All I want for Christmas

2 days (and counting) until one of my favorite holidays of the year: Christmas!! While the holiday is important to me because of the meaning behind it, I especially love getting to take a break from everyday life. No matter where I am, I get to find my way to family, friends, and fun! What's especially exciting about this time at HSPH is that it marks the beginning of Winter Session, an opportunity for small classes, travel, research, or - in my case this year - an extended break!!

Last year, I used my January term to travel to India on a 3-week field study trip with Dr. Richard Cash, world-renowned inventor of Oral Rehydration Therapy. (See blog entry #2 for more details).

This year, after considering traveling to Brazil, Cyprus, and New Orleans, I'm ending up in one of my favorite places: my home! I've decided to use the holiday to spend time with family (especially my younger siblings) and catch up with friends. I'll also be working on my thesis and doing work for the Office of Diversity.

I've made many references to the "OD," as we call it, so I'm sure you're wondering what it is. What is this thing called diversity? And what is this mysterious place that I manage to spend 10 hours of my week working for?

Well, the Office of Diversity is a special division within HSPH that is designed to "to initiate and support activities that increase diversity and promote cultural competency among members of the HSPH community." It has been well-documented that diversity, i.e., a blending of different racial/ethnic, religious, political, and cultural groups, is important in higher education. It's especially crucial in the fields of medicine and public health in order to more effectively assist minority populations, which are often overrepresented in poor health groups. Through mentoring, providing resources, bringing in speakers, and providing both support and study space, the OD is important in supporting underrepresented minority groups and in increasing the cultural education of all students, faculty, and staff.

While I know that some of you may not see the necessity of such an office, I would argue that it's offices like these that bring qualified, talented individuals that might not otherwise be at an institution like Harvard there. It's not about affirmative action or providing handouts to people who don't deserve it; it's about recognizing that people from different backgrounds have different needs, and ensuring that there is someone who understands. The OD is actually what encouraged me to come to Harvard, demonstrating to me that the institution where I would spend 2 years of my life actually cared about creating an environment composed of different types of people that can reach different audiences. It's a second home to me! When I hear stories like this one that talk about the "old white male" legacy of Harvard University, I'm reminded that while Harvard is trying to make strides, we still have a long way to go.

Mata ato de (trying a little Japanese now!)

“We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color.”

-From poet Maya Angelou

It's Finals Week Again :(

This week is [dun dun dun...] finals week, everyone's favorite time of year! :) In light of my 10 minute procrastination break, I thought I'd share an atypical finals week schedule (i.e., my schedule) with you. Unlike many of my colleagues, I actually have a fairly light exam load this term. Of my four current classes, one had the final exam two weeks ago, another doesn't have an exam component, and one is an independent study which has a final paper instead of an exam. Sound easy? Well, I wouldn't take it that far.  But I am thankful that I took a lighter load this course; it will make the next few days much less painful!

Sunday 
8:30 am - Head to church for Praise and Worship team practice
10:00 am - Church service
12 pm - 5:30 pm - Write thesis proposal...(ugh...not fun!)
6:15 pm - Shopping and setting up for Resident Community Advisor "study break" program in Shattuck International House tonight
7 pm - 9 pm - Hang out with Shattuck residents for my program (while frantically trying to write)
all night - Write! Write! Write!

Monday
8:30 am - 10:30 am - Last Biostatistics lecture (who thought it was a good idea to have lectures during the week of final exams?!)
AM - Continue writing, writing, writing
12:30 pm - 10 minute chair massage, compliments of HSPH !
1:30 pm - 3:30 pm - Biostatistics review session that I organized for exam on Wednesday

Tuesday
8 am - 1:30 pm - Research assistantship job through the Research Program on Children and Global Adversity
Rest of the day (and night) - Biostatistics cramming!!

Wednesday 
8:30 am - 10:30 am - Biostatistics final exam!!
11 am - Final Independent Study meeting to discuss my thesis proposal/literature review
12:30-1:30 pm - Maternal and Child Health Seminar Course
3:30 pm - Docs appt
PM - Try and catch up with some friends before they travel for the Christmas Holiday

Thursday
8 - 12:30 pm - Research assistant job
1 pm - 2 pm - Massage workshop, compliments of the "Maintain, Don't Gain" Harvard Wellness Center holiday program
PM - frantically try to find a first and second reader for my thesis
5 - 8 pm - Work at the Office of Diversity

Friday 
AM - Work to finishing putting in my 15 hours as a research assistant
1:30 pm - exercise!!
PM - Keep searching for thesis committee members; hand in signed proposal today and try to catch up on other departmental paperwork
6:30 pm - Praise and Worship practice

Then...BREATHE!!!

I won't be leaving Boston until next week, so I'll be sure to give you another update before I head home for the holiday break!

Until next time...

Success is a journey, not a destination.

-From Ben Sweetland

The Forum at HSPH

Yesterday was the launching of the first-ever "Forum at HSPH" : a series that is looking to bring global health leaders together to engage in dialogue at the School of Public Health. To some of you, this may not seem like a big deal. But from my experience as a student here,  the school is always bringing Ministers of Health and other government officials but not the "sexy," high-profile people who impact the global health agenda as well.

The talk was focused on a conversation on "Vision for Global Health over the Next Decade." The informal conversation featured  Ted Turner (yes, the Ted Turner, founder of CNN, Cartoon Network, Captain Planet, and - oh wait - the UN Foundation as well) and Dean Julio Frenk (Dean of HSPH and former Minister of Health to Mexico), and was moderated by award-winning jounalist and author Abigal Trafford.  I volunteered as an usher for the event and was also one of the lucky 100 to get a seat in the main seating area.

While both participants have an impressive resume, it was Dean Frenk who was particularly captivating. He encouraged the audience "to think of health not as a separate sector but a shared social objective" and even gave an example of how health has been used as a tool for diplomacy and peace in Central America. He emphasized the need to focus on strengthening health systems and improving the role of women, and managed to plug in some of his own initiatives including the Millenium Development Goals and the Women and Health initiative.

There's no question that Mr. Turner is a very accomplished man, but I was slightly put off by his lack of "PC" dialogue. Perhaps with age comes an increased level of "frankness," but frankly, I wasn't a fan. Mr. Turner did, however, stir the audience with his promotion of the Voluntary One-Child Policy, which he suggests he will help the world reach its equilibrium population if followed for the next 100 years. He explained that an ideal population size for the globe is between 2 and 2.5 billion people if everyone were to live at U.S. standards; more will cause sub-standard living and less will not allow for the "Western" perks that exist today. Hmmm....

This question sparked my own interest in the role of culture in promoting sound health policies. No one wants to be told how many children they can have, myself included. In response to my question, Dean Frenk chose to focus more on the "social objective" of health while Mr. Turner didn't respond at all. Ah well, I guess this is all the more reason for my future doctor research...

For more information, see: The Forum at HSPH

Bon week-end!

Leadership should be born out of the understanding of the needs of those who would be affected by it. 

-From Marian Anderson

World AIDS Day 2010

Today marks the one week anniversary of World AIDS Day 2010, a day where the public is asked to remember the 25 million lives lost and more than 30 million lives infected and affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. I chose to share the details of this event after the actual day because I think that there shouldn't just be one day dedicated to a 100% preventable disease that has destroyed millions of lives, especially on the African continent. I've spent the last five plus years investigating possible ways forward, particularly focusing on policy and grassroots involvement in the response, so of course I have a lot to say. But instead of belaboring you with facts and figures, I want to share with you the way that I encouraged my school to get involved.

As Co-President of the HSPH Africa Health Forum Student Organization, I knew that one of our annual programs should be used to bring attention to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, particularly since discussion has waned over the past few years. Despite the ongoing HIV/AIDS research at HSPH, our organization was the only one to create an event. And unfortunately, last year's event was a debacle; it was poorly attended, not well-planned, and lacked an innovative component to show that the fight against AIDS is still ongoing.

This year, in working with Co-President Kafui and the AHF board members, we decided to reach out to Harvard AIDS Initiative (HAI), a major force in global HIV/AIDS research that didn't have an event planned for the occasion. We worked with Martha, the HAI Communications Manager, to develop an exciting, innovative panel that centered around "New Developments in HIV/AIDS Prevention," and it was great! We catered Senegalese hors d'oeuvres from the local restaurant Teranga and invited more than 100 students, faculty, and staff to engage in fresh dialog surrounding prevention in HIV/AIDS. (See: http://www.aids.harvard.edu/conferences/index.html for the event flier).

The panelists were as follows:

Max Essex, DVM
Dr. Essex, who is Director of HAI and Advisor of AHF, was the moderator for this panel. He provided an overview "report card" of HIV/AIDS prevention methods to give the audience an idea of what has been working and what hasn't been. Top contenders were: prevention of mother-to-child transmission and pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis. Bottom-feeders included: control of HSV (a form of herpes) and microbicides, in general (with the exception of Tenofovir).

Lori Panther, MD, MPH

Dr. Panther (an alumni of HSPH) presented on microbicides and pre-exposure prophylaxis. She talked about two hot-off-the-press studies (including iPrEx) that showed some promising results for the short-term use of these two forms of prevention. (See: http://www.globaliprex.net/ and http://www.avac.org/)

Roger Shapiro, MD, MPH

Dr. Shapiro had some very exciting results to share in regards to PMTCT. He talked about the level of risk for a mother transmitting HIV to the baby as increasing from pregnancy (5-10%) to labor/delivery (10-20%) to breastfeeding (5-20% depending on duration). Different medications have proven to almost completely reduce risk of transmission, such as highly-active antiretroviral treatment (HAART). He also discussed two different studies - Mma Bana (focused on maternal HAART) and BAN (infant nivirapine prophylaxis). These studies provide greater hope to reducing transmission from mothers to their children, particularly because breastfeeding has been proven important for infant survival in developing country contexts. 

Rebecca Plank, MD

Dr. Plank gave a witty presentation about how male circumcision has greatly reduced transmission of HIV among men. One of the biggest draws towards using this method is that there is 100% adherence, unlike taking a pill each day. Dr. Plank talked about the challenges toward promoting male circumcision, particularly as it relates to cultural practices in different contexts. In Botswana, however, the government has supported a massive circumcision campaign, integrating cultural ceremonies as well. Additionally, Dr. Plank advocated for infant male circumcision due to increased safety and lower cost.
(See: http://malecircumcision.org/)

Stella Safo, MPH Class of 2010 

Ms. Safo (also a dear friend of mine) talked about her work in starting a peer-to-peer education program among African-American adolescent girls in a Boston public school. Her program "Let's Talk Love" gives girls the opportunity to discuss sexual education in an open, supportive environment while also being able to share methods of preventing the transmission of diseases such as HIV/AIDS. Ms. Safo's talk showed how research can be translated into practice in the fight against AIDS. 

Other photos:

 An engaged audience filled Snyder Auditorium

Me facilitating the 40 minute Question and Answer period

AHF Board, Event Planners, and Panelists

For more information about the AHF World AIDS Event - or for more info about AHF or HAI - please see:
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/features/coverage-in-the-media/hsph-hosts-hiv-aids-panel-world-aids-day/index.html

-Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.

From William James. 

Avenues of Support at HSPH

Thanksgiving seems like it was so long ago! In just two weeks time, exams and final paper deadlines will be approaching! But while many of my classmates were preparing to travel home for the annual Turkey Day holiday, I was preparing for a family visit of a different kind. Today, I don't intend to share much about my trip, other than to say that I spent some quality time with my family in Nigeria. Instead, I want to share a little bit about the support that the School of Public Health provides (and doesn't provide) when you need it. 

I found out mid-October that I was going to have to make the trek across the world sometime in November, and immediately, I notified several people: my professors and TAs, work supervisors, and also the head of the Office of Diversity and the Office of Student Affairs. Everyone was surprisingly supportive, offering their condolences and telling me that they were there if I needed them. My research assistantship supervisor told me to take whatever time that I needed, although I felt like I was letting the team down by not doing my full 15 hours/week. My colleagues were willing to help me finish tasks I wasn't able to complete, such as in preparation for the HSPH Africa Health Forum Student Organization's World AIDS Day event (which I will share about on Wednesday). 

In talking to some of my classmates, I realize that many don't feel comfortable reaching out for help when they need it. In some cases - such as if you're failing the introductory epidemiology or biostatistics courses - the school will reach out to you. But in most cases, you're on your own. Even if you reach out for support, you may not always get as much as other institutions provide. For example, I've found that gaining assistance in identifying financial opportunities is a lost cause here...

While perhaps I'm more comfortable reaching out to others than most, there are two reasons that I felt it was important to contact the people that I did in my time of need:

1.     I wanted to make sure that there was documentation in advance, so when I needed to miss school or if I had difficulty concentrating in class, I wouldn't be penalized and my superiors would understand why this happened.

2.     I also wanted to make sure that the Office of Student Affairs and the Office of Diversity - two forms of student support available at HSPH - were aware so that they could assist me in intervening if any problems with professors or exams came up later.

In particular, the Office of Student Affairs acts as a liaison in personal student matters, often advising students on how to proceed in matters that are/will impact academics and sometimes contacting professors for students who can't or don't feel comfortable doing so. I believe that as an adult, it's my responsibility to make the links myself; no one should be doing it for me. But, when I realized that I forgot to contact the professor and TA for one of my seminar courses  – one that only allows a specified number of absences in order to pass the class – it seems to me that having the prior email documentation and the Office of Student Affairs support will be helpful! (Results are still to be seen…). As for my other two classes, the results were mixed:

•  My communications class required me to give my final speech Tuesday night, despite that I didn't return until Tuesday afternoon. I was extremely jetlagged and not very prepared, but I had no choice for my final grade
• My BIO 210 professor and TA gave me an extra (almost) week when I had access to STATA to complete the two assignments I missed.

I'm still a little overwhelmed with everything I missed – and it's still up to me to catch up very quickly – but it's nice to feel that I have control in communicating to my professors and advisors that it's not my laziness that caused me to fall behind; it's me trying to deal with life!

Au revoir!

Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they're supposed to help you discover who you are.”

-From American Historian and Musician Bernice Johnson Reagon

A few pics from my time away (call it a little lesson in Yoruba culture, if you will):

 My cousins and I

Me and my parents 

A new way to cook meat...after the ceremonial killing of a cow (i.e., don't worry - the cow was NOT burned alive)

My Aunty Caroline and I on the day after my birthday, as I enjoy little, sweet bananas and my only bday present: puffpuff :) (fried donut balls)

Several of my cousins and I 

My mom and I wearing traditional Ondo ceremonial burial beads 

The funeral procession (yes, I didn't go to Nigeria for "fun and games") 

Me, my grandma, and my mom 

My mom getting "sprayed" (given money for dancing) by the in-laws 

 The grave site of my grandfather and great grandfather outside the old family church that my mom attended as a child

RIP Grandpa...I love you!!

Harvard vs. Yale, and the Battle against...Hate?

Have you missed me?! I know it’s been a while – and I promise to show some pictures from my time away. But before that, as promised, let’s talk about the New England rivalry event of the year on its two week anniversary…Harvard vs. Yale!

I prepared for the event with the excitement of any college football Saturday; I’m not a diehard fan, but I do love me a healthy competitive game when I feel invested in the team. In true football fashion, the excitement has to start the night before the game. And so, with a couple of my colleagues, we went out for drinks at the famous “John Harvard” pub. I’d never been there before – and I’ll be completely honest, I went more for good convo than a football pre-game – but it was a lot of fun to be surrounded by a young, fresh, excited crowd. (I know I sound really old, but that’s what grad school can do to you!). We had some delicious bread pudding to celebrating my upcoming birthday (that was the only “cake” I got, so thanks guys!). A few hours, and a few pitchers, later, we had fun taking in the scene and getting in on a bit of the action, too.

Happy Birthday to Me... :)

This crowd looks suspiciously young...

I saw a guy from Yale wearing a dino suit, and so I thought this was grounds for a picture...

I borrowed some glasses that I thought were fly (until I read "Harvard Sucks" on the side...)

Harvard is "so much" better...P.S. Is "Yale" old enough to be there?!?

The next day, Saturday, I had every intention of getting up early and going to the HSPH tailgate that was happening outside the football stadium. But, reality set in that I needed to do some packing, and so I made it to Cambridge just in time for the 10 am – 12 pm tailgate to be over. Instead, I went to the first ever Black Graduate Student Harvard/Yale and Alumni “tailgate” at one of the local bar/clubs in Cambridge. This was an opportunity to meet past and current students from the College and Harvard’s 12 graduate schools, several students from Yale, and watch the football game. Let me preface the occasion by saying this was no Michigan State vs. University of Michigan event. I was adorned in Harvard gear and was ready to enjoy an exciting football game. Instead, I found myself at a club (I mean, it could have actually been 11 pm at night), complete with flowing drinks, music, dancing…and oh yeah, the game playing somewhere in the background. I met a handful of people (no, I didn’t meet any potential suitors), got to know some of my own classmates better, and actually had a really good time! And the amazing thing to me was that I actually went completely on my own! In the words of Fisher Price, I think it was, “I’m a big kid now!”

 

Me and a friend (and fellow Student Ambassador for the Office of Diversity)

HSPH-ers unite!

The club actually reached capacity!!

Ignore the "Stanford" and focus on the color...

" To the window, to the wall..." (at 3 pm in the afternoon)

My HSPH crew!!

My afternoon Harvard/Yale experience was great fun, and it was especially exciting to see how many well-educated, successful Black people there are in Boston/affiliated with Harvard. But while I thought the event signified how far Harvard as a university had come in expanding its own walls, I found that unfortunately, Boston as a city hasn’t been able to do the same. An incident at a new nightclub called “Cure” was brought to my attention that showed just how far we, as a city and a nation, still have to go.

In summary, a Harvard Business School organization called Triumph had organized a night event for current Harvard/Yale students and alumni to end the Harvard/Yale weekend. Unfortunately, several race-related problems arose that ended in the early conclusion of the party. In particular, there were concerns from Cure management and staff that the large numbers of Black students outside the club would invite negative attention, potentially attracting “local gangbangers” (management’s word) to the scene. See this link for a full account of the story: http://jezebel.com/5696308/club-mistakes-black-harvard-crowd-for-local-gangbangers

While I didn’t personally attend this event, I was invited and actually considered partaking in the festivities. I’ve been to three different events organized by this organization and can personally say that the events are always well-organized and well-attended, and it is always highly recommended that you purchase tickets in advance (especially since they normally sell out). I’m glad that I didn’t because this is the kind of attitude that shows you that no matter how intelligent you are, no matter how hard you work, and no matter how successful you become, you will still be disadvantaged based purely on the color of your skin. No, I’m not racist, and no, I don’t believe that every person who doesn't look like me is racist. But I do think that in an age where Obama’s election has somehow become a symbol for overcoming racism, it’s so important to remember that a struggle still remains. If any of you reading this are minorities considering coming to HSPH, just know that while the name Harvard will inevitably provide you with opportunities and respect, the challenges you may have been facing based on you minority status all these years do not magically melt away. And for those of you who are not minorities, you have a role to play here, too, keeping an open mind and correcting comments made that are made purely by stereotype. For me, that’s largely what inspired me to work with the Office of Diversity, hoping to be able to minimize the barriers that we face. I’m going to continue investigating this incident – particularly as it seems that a potential lawsuit may come out of it – and I’ll continue to keep you all posted.

Alla prossima (a little Italian for you!)

Racism is a man’s gravest threat to an – the maximum of hatred for a minimum reason.

-From Jewish theologian and philosopher Abraham J. Heschel

A New Perspective on Life

I had a life-altering experience the other day, the kind of experience that would make a religious fanatic out of a non-believer. Who would have thought that I would gain a further appreciation for my university at - guess where? - the Nigerian Consulate in New York!

I know it sounds weird -  I thought it was bizarre, too - but sometimes you just have to take your blessings wherever and whenever they come.

So, here's the story: I needed to make an emergency trip to Nigeria and unfortunately had difficulty figuring out how to get a visa. The embassy was closed four out of the past ten business days, and, of course, I couldn't get anyone to answer the phone on the other end. Despite a busy schedule, I had no choice but to make the trek to NY to deal with the visa situation myself.

Luckily, a friend of mine (former HSPH alum) needed to go to the embassy as well. So together, at three pm in the afternoon, we made the $15 four-and-a-half hour trip on the Fung-Wah bus from Boston Chinatown to NY Chinatown. In an attempt to make this trip a little less horrible, I spent the night with one of my best friends from high school.

The next morning, I headed off to the embassy bright and early. I was aiming to get there by 10 am (when the doors opened), and by 10:15 am when I arrived, I was already late! All of the "customer numbers" were gone, the little room was stuffed with far too many people, and I honestly felt like I left the U.S. and entered a congested African country. I pushed my way back-and-forth, making small talk and commiserating with the others around me. Luckily, this new-found comradeship got me moved to the 27th slot.

When it was finally my turn at the counter, it was one problem after another after another! First, I printed the "payment proof of payment" instead of the "payment confirmation" sheet. (Apparently, this made a difference). Then, despite that I spent a week having a letter of invitation scanned and sent over from Nigeria to show that I had someone on the other side, I was told to get a new letter of someone who had a Nigerian passport to accompany it. The time slowly changed from 10:30 am to 11:30 am and then to 12:30 pm, at which point I was frantic! There was only 30 more minutes to get my application submitted.

When I finally satisfied all the requirements, the lady told me I should come back another day. I tried to explain that I was a student and that I really couldn't miss anymore school. I was traveling in just four days and REALLY needed this visa ASAP. She was not receptive, I was emotional, and I wasn't getting anywhere. I calmed down and tried to reason with her again, but for the second time, my efforts were proving fruitless.

Then, something magical happened; my prayers were answered! The woman had given me a piece of paper with scribbles on it, and I went back to her to ask what it meant. Somehow, she was much friendlier and chattier (10 minutes really does make a difference!), and I started sharing with her more about the situation. Yes, I understood and respected her job. And yes, I understood that it was nothing personal. But I made the trip all the way from Boston, where I attended Harvard University - and that did it! My friend said that the look in her eyes changed, that I'd struck some kind of a chord with her. She said that she would check with her superior and see what could be done. I had a glimpse of what God - and, oh yes, Harvard - could really do for me in the real world.

The remainder of the day was eventful. My friend and I did some sightseeing visiting the UN Visitors Center for the first time. We met some diplomats from Guinea-Bissau, and I found out that I still have a couple of French words in me! We returned to the embassy that afternoon, and low and behold, two-and-a-half hours later, I emerged with - you guessed it - a Nigerian visa! I honestly can't remember the last time I was that happy (kind of sad, right?).

So, with my new visa (and my friend's passport) in hand, we strolled to the nearest bar for a victory drink. We then headed back to Chinatown where we caught the first bus to Boston. The experience not only strengthened my faith (believe me, if you had one last chance to get this important piece of paper, it would have been a life-changing experience for you too). Moreover, it really gave me a glimpse of the power that Hahvahd can have. I may not always feel like I'm learning what I want to, and more often than not I may miss the light at the end of the tunnel, but at the end of the day, my $40,000 tuition is going towards something, and I really can't complain!

I'll be off for the week due to family business, but Happy Turkey Day to those celebrating. I'll be sure to share about the Harvard-Yale game when I return!!

The UN Complex...future home to me (I hope!)

Victory drinks!!

Waiting for the China bus in Chinatown. 

Bis Bald!
(see you soon in German)

Our brightest blazes of gladness are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks.

-From, English Poet Samuel Johnson

Holiday Time in Boston

Today is Hunter's Safety Day!! Haven't heard of it? Neither have most of my colleagues. Growing up in a small community in the Midwestern state of Michigan, hunting is not just a past time but a celebrated way of life for many there. Consequently, on the first day of hunting season, they cancel school for "safety" reasons (and because so many people - including teachers - would be absent anyway). After speaking to one of my younger brother's this morning, who was enjoying a holiday in the middle of the school year, I wished that today was a holiday for me too! But then I realized that here at Harvard, we celebrate a lot of holidays and get plenty of time off of school. Over the last few days, I've felt like I've been on holiday for the week! Let me explain...

Last Thursday was Veteran's Day, a day that truly is worthy of reflecting on the efforts that several have put forth the well-being of this nation. Since my professors and supervisors informed me that we would be observing the holiday, I had the whole day to myself! I started celebrating Wednesday evening with a girls' outing to see Tyler Perry's new movie: For Colored Girls. It was a powerful, sobering film that reminded me that despite that things haven't been going my way lately, it could always be so much worse.

I spent Thursday in retail therapy at Downtown Crossing, one of Boston's hidden gems. I spent some quality time (and money) in Macy's and DSW, and enjoyed actually having a day completely to myself. http://www.downtowncrossing.org/

My Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were very eventful days but somehow, they had the feeling of a "holiday." I spent Friday at my Research Assistant job from 10 am until 3:30 pm. I, then, had Biostatistics lab from 3:30 - 5:30 pm. (These are two stories for another time)...I went to a friend's place on Friday evening and enjoyed an early Thanksgiving meal with 15 friends in the area.

On Saturday, I spent all day at the Harvard Graduate Council's First Annual Student Leadership Conference. It was a great event that brought student leaders from all 12 of Harvard's graduate schools together in one place. I listened to Marshall Ganz talk about using "public narrative" as an effective form of motivating action; I engaged in a vibrant discussion about social justice and inspiring others to commit to a cause; and I really had the opportunity to reflect on the bigger picture behind why I am interested in global health. http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2010/11/15/graduate--students-conference-leadership/

Perhaps the highlight of my weekend was this Sunday. After spending several hours cleaning and doing laundry, I decided to make the trek to Cambridge once more this weekend to here the infamous Rachel Maddow speak. She was selected as the Theodore H.White lecturer to talk about the intersection between press and politics. Rachel was an excellent speaker; she was intelligent, witty, and very funny. And in everything she said, there was clearly a thoughtful argument to accompany it. She articulated that she believed that the politics doesn't hurt the press but that the press can hurt politics and that the changing from "old media" to "new media" isn't bad, it's just new. She identified that she is not an activist, nor would she ever run for office; she stopped being an active player in politics when she entered the realm of media.

What inspired me the most was realizing that at some point, Rachel was in the same place I am now. Mind you, she was a Rhodes Scholar and I was only a finalist; she went to Oxford and I'm at Harvard; she's clearly "made it" and I'm trying to "make it out alive"...but details aside - she started small just like everyone else. She had committed her life to activism, and she ended up going a different route. She doesn't posit whether one is better than the other; she just acknowledges that they are different.

Timothy McCarthy (my professor and a panelist on the social justice panel) made a statement on Saturday that really struck a chord. He said that we are privileged to have the choices we have; we are privileged to experience "burnout" and to choose a different path because not everyone has that luxury. So to any of you considering Harvard, considering future options, trying to decide "what's next" but feeling like you're just not there yet, remember, we are privileged!!

 Until Next Time...

Understand that the right to choose your own path is a sacred privilege. Use it. Dwell in possibility.

 -From U.S. Talk Show Host and Icon Oprah Winfrey

These are a few of my favorite things...

This past Friday, I got to participate in one my favorite HSPH activities: MusicFest! The event is exactly what it sounds like - and opportunity for HSPH students and staff to display musical talents that they never get to use! I participated last Spring and loved it! So, this year, I joined a few classmates and we formed a little "band." As one of the vocalists, I sang a mellow rendition of "Billionaire" by Travie McCoy and "Airplanes" by B.O.B. and Hayley Williams. We also did Miley Cyrus' "Party in the USA" (though we HSPH-ified it). 

Part of the reason that I love MusicFest so much is that it gives me the opportunity to do something that I never get to do anymore. When I was in high school, I also had these dreams of being a Broadway star! I would participate in choir, drama, piano, vocal solos, and I was pretty decent (if I say so myself :) ). And then, life happened and I decided that my calling was in global health policy...So fast-forward six years to now! MusicFest allows me to share a passion that I rarely use anymore in a supportive, low-key (and open-bar) environment. I even tried something that I've never done before - I played the piano and sang a solo to Whitney Houston's "I Look to You." My performances were far from perfect, and truthfully, I haven't properly exercised my voice in years, but it was wonderful to take a risk in an environment where I know my friends will love me no matter what!

My group performs!

Other performers

 

(Pictures compliments of Mark Shrime and Jen Stuart)

(Videos hopefully coming soon!)

Tutaonana baadaye! (until we meet again in Swahili)

Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.
-From French poet, playwright, and novelist Victor Hugo