With over 50 instructors and 200 students, there was never a dull day at work for me. On top of daily lessons, we hosted programs like open-mic nights, jazz jamming sessions, drum circles, and more. During Rock Camps, students were able to join a band with like-minded musicians, and they practiced cover songs and wrote and professionally recorded original songs. At the end of the week for each camp, students performed at a concert in the Sweetwater Performance Pavillion.
My team at Sweetwater Academy quickly became a family to me. They knew that I was 13 hours from home, but they made sure Fort Wayne felt like another home for me. We had Italian pasta-making nights, and a night where we lit and released lanterns into the night sky, that was my favorite part about summer.
Every Friday of Rock Camp marked the end for a cohort, but it was my favorite day because I walked kids through sound check for their performance and studio recording sessions for their original songs. This day was my opportunity to learn more about and connect with the kids, who were always crazy, but always making me laugh.
While I interned with the OU School of Community Medicine, I was able to shadow physicians, collaborate with a pediatric research staff, volunteer within the community, and learn about the OU School of Community Medicine family. This experience really reaffirmed my desire to become a doctor. I am so thankful for the opportunity to learn from such an incredible and knowledgeable faculty and staff.
Between my internship, I also visited home, where I spent time connecting with my family, hometown, and my college friends from OU who live in the Tulsa area. I loved whenever my family would come together for large dinners and celebrations. We are scattered across Oklahoma and Texas, and it's always special when I can spend time with everyone.
The day finals ended for me, I played a lot of pickleball to celebrate. Everyone has their own thing they do to unwind after finals, and pickleball was mine, with an ice cream run after. When finals end, it's always nice to just take a step back and appreciate the new free time. I made sure to be outside more, enjoy no schoolwork, and spend time with my loved ones.
My summer internship was based in Dallas, Texas, where I worked for a company that specializes in orthopedics, total joints, and trauma. During my internship, I observed more than 30 surgeries and learned and performed tasks that medical device representatives do on a daily basis. This internship brought me a lot of peace in knowing that this is 100 percent the future career that I want for myself, and OU has been preparing me for a career exactly like this.
After finals, I went on a two week vacation with my parents to Europe. We went to Amsterdam, Germany, Switzerland, and Paris. It was meant to be my graduation gift for high school, but we had to continue to delay it for two years due to Covid-19. I saw castles and the Eiffel Tower, witnessed natural beauty of different countries, and tasted phenomenal Swiss chocolate! The trip was worth the wait.
Summer is a time to unwind and reset for the next school year, but it's important to remember it's also a time to step back and take a perspective check on your life. This is a time to travel and experiment with things you didn't have time for during the school year. All the opportunities and experiences I have experienced have come from striving to be uncomfortable. While it's nice to be comfortable in our own protected bubble, opportunities won't chase you. Summer is the perfect opportunity to find that internship or work opportunity, take that road trip, or pick up a new hobby before school begins again in August.
