Service Work

I believe in karma. Maybe it isn't even called karma, and it's probably not even the mysterious, cosmic tit for tat that the word karma would suggest. Instead, I believe in a basic life fact: love grows love and hate grows hate. If you choose to live well, helping others, then good things will come your way. On the other hand, if you choose to live for only yourself, concerned about materials and stepping on people along the path of your rise to social or professional fame, then get ready. You are in for a nasty ride.

I bring up karma because I believe strongly in service work. Right now, there is a bipartisan proposal called the Serve America Act, sponsored by Senators Kennedy and Hatch. This piece of legislation will expand volunteer opportunities for Americans of all ages, and create the Education Corps, the Healthy Futures Corps, the Clean Energy Service Corps, the Opportunity Corps, and the Reserve Corps, among other initiatives. Our forefather, Benjamin Franklin once said, "Americans can do well, by doing good."

Personally, I've never understood why service work is not mandatory at some age before college. Ideally, each school year, starting at kindergarten, kids should do at least one project as a group that helps some-one, or some-thing. Parents need to set the example, too. Children typically frown on service work because it seems like a chore. Adults need to help transform that attitude into one of fulfillment and happiness. If you've ever volunteered, you know how good it makes you feel. What if you felt like that more than once every few years. What if you gave something of yourself to help every month, or every week or even made it your life's work? How could this be a bad thing for any of us?

So, next time you are sitting at your desk cruising online shopping or dreaming up your next vacation, turn your internet research onto the volunteer opportunities in your area and beyond. Do something outside your everyday. Remember, karma's a bitch. Do you really want to make her angry?

It always gets worse before it gets better

Looking at the year ahead - school, work, GRE, applications - it's all starting to bubble to an overflow. Some people manage all of this and children. I try to remind myself that I don't have that staring me in the face on top of it all, but it doesn't seem to lessen the crushing load of responsibilities on my plate.

So, I've decided to print out the list of schools to which I would LOVE to apply. I will post this list on my refrigerator or in my bathroom or both. This way, I can be constantly reminded of my goals.

Still, having investigated some of these dream schools in the last week, I am faced with a decision. Most of the non-Texas schools have a few more requirements that would make it difficult for me to stay in my current job and attend school, AND not drag this prelim process out much longer. One of those schools is OHSU in Portland. The Oregon Health Sciences University is one of the premier medical schools in primary care in the U.S. Their PA program is also stellar. Also, many of the top PA schools require a certain number of hours of clinical experience, and the only way to get that under my belt and on my resume is to leave current job scenario and become a clinical assistant....cleaning bed pans.

I am also realizing that wherever I choose to go, or wherever chooses me, it should ideally be a place I'd love to live for two or more years. It should be a place of adventure, beauty and good people. It may not be close to my family or my comfort zone, but it can be a great learning experience in a welcoming environment. So, the list of schools as of February 2009 - subject to change and in no particular order:

1. Baylor - in Houston, TX. Good people. Not so great quality of life. Fantastic setting for medicine (largest medical center in the world).
2. UNT Fort Worth. Nice smaller city. Good people. Associated with an Osteopathic Medical School. Better than Houston for quality of life.
3. Southwestern Medical - Dallas. Ummmm....horrible setting. Great PA school ranking. But, could I really survive two years here?
4. OHSU - Portland. Could totally live in Portland and explore Oregon. I was set to move there before, so I could more easily see myself there now that I committed once. Opportunities to explore the Pacific Northwest for a couple of years.
5. Duke University - North Carolina. My love. My old stomping grounds. Great quality of life. Great people. Nice quality of life and closer to family. But, could I get in?
6. University of Washington - Seattle. For same reasons as Oregon.
7. USC Keck School - Los Angeles. Ummm....warm, great location. People iffy.
8. MUSC - Charleston, SC. Great people. Family. Beautiful. Warm and by the ocean.
9. University of Colorado - Denver. Never been to Colorado. Maybe this would be my chance.