September Volunteering

The activity I participated in was a two-hour gardening event with Niyah for the Broadmoor Improvement Association with students from Xavier University. I consider this activity important because it allowed me to contribute to starting a community garden to give people a safe space. I pulled weeds, raked up debris, and helped bag the leaves and weeds everyone pulled to throw away. 

Personal choices I made during the activity were to talk to the other students around me to learn more about them and what their lives in New Orleans and going to Xavier is like. I did make an inaccurate assumption beforehand- I thought that there would be people of all ages at the event, as the flyer for it said that anyone and everyone was welcome and it was a family event. So, it was surprising to see just college students, but I did not mind at all- I loved getting to talk to them and know them! From the activity, I learned more about Broadmoor's goals to make the community a more welcoming and safer space for everyone. We accomplished getting most of the unnecessary weeds and greenery out of the garden to start further cleanup and additions. I did not really have any personal goals going into it, I just wanted to help where I could. 

If I were to do the activity again, I would probably take an allergy pill beforehand and maybe look up some gardening tips to make sure the roots of the weeds get pulled out so they don't grow back. Upon reflection of the activity, I learned that it really is not that hard to make something as small as a garden turn into a welcoming space for all, especially not as a group. It was a really enjoyable activity and I would and probably will do it again!

I also want to mention how grateful I am for the Pharmacology program. The professors that come in are very thorough in teaching the material that we learn and it is obvious that they love what they do, so it makes the learning environment so positive. The department gives us all of the resources we need to perform our best and take those next steps needed for our futures.