School's Out For Summer

I feel like apologizing for my longest absence yet from this blog would be playing the same tune for you readers that I have played many times over the summer. However I do apologize if you have been checking the blog only to be disappointed. I could blame it on Europe (which seems to be the trend as far as the healthcare debate goes right now), I could blame it on the two weeks in Little Rock, or I could blame it on my recent move to Houston to begin work with the Houston Early Age Risk Testing and Screening (HEARTS) organization at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston (http://www.utcardiovascular.com/hearts/). However a wise man in India told me that whenever you point a finger in blame you are always pointing three back at yourself. I have thought of few instances where this saying is not true.

So I hope we can all make this water under the bridge and move in a POSITIVE direction to a new chapter in the discussion of STUFF. Let’s go.

The last month or so for me has been one of transition and constant exposure to new experiences. I visited five countries in two weeks and learned many things about how some western European countries operate. For example Switzerland has a private health insurance system that is not controlled by the government other than the fact that the government requires all citizens to have a bare minimum of coverage (almost like automobile insurance here in the United States). Instead, they have 15 companies that the individual citizen chooses from, almost a forced capitalism if you will, to provide their health insurance. I thought this was an interesting idea since I am under the belief that change to our healthcare system must happen but it must be a hybrid system that combines both reform and a respect for our capitalistic traditions. The current system is unsustainable given that healthcare costs are rising 2% faster than our GDP.

I have digressed however. I returned from my adventures abroad on August 5 and went straight to a Mexican (Tex-Mex) restaurant. I found it ironic that the only country that can do decent Mexican food is in fact, America. The next stop for me was Little Rock where I got to see most of my classmates, the staff and faculty at the Clinton School, and friends. It was nice being home, eating all of my comfort food such as Buffalo Grill (four times) and seeing the sights and sounds of the city that I have fallen in love with.

After a whirlwind couple of weeks I made the six and half hour journey down south to Houston. I am 24 years old, living with my parents, having the best possible Capstone Project opportunity, and taking classes to become an EMT. Life, I must say is pretty good. The main reason why I am here though is to help better children’s lives through public service.

As I have learned over the past year or so, public service comes in many forms. I have had my preconceived notions about what it means to be a public servant; police officer, military, paramedic etc, all the “normal” jobs that people see daily as serving the public. However, as I have been thrown into the “deep end” of public service, I have changed or added on rather, to my definition of a public servant. I would have never thought that as a graduate student I could be a public servant. But here I am two days into the job, just back from India and I realize that even the work that we do as students as huge impact on the lives as many.

All of my classmates and many students around the world are doing the same thing. We have an incredible opportunity to help others as students, an opportunity that is available to no one else in any other field. Given our flexible schedules, our enthusiasm, and the natural curiosity that comes with being a student we are in the unique position to positively impact the world as no one else can. Thinking back to undergraduate I feel as though I wasted valuable time that could have been spent serving others rather than myself. Not saying I look unfavorably on my undergraduate days because I assure you I do not. I just did not realize the potential that I had to help others.

Now I am working everyday on helping prevent the sudden cardiac death (SCD) of school children in the fourth largest metropolitan area in the United States. I have just returned from India where I was responsible for ensuring the continuation of projects that literally enabled people to live. I had classmates help educate indigenous populations on reproductive health, help build a better life for prisoners, and various sustainability projects. Based on what? That we are students? Pretty awesome responsibility.

So to conclude this rant, the last four months have been an awakening about me, about the world, and about how I can impact others. After doing something like I did this summer and like many have done before me and will continue to do hereafter, I realize that the potential for public service is in us all and we have the ability to make a difference through means that most have never thought about as public service. My definition of public service has expanded greatly and for that I am thankful.

Next time on “Positive Stuff” I will go in depth about the work that I am doing with the HEARTS organization and its impact on the entire community.