Although I have not yet started my internship at the orthopedic hospital, I can compare my experiences to my volunteering at the Tallahassee Orthopedic Center to this blog question, since they are both in the same field. Once I started volunteering at the Tallahassee Orthopedic Center, I felt like I had joined an entire new community. I met so many new people including medical assistants, doctors, surgeons, patients, and more. Each connection I made and person I met led to my growth as a person a deeper understanding of the meaning of community, I got to connect and form relationships with doctors that will help me in the future and prepare me for my success as an orthopedic doctor. For example, when I first talked to the doctor at Tallahassee Orthopedic Center, we found out that we both went to the same high school and middle school and are from the same hometown! It is connections like these that help me realize all the great communities I am a part of, and the opportunities they have to bring. This experience has also helped me expand and flourish in my professional and career development skills. I have developed so much as an individual by being able to volunteer in a doctor’s office and hold my own. It has been a life changing opportunity, and I plan to continue doing this the rest of my years at Florida State and hopefully after as well. When I first thought of the definition of community, I thought a group of people that are engaging with each other that live in the same place. While I do believe this is true, I think it is also more about the bonds and relationships people create while engaging and helping each other. It is about working together as a team and sharing goals, aspirations, and ambitions with one another. I have gotten to see this firsthand with my experience in volunteering at TOC because we all share the common interest in optimizing patient care, the orthopedic specialty, and the greater good of the office. It is truly unique to see people come together for a common cause like this, and I believe there are a million communities everywhere! It is important to keep in mind though that no matter which community you are a part of, to be positive and uplifting. I know I will have similar experiences and feelings towards this subject when I start my orthopedic internship at the hospital, and I am so excited to share what I learn!
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