November in NoLa...

It seems like every month flies by so quickly! 

I feel like I have finally found my groove in terms of studying.  It took me waaay longer than I expected, which was a major point of frustration for me, but I'm excited (& proud) of myself for having pushed through this stage of my journey of going back to school.  

This month, we covered the cardiovascular, renal and pulmonary systems.  We've also started to have more independent study assignments, which allows for more self-teaching of the material, as opposed to the usual class lectures.  I've found that I enjoy these assignments a lot as it gives me a chance to delve more deeply into the topics, because I want to make sure that I understand the material.  

Besides studying, I've also been able to volunteer my time at the Second Harvest Food Bank, helping to assemble lunches and snacks for the local school districts and after-school child care programs.  I was fortunate to volunteer with a fun group of retirees and food bank staff, who kept it fun while also keeping us all very busy.  

Having had a full week off from studies, I took advantage of the Thanksgiving break and invited my mother and brother to New Orleans for some sightseeing and family time.  During their week here, we were able to peruse the French Quarter, take a swamp boat tour and enjoy the Bayou Classic festivities this weekend.  Of course, we also enjoyed a lot of great food.  

After an fun and also relaxing break, I feel rejuvenated and ready to finish this semester strong. There are seventeen days until the end of the semester, which I know will fly by as well.  I'm looking forward to keeping up the hard work, and continuing to push forward to my goals. 

November total volunteer hours: 6