In my service-learning activity, I was at Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters Health Center in Greenbrier of Chesapeake, Virginia. On Tuesday the 29th and Thursday the 31st of October, I volunteered at the Pediatric level. What I had done at CHKD was I help people check-in and check out of their appointments, created letters to send out to people with upcoming appointments, and I helped print reminder sheets for people to help them remember when their appointments are. I was able to interact with a lot of different people and learn how to deal with difficult situations.
The missions of CHKD is to “deliver excellence in quality and service as we continually measure and improve our outcome, evolve and enhance services in response to the needs of children and the advancement of science, educate the next generation of leaders in children’s health, be healthcare employer of choice and collaborate with others to attain our vision.” CHKD services include “inpatient and outpatient care, surgery, emergency medicine, radiology/imaging, rehabilitation, pastoral services, hospitality services, pharmacy, and respiratory care.” The CHKD Health Center offers services such as “audiology testing, mental health, lab, ultrasound, X-ray, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and sports medicine physical therapy.” CHKD Chesapeake Pediatrics helps children stay up to date with immunizations and yearly checkups from “infancy to adolescence.” They address the community’s health needs for children and young adults.
My opinions on those who work at the front of doctors offices have changed. I use to think that their job was very easy, but they deal with a lot of responsibilities. They handle appointment scheduling, appointment reminders, payments, and many other tasks. They are the connection between patients and their doctors.
Prior to the Fall of 2019 semester, I did not have any health related experiences. In my service learning experience, I felt an appreciation for those who work at the front of offices. They correlate with the nurses in the office to talk about the needs of the patients. I hope to pursue a career in nursing. This experience has impacted my desire to become a nurse because it showed me what happens in a doctors office. I originally wanted to work in a doctors office, but now I want to explore how nurses work in a hospital.
The services I did in my service-learning experience relate to my intended major because they show the different tasks that take place in a doctors office. The services could relate to a Health Services Administration Degree Program. I might consider it as a parallel major because I would still get to interact with people. I wouldn’t like sitting at a desk and answer phone calls all day though. Being able to still work in a health environment would be a good part of the job.
I spend a lot more time studying now compared to the beginning of the school year. Sometimes I spend three to four hours a day studying for one class if I have an upcoming exam or quiz. In the beginning of the semester, I wasn’t doing the type of studying I am now. I have begun to study in bigger groups and spend more time reading the material rather than quickly skimming it. I have gone to chemistry tutoring twice and I have noticed a positive difference in my grades. The best study techniques for me is to practice quizzing myself on the material. If I am answering a question, I write it down on a sheet of paper and brain dump all the information I know about the topic. In some classes I don’t need to do this, like in English or Chemistry. In Sociology and History I use this technique the most. For Chemistry I do mostly practice quizzes and review any questions I got wrong on the homework in tutoring.
Fourteen weeks ago I did not expect college to be as amazing as it is. I was scared to go to college because I didn’t know what my teachers were gonna expect of me academically. College has challenged me for the better and has made me into a better student. The most helpful resource for me this semester was the Chemistry tutoring. In tutoring, they explain things to me step by step and make sure I understand the information before moving on. The most unhelpful resource for me was. Something I wish I knew 14 weeks ago was how amazing college would be and that I was just overthinking everything. What I learned this semester that will help next semester is the reservation of study rooms. I am able to focus a lot better in the rooms because I am not distracted by the noises and people around me. I am able to study with groups in the room and go over important information before any big tests.