A day in my life!

My time in Tallahassee this summer has revolved around my two jobs, summer classes, and mentoring with the IRC. 

On Monday’s, Wednesday’s and Friday’s I get up around 9am to make breakfast and do a devotional before my organic chemistry 2 lecture. I usually walk to class with my friend Jacob who lives in the apartment next to me. The class lasts an hour and the walk to and from campus is a great excuse to be outside. 

On Monday nights I work an overnight shift as a caregiver for a woman with cerebral palsy. It might be my favorite job I’ve ever had! The woman I work for is named Sarah, she is 32 and employed by a disability advocacy nonprofit in the Tallahassee area. Every Monday I get to her apartment at 9pm, chat like old friends until 11pm and then get her ready for bed. On Tuesday morning I help get her ready and drop her off at her office. Working with her feels like a sleepover with an older sister. 

After dropping Sarah off at work, I head to my other job at FSU Primary Health. I started working there as a Medical Assistant  in February 2023 and have absolutely loved every minute of it. The doctors are willing to teach, the fellow CMAs are always ready to help and the experiences I’ve had as a pre-medical student are invaluable. On Tuesday’s I work a shift from 9:30am- 4pm, getting off an hour early to attend my weekly seminar at the FSU College of Medicine from 4:50-6:05. By the end of the day, I’m exhausted and usually go to sleep early. 

Wednesdays follow the same schedule as Monday’s, the only added commitment being orgo 2 recitation from 3:00pm – 3:50pm. 

Thursday’s I work from 8am-5pm at FSU Primary Health and, like Tuesday’s, don’t get much done after my shift. One thing my job has made me realize is how tough the 9-5 life truly is. I never feel like I can do much for myself after leaving work for the day. 

Finally, on Friday’s I again have orgo lecture mid-morning, and also pick Viktoriya (my IRC mentee) up from camp at 3pm for our weekly meet-up. I’ve come to love our time together. She has a wealth of knowledge about a culture I don’t know much about, and our activities together are always fun. I am the youngest child, but being with Vika has made me feel somewhat like an older sister. 

While some of my days are packed, I always try to make time to go to the gym and socialize with friends. Working out was a habit I started during junior year and it has helped immensely in terms of my mental and physical wellbeing. Also, I thrive on being around friends, which was something I worried about this summer, being as most of my friends didn’t stay in Tallahassee. Thankfully, my friends Dillon and Austin live a 2 minute walk away and invite me for dinner’s pretty often. My sorority sister Madi has also been a great friend this summer.

All in all, this summer has been challenging yet purposeful. I am working towards my goals and learning what it means to live independently along the way.