Hola!
My summer has been packed but also relaxing at the same time. Right after school ended in May, I went to Peru for three weeks through the Spanish for Healthcare Practicum at the University of Piura Campus Lima. This was a three-credit program that helped strengthen my linguistic and cultural skills in healthcare settings. The first week was about psychology, and I witnessed firsthand different therapy sessions through the students at the University of Puria at Sonqo. Psychology week truly helped me understand how important mental health is in every country and how to treat it head-on. The second week was medicine, where we had a lot of hands-on experiences on mannequins. We were also able to interact with real-life actors and run through different simulation labs. Although this week was very intense, it was my favorite as I got to practice a lot of medical procedures and run through many real-life scenarios that I will encounter in the future. From this week, I learned to view a patient as a person and not just as someone with a disease. The third week of this trip was focused on culture, during which I traveled to Cusco and from there was able to go to Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain. This week was unforgettable as I interacted with the Peruvian people and experienced their culture on a much deeper level by visiting important landmarks around Peru. The experience was amazing, and I would definitely recommend studying abroad, even if it’s during any breaks that you may have because it’s truly an amazing experience!
After Peru, I came home, where I started volunteering at the Mayo Clinic hospital in Arizona every week at the pain clinic because I wanted to get more exposure in the medical field. I was able to relax a bit as I spent more time with my family and friends throughout the month of June. I also traveled for a weekend to Tijuana with my mom to visit my brother. In July, I participated in a two-week program called the Academy of the Americas, where I came together with young leaders from Phoenix and around the world, such as Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Mexico. We spent one week in Washington, D.C., and the other week in Phoenix, Arizona. Throughout the two weeks, we were given the opportunity to interact with established leaders in Business and Finance, Education, Politics/Social Justice, and Religion. It was truly an amazing experience, where I learned about subjects that are very important nowadays. Although it wasn’t directly connected to medicine, I realized how all these subjects can impact a patient and medicine.
Now that the school year is approaching, I am focusing on preparing for the new school year by organizing my calendar, along with doing a bit of reading for fun. I am also enjoying my last couple of weeks at home in Phoenix before I fly back early for school, as I will be a leader in our Take Flight program, where we will welcome first-generation students at a pre-orientation at Catholic University. I can’t wait to start the new school year as a rising junior! I will continue to keep you all updated on my journey as I continue writing for this upcoming school year. Wishing you all a wonderful rest of your summer break and a great start to your school year.
Hasta pronto!
Aurora Sanchez