge, and credited the ‘bad air’ for making people ill. After some brief group time, they came together for a debate! This debate was great, and involved a bunch of back-and-forth. Ms. Stuhm was impressed.

      Short video we watched for context on epidemiology

      So how did John Snow, a physician, pinpoint the source and solve the problem? He went house to house to ask people who were infected, and discovered that those living closest to the water wells were more sick than others who lived farther away. He found the one well that was doing the most damage and leaking to the rest of the water supply! At the end of the day, both sides provided good arguments, and it was a tie.

      Debate moderated by Ms. Stuhm

       

  • Friday: Microbiology lab, gram staining, CIMP building nurse discussion
    • In the morning, we were back in the microbiology lab to do gram staining of their bacteria to determine if they were gram positive, which would show up as purple on their microscope slide, or gram negative. which would be a pink color. The procedure for this required 23 materials and was the most complicated lab these students would encounter during CHAMPS. We learned the three basic shapes for bacteria: cocci (circular or clusters of circles), rod-shape, or spiral-shape.

      Me assisting a group who call themselves Dub Nation

      Even I was nervous while helping the students because we had to follow the steps exactly and we had to know what we were doing. We also could not feel rushed or else our results could be jeopardized. I accidentally told the students the wrong thing to use, so they had to start over. If I am unsure I must double-check with a teacher first before telling the student.

      Bacteria comes in different shapes.

    • After a brief hour of working more on their research papers, we headed back to the Center of Innovations in Medical Professions building down the street to hear from two women, both with advanced degrees. One, Dr. Matthews, is a Doctor of Nursing Practice. All of her degrees, from Bachelors to Masters to DNP come from Cleveland State! Her biggest struggle in school was having support, because she lost her mom at age 18, and even a nursing professor doubted she’d make it through school. However, she persisted and achieved so much; she graduated summa cum laude from CSU.
      Another lady we talked to was from Nigeria. Dr. Adedipe has her Ph.D. in nursing, and loves teaching students. What I gained from this discussion is that motivation is a crucial part of succeeding; everyone has their own definition of success. Things will be hard, but will be worth it! Others, even family members and friends, may doubt or discourage you, but you listen to your own heart!

Week Three

  • Monday: College Prep Lecture, CPR Training Part I, Lamb Hearts, and CSU Campus Tour
    • The morning started off with a speaker, Ms. Nudell, from CSU, discussing college preparation with the kids. She asked them what internships have they had and which they did like, or disliked. What math classes were they taking? What college classes have they taken? She also provided them with papers relating to scholarships/financial aid and a college comparison chart to help them think carefully about their college choices. Some kids wanted to get out of the state, while others want to go to a big school.

      College prep lecture

    • We then went to the CIMP building for CPR training. We mostly watched videos and then had the chance to practice techniques for a choking individual.
    • Next, a familiar face came into the room. A former AmeriCorps member who I met when I was in high school and now current NEOMED employee Jonathan Tyes strolled in! He’s on his way to medical school to be an orthopedic surgeon. He demonstrated to us how to cut open lamb hearts (which he got from a Middle Eastern grocery store) and had the kids put on gloves and get in on the action! He asked what were the parts of the heart and how does blood circulate? He did not lecture us, but had us all engaged in the learning and critically thinking. Mr. Tyes is SO intelligent and kind; he’s one of my role models.

      Lamb hearts

    • After lunch, we had a Welcome to CSU overview by an admissions counselor. Then we toured CSU campus: the rec center, the Science building, Main Classroom, Student Center, Engineering College, and Fenn Tower! This was my first time seeing what some CSU dorms look like and they looked nice.

      Great admissions presentation by a CSU alumna

       

  • Tuesday: CPR Training Part II, more research paper writing
    • The kids spent more time working on their group research paper. I assisted some groups with editing, looking at references, and paper formatting. The teachers informed the class what they expected in terms of their PowerPoint presentation and announced the order in which the groups would go.
    • We finished our CPR training and we will receive our certifications in a week or two! We are trained in the differences when treating infants, children, and adults (anyone over age 12.) We can also use an AED. It went so well, and I feel confident in all of us being competent enough to save someone in need. This training can truly help a person’s life.

      The CPR instructors!

       

  • Wednesday: University Hospitals of Cleveland Visit
    • This was a busy day, but super fun! In the morning we heard from Ms. Okwudi, academic advisor for the CSU-NEOMED Partnership for Urban Health program. She spoke with us about health careers, and how vast it is. She showed us the website for the Occupational Outlook handbook
      (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/)
      Here is more information about CSU’s baccalaureate/M.D. program!
      (https://www.csuohio.edu/sciences/neomed/baccalaureatemd-program)
    • We embarked on another field trip, to University Hospitals! I was extremely eager to tour this facility and see what lay in store for us. CHAMPS met with the UH Health Scholars, a group of underrepresented African-American and Latino/Hispanic rising 8th graders and 9th graders interested in medicine. These Scholars are in a five-week intensive program and are assigned to one of nine medical disciplines, and they have research as well as a mentor in that area. This summer camp also provides students with transportation passes and meals! There’s field trips and hands-on learning, just like in CHAMPS! We were able to hear from an inspiring doctor and then over pizza, CHAMPS and the Health Scholars mingled to learn more about each other. After lunch, we went on a tour of UH, and were split up into groups. CHAMPS students were paired with the UH kids and along the way, CHAMPS kids talked to them about what high school would be like.We saw the Seidman Cancer Center and traveled next door to Case Western Reserve University, where we went into an auditorium to listen to a panel of two rising second-year medical students. These students were the valedictorians of their high schools and also were debt-free for their undergraduate education. In medical school, this was not the case for them; they have loans and are also burdened with classes for the day and studying for hours. It is not recommended to hold a job while in med school. However, the hard work and sacrifice pay off eventually.

      Madison captioned this pic in the CHAMPS group chat as “CHAMPS Mom & Me”

      I really was amazed when we visited UH – Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital. The facility was so interesting and colorful; it really made me feel relaxed. Additionally, the rooftop garden, Angie’s Garden, was the most breathtaking scene for me. Attached is an indoor space called the Horticultural Therapy Suite. These resources can be therapeutic for the children cancer patients, as they can garden and get sunshine while overlooking the grounds and being able to see as far as Lake Erie from where they are! The garden has comfy rainbow-color plush or foam-like chairs as well as lawn chairs. This is a great relaxing area and I would want to come here if I was afflicted with illness as a child.

      Giraffe sculpture

      http://www.uhhospitals.org/
      http://www.uhhospitals.org/about/diversity-and-inclusion/health-scholars-internship-program
      http://www.uhgiving.org/uh-giving/impact-of-your-gift/in-the-spotlight/healing-space
      http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2016/06/angies_garden_at_uh_open_to_th.html
      http://www.uhhospitals.org/rainbow/services/hematology-and-oncology/services/our-centers/adolescent-and-young-adult-cancer-center/angies-garden

  • Thursday: Research Paper Writing & PowerPoint Presentation, Physician Assistants
    • The entire morning, we spent on wrapping up our research papers and making tremendous progress on the PowerPoints. By tonight, all students need to finalize their work.
    • For an hour and a half, we went to the CIMP building to speak with a panel of five Physician Assistant students! After presenting on how to get to PA school and what the application looked like, they had three stations around the room: how to check vitals, the stethoscope technique, and hearing/auditory testing.

      Madison and I – Her suggested caption was “We pray for our enemies”

  • Friday: Luncheon and presentations
    • The culmination of our three weeks worth of work! In the morning, CHAMPS rehearsed our presentations. Shortly after, we went to Fenn Tower, third floor, for the banquet in the Ballroom! At least 130 people were on the RSVP list! Included were everyone we met during camp – the doctors, nurses, OTs, PTs, and other people who talked to us, even the UH Health Scholars.

      Everyone involved with CHAMPS is in this photo!

    • The banquet went by smoothly and quicker than expected. The six groups presented one right after the other. They were given certificates for completing CHAMPS as well as goodie bags (inside had a CSU shirt, thermos cup, mini stapler, and more). Everyone was dressed professionally. I felt pride in seeing their work. The lasagna, garlic bread, salad, eclairs, kebabs, and one of my students’ cupcakes made for a wonderful meal.
    • After the banquet, we had some students participate in focus groups, to gauge their thoughts on CHAMPS. This data would be transcribed and analyzed for future purposes in improving CHAMPS.

Reflection
My experience with CHAMPS was enlightening. I learned more about interacting with youth. Although they were the ages of 15, 16, and 17, and I was only 19, I had to improve on how to talk to students. My listening and empathy skills were especially put to use on the second day when one student revealed to me the struggles she endured growing up, and how frustrated she was that no one was really there to support her. This rattled my core; I realized how brave she was for disclosing this to me, and that I have the power to help her go down the right path and not succumb to negatively-impacting behaviors. These students are the future; we as a society have to watch out for those who are at risk of not doing well because of the environments they’re in. Therefore, the most challenging part was learning how to reach out to students and keep them motivated and on-task. Some were on their phones when they were supposed to be working on their papers, but I used assertiveness. “I better see all laptops out.” “You can do this.” A few times I caught the same student falling asleep because she’s been deprived. I have woken her up when I see this occurring. Sometimes I feel like a teacher and not like a peer.

However, I do feel like I bonded with some teens. It takes time to get to know them, and for them to know me! A few students greeted me every time they saw me, which was pleasant. That shows they acknowledge and respect me! They asked me questions about my college background and my career plans. One asked what my hobbies were. All of the students were racial minorities (non-white) and were mostly from urban schools, including the high school that I graduated from. I could relate to the majority of the students in some ways, but in other ways, I could never fully understand what they have been through.

During the last week of CHAMPS, the students added me to their group chat on GroupMe. They call themselves Champers (#Champers2k17), and I was given the name #ChampsMom. This group chat is hilarious because the kids write their messages in the most sophisticated way they can, using rarer vocabulary words, and we keep this going no matter what.

As for my career skills, I gained or strengthened in youth development, professionalism, patience, responsibility, and of course, leadership! I was patient and calm when directing the students through the assignments. I arrived to work early each day and followed all rules. I never cursed or was rude to anyone. From CHAMPS, I learned that working with teens is an interest of mine. They can follow directions more than younger kids, and are more independent. Especially with these smart, polite teens, there was often no trouble during the program. I do hope that there are more summer programs like this to get youth interested in their lives and passionate about something!

A favorite part of my time with CHAMPS was getting the different field trip experiences, like the medical history museum (which I had no knowledge of its existence beforehand!). I benefitted from the lab experience, too. I learned about aseptic technique, and about the valuable resources right in Cleveland. I do not take anything for granted – my intelligence, or my privilege of obtaining a college education, for free.  I will continue to learn no matter where I am, at least one new piece of information a day.

I must acknowledge thanks to Dr. Ferguson, for creating CHAMPS, and for sharing corny one-liners with the class, and allowing me to be a part of CHAMPS.
Thank you to the teachers Mr. Keller, Ms. Stuhm, and Ms. Girard, who put into reality the activities and guided the students. They were funny and good role models.
Thanks to Stephanie and Constantine, who volunteered their time with the program when their schedules allowed them to.

Mr. Keller and Ms. Stuhm ready to do science!

Ms. Girard!

Thanks to Jemima and Jackie for their efforts in executing CHAMPS!
I appreciate CSU for providing the places for us to conduct our program in, and for the daily lunches for the students.
Thank you to NEOMED for your new building on campus, because it’s a huge resource for everyone.
I must give thanks to all of the places we visited/toured. Everyone learns from our visits.
Thanks to The Cleveland Foundation and Martha-Holden Jennings Foundation.

Thanks so much to the 24 CHAMPS students, who made me laugh, smile, and feel young still in my last year of being a teen. They all worked incredibly hard and demonstrated how much potential they had. It was heartwarming to see them blossom and grow in the program into more intelligent and more research- and science-savvy professionals. They constantly inquired about the world and asked the professionals we met about numerous facets of their work and life.

For more information please look at:

csuchamps@gmail.com
www.csuohio.edu/CHAMPS
CHAMPS also has a Facebook page! Look up CHAMPS: Cleveland State University
To apply, there’s an application on their website (will likely be available January 2018 for that upcoming summer) and a good GPA and references are required.