Mayisha Rahman's Banter Blog

The past summer felt like a breeze. I was fortunate enough to reside on campus and take part in a remote internship at Prevention Point Philadelphia – a non profit in Kensington that is based around the principles of harm reduction. I was also able to get certified for contact tracing and was able to do contact tracing for Montgomery County until the beginning of September. Given that I could not leave campus for work or volunteering, I was incredibly humbled to be able to do a very small part in tackling the novel coronavirus. I mustn’t forget the strong sense of community that I’ve harbored whilst being on campus with my peers since March. Together, we’ve celebrated multiple birthdays, milestones (I can stand on the senior steps now!),  religious occasions (socially distanced, of course.
One of the more spectacular things about our community has always been the self-accountability and sense of common good that each individual possesses. I witnessed that all summer as the small group of students who lived on campus adhered to the health and safety guidelines carefully. Naturally, I was apprehensive about a majority of the student body coming back to campus in the fall. To be honest, who wasn’t worried? Here we are in the midst of a global pandemic trying to do our best to not get sick and to not get our close contacts sick. Approximately one month after school has been in session, I feel comfortable saying that my trust in our community has not wavered. Things look significantly different for myself and for everyone else but we have all come together to make the best of this peculiar time.

This semester, I am taking biochemistry, a public policy class and another class on the logic and politics of global health. It’s too early for me to pick my favorite and almost impossible too because of how interesting the content covered in each of the classes is. Biochemistry has a lab component and is in-person. It has been a blessing to go back to Park Science Building. Although this semester opened the door to a lot of technical difficulties and presented itself with a steep learning curve, we are slowly but surely adapting to an in-person and socially distanced mode of learning. As for my remote zoom classes, I enjoy nothing more than staying in the comfort of my room for my 8 AM class! I have a designated work/study nook in my room in order to eliminate distractions during class and while I’m studying. I will also be resuming MCAT prep soon and given how frequently my schedule changed over the past few weeks, it has been difficult to just sit and start studying (more updates on how I’m “trying” to stay organized this semester to follow in later blog posts).

I also feel really fortunate that dining services and LITS (library and information technology services) have adjusted their modes of operation in accordance to the nationwide health and safety guidelines. Knowing that I can reserve a seat in either Carpenter or Canaday library (and socially distance with my mask on)  if studying in my room gets too overbearing has been very instrumental in helping me stay motivated. Did I mention how happy I am to be back in Park again?

If you’re not new to my blog, you probably know by now how important community engagement is to me. Had someone told me this February that I will be unable to volunteer as an EMT and will not be on-site for my clinical research opportunity, I would have a very hard time coming to terms with it. Almost 6 months later, here I am having found a way to continue doing clinical research remotely and involving myself to adhere to the community’s needs through Bryn Mawr’s SGA (self-government association). I may not have been able to continue volunteering at the fire company but I am very clear about what opportunities I should involve myself in such that my health and my community’s health is not compromised.

Recently, the college has launched a brand new initiative surrounding community health and wellness. I hope this will create space for much needed health education and will be able to address important conversations surrounding mental health on campus.

To say that this adjustment has been challenging is an overstatement. There are days when my head hurts from looking at the screen all day, days where I wish I was able to hug my friends and take a stroll around Philadelphia among other things. This is not what I thought senior year would be like but, here we are. In the coming blog posts, I hope to shed more light on my role in SGA as head of honor board and to continue talking about the interesting aspects of the courses I’m taking. I also hope to talk about how the Bryn Mawr community continues to adapt and come together to allow us to learn and live together in the midst of this very strange time.

One of the best things about Bryn Mawr’s location is how close it is to Philadelphia. Center City is only a 25-minute train ride from Bryn Mawr Station to 30^th Street Station. As much as I have enjoyed going into the city with my friends, I always wanted to have the experience of going to class in an urban setting. With the aid of the Quaker consortium, students in the tri-co are allowed to register for classes at the University of Pennsylvania. However, owing to an already full schedule that required me to take certain classes at Bryn Mawr only, I was unable to plan my schedule around a Penn class.

I was naturally elated when I found out about the Tri-Co Philly program. It is an academic program  that would allow me to not only take classes in Philadelphia but would also let me engage in co-curricular activities in relation to those classes. The courses are usually offered in three clusters, but I was able to participate in just one this semester – Community Engagement and Social Responsibility (CESR) as part of my Health Studies minor. Taught by Dr. Anne Montgomery, Visiting Assistant Professor of Health Studies at Haverford College, this course took a Philadelphia-centric approach to the war on drugs. Other courses that were offered in this semester’s cluster included Behavioral Public Policy in the City and The Philadelphia Mosaic: Immigrant Communities in the city.

As a part of the CESR course, the thirteen of us who were enrolled in the class were also assigned a placement where we were required to volunteer for a minimum of three hours a week. One of the best parts of taking a course through Tri-Co Philly is that the cost of transportation via regional rail and around Philadelphia is completely covered. As a college student on a tight budget, this meant the world to me. I got placed at Prevention Point Philadelphia in Kensington for my weekly placement and have managed to learn a lot about harm reduction and organizational values in the short amount of time that I’ve spent there. Through our volunteer work, we were also asked to think about issues surrounding our own privilege.

Given that the class is so discussion based, we usually need to post a short blurb based on the week’s topic. We have discussed with one another how it is important to create an environment that is welcoming and judgment free and how important it is to be responsible for our own actions when we’re all at our placements. It’s truly humbling to see the mutual respect that we all have for one another as we all try to learn and reflect.

We have had a handful of guest speakers come in almost every week. These guest speakers are key Philadelphia stake holders and have ranged from doctors in addiction medicine, harm reduction activists, people who use drugs, politicians, etc. One thing that has stood out to me in this course by far is how we are identifying and analyzing tensions between social service and social change. One of our very first speakers was a professor of addiction medicine and he spoke to us about language in addressing addiction and how something as simple as that can have an effect in the care that is delivered. This continued focus on competency in medicine that I have learned about even in previous health studies courses will ultimately be instrumental to how I view others one day.

Alongside discussion of medical perspectives on the causes of the opioid epidemic, we have also examined the ever so present stigma associated with substance use disorder. My favorite part of the course has undoubtedly been meeting a group of five incredibly strong women in recovery from a program called Mothers MATTER. Hearing their stories really did allow us to put a face to the epidemic and made me realize how important it is to normalize drug use such that we do not end up stigmatizing vulnerable populations. Now that we’ve had classes shift to online, we still have speakers either join us via Zoom or listen to pre-recorded lectures. The course also deals with the various socio-political issues at work, for example – availability of suboxone/methadone, and establishment of safe-injection sites. In this way, we are also able to analyze the structural violence in producing the opioid crisis.

In relation to COVID-19, people who use drugs remain more vulnerable than ever and with the recent switch on an online method of instruction, this course is helping me gain a deeper understanding of the fine lines between systems of power and organizational hierarchy. Although we cannot physically be present at our placements at this time, the fierceness with which we still advocate for harm reduction has been my biggest takeaway.

To be able to take a course like this that focuses on learning and reflection outside the classroom so heavily has truly been one of my highlights thus far in college. Every week, we are tackling a new aspect of the opioid epidemic and we are getting to engage with individuals who are at the forefront of tackling and supporting people who are affected by this epidemic. I’d encourage individuals to partake in the Tri-Co Philly program if they are able to and if circumstances allow the program to be implemented next semester. A different cohort of courses will be offered but the idea is to experience and engage in the myriad of conversations and opportunities that are to be found in the city of Philadelphia.

 

These are very strange times. To be in a foreign country far away from home when COVID-19 has stopped everyday life is not just daunting but is also very stressful. There is so much uncertainty, so many goodbyes and see-you-laters. Bryn Mawr recently made the shift to online classes for the whole semester. I was browsing through Facebook last night and came across something rather remarkable on my newsfeed. It was a post by a college junior urging seniors in high school to pay close attention to how all the institutions that they have applied to are dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. In the grand scheme of things having institutional support,  especially during times like this, is essential.

I thought about the many ways in which Bryn Mawr is trying to support me and many others like me. Students who don’t have family here in the U.S. and who cannot afford to travel internationally were allowed to stay. Students, both domestic and international, with circumstances beyond their control were mostly approved. (In the interest of ensuring proper social-distancing, unfortunately not everyone was approved to stay.)* New Dorm Dining Hall continues to provide warm meals so that we don’t have to live off of ramen noodles for the next two months. The health center has adjusted its hours of operation but is still open. Our administrative support system remains stronger than ever with professors, deans, supervisors being just an email away. Classes have adopted an optional credit/no-credit and pass/fail system. There will be more developments as we all prepare to tackle this unprecedented situation but as far as I’m concerned, I’m so glad that I chose Bryn Mawr to be my home away from home.

With most academic buildings being closed and eating in the dining halls resorting to takeout ONLY, social distancing really did get the better of me during the first few days. Both my in-person academic commitments and my extra-curricular on and off-campus activities came to an abrupt halt.

Below, I am compiling a list of recommendations that I’m following in order to get by for the next two months. I’m still a work in progress but honestly, who isn’t at a time like this?

1. Maintaining a study schedule. I found it very difficult to do any school work for the past two weeks. I realized that what was happening is beyond my control and I tried my best to get into the mindset of following a somewhat flexible schedule. I make sure I watch all my class lectures, keep in touch with my professors via email and study however much I think is feasible. I don’t usually spend more than four hours (if I’m REALLY stretching it) over school work. I just got back into the process of studying and will need to fine tune the process as I move forward.

2. Maintaining a proper sleep schedule. This is SO important. I recently got into the habit of going to bed at 3 AM because I would watch Netflix till I couldn’t keep my eyes open anymore. This resulted in me waking up in the afternoon and I would have a very unproductive day overall. I tried my best to fix my sleeping pattern. It wasn’t easy – I had to stay awake and avoid naps that I would usually take in the middle of the day. I just got 9 hours of sleep last night and couldn’t be happier about it.

3. Eating proper meals. This seems like such an easy thing to do but, hear me out. Given that I have to leave my cozy room in Radnor for the sole purpose of grabbing takeout and coming back, I often choose to not leave at all. The result is living off of ramen noodles and chips – neither of which have great nutritional value. I’ve made my mother and a friend who lives near the dining hall my accountability buddies so that they check-in at least once a day to see whether I’ve eaten or not.

4. Check in with family and friends. Social media has made it so easy to keep in touch with friends and family. I call my parents at least once a day now, message my friends who live off campus more than ever and try to schedule video calls with them when I can. I would encourage everyone to constantly keep in touch to their loved ones because this pandemic is affecting us all and it is important to realize that we are not alone in this. The BMC community comprising of both alums, current students and even student activities are organizing virtual events (like Step Sing!) and are providing links to a myriad of free online resources via Facebook.

5. Take a walk (avoid crowds), watch a show, play a game, work on your pre-existing hobbies, read something that is not a required reading, breathe. Some TV show and music recommendations that are my personal go-tos:

•  Netflix – Money Heist, The Office, Parks and Recreation, Sacred Games, Black Mirror
•  Amazon PRIME – Fleabag (my absolute favorite!), Killing Eve, Made in Heaven
•  HBO – Silicon Valley, Chernobyl, Game of Thrones
  Guilty pleasure – Elite, Dynasty, Imposters

6. WASH YOUR HANDS WITH SOAP!

As I have mentioned before, we are not alone in this fight against COVID-19 and there truly is something to be said about the grit of humanity during times like these because everyone is united and determined to combat COVID-19 and to ensure that their communities are safe. However, this doesn’t mean that we’re not struggling to accept the harsh truth of what has now become our reality. Our beloved seniors won’t have a graduation ceremony in May, so many wonderful on-campus events have been cancelled, I won’t be able to see my favorite band in a few weeks and I really do not know when I will see all my friends again. Bangladesh (my home country) is witnessing cases exponentially and lacks enough resources to tend to everyone. I’m so scared of what is to happen but am hopeful that we will overcome this. We will get through this.

And finally, to the Class of 2020 – thank you for everything that you’ve taught me. Thank for your relentless belief in me. Thank you for all the love that you’ve showered me with. We will meet again and I cannot wait to see what the future has in store for all of you.

Please stay safe everyone. For accurate information regarding COVID-19, please consult the CDC website

N.B: All opinions expressed in this blog post are completely my own.

Here are a few pictures that I clicked of the cherry blossoms that have bloomed all over campus over the past few days! Like changing seasons, this too is a temporary phase.

As we dive well into the semester, I can’t help but emphasize the value that practical learning has had on my experience as a second-year Biology major and Health Studies minor. During winter break, I worked as an extern at the Neuroradiology department of University Hospital, Zurich in Switzerland. Over a period of three weeks, I was shadowing a neuroradiologist on his daily rounds from 6 a.m.-6 p.m., scrubbing in to see surgeries that made me realize how critical the science of the nervous system is and how strong communication and apt stroke management can help conduct critical neurointerventions effectively. Owing to how busy my schedule was, I only ever went out into Zurich during the weekend, but I was able to immerse
myself into a world of Swiss chocolates during the duration of my trip!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My father decided to surprise me because I was unable to go back home to meet my family. We spent a wonderful weekend at one of our favorite cities – Lucerne.  The quality father-daughter time during the last week of my externship made me more focused going into the spring semester. The experience not only helped me to relax by allowing me to work in a different country, but it also planted in me a newfound respect for neurologists and the meticulous manner in which surgeries are conducted. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This semester, I am mostly taking science-heavy courses and I am also getting EMT certified. One might think that I rarely ever have time for myself to do the things I love, and although that may be true, I have taken up journaling as a hobby.  Not only does it help me to organize my thoughts and provide space for introspection and reflection, it helps me keep track of my progress throughout the semester.

I have also made it a point to go out into the city more, and I do so by volunteering at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP). I volunteer at a surgical unit and assist the full-time staff with the day to day operations of the hospital.

I am currently in a Human Physiology class and am absolutely enjoying the lab component of the class. We had to dissect frog legs in order to gain a better understanding of muscle composition in the frog’s legs.  Organic chemistry lab is also taking an interesting turn and we are embarking on a 5-week long independent synthesis project where we aim to synthesize warfarin analogues.

The South Asian Students Association had their cultural showcase during the first week of February this year. The theme of the show was “Shakti” – a Sanskrit word meaning female energy and power. The performances were powerful and empowering. The show also featured “fajjr+ali” – an indie based duo from New York City. There was a fashion show towards the end – highlighting the colorful plethora of South Asian traditional wear – it was truly a good start to the weekend. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As mentioned in previous blog posts, I am a student coordinator for the Body Image Council. This year’s peer leader training workshop will be happening soon! My fellow coordinators and I are excited to share our vision of a more inclusive Bryn Mawr with interested participants.

It’s a very busy time for all of us, but Spring 2019 is proving to be the most dynamic semester yet!

 

As a student coordinator for Bryn Mawr’s Body Image Council alongside Emily George’ 21 and Iris Liu ‘ 19, it is my responsibility to strive towards making Bryn Mawr a more accepting campus towards all body types. On Thursday, 8/11, BIC collaborated with EnAble (the accessibility club on campus) to conduct a joint movie viewing of Margarita with a Straw – a heartwarming story of a girl suffering from cerebral palsy who makes her way to pursue higher studies in the United States. The movie tackles themes surrounding sexual orientation, disability, self-discovery and relationships between a mother and her daughter, lovers and friends. There was a brief discussion followed by the movie screening. We spoke of the different resources that are available to students on campus and also highlighted the various ways in which Bryn Mawr can strive to be a more accessible campus to its students. I started working towards a more positive Bryn Mawr experience for myself and for my peers when I became a peer leader for the Bryn Mawr Body Project. Now, as student coordinators of BIC, Emily, Iris and I work alongside the Health Centre and Student Athletics in hopes of making this college a more accepting and acknowledging place of various bodies. I personally liked Margarita with a Straw. Laila’s strength and resilience, in embracing life and its various intricacies left a mark on me and perhaps gave voice to my reason for being so actively involved with BIC. 

Last Friday also marked the joint Eid/Diwali celebration hosted by the MSA, SAS and the DSA. Students all over campus gathered together to join us in celebration of our respective religious and cultural observances. It was a great night – a wide variety of Indian food catered from Tiffin Indian Cuisine was served, a lot of the South Asian students on campus dressed in their cultural clothes (either the salwar kameez or the sari), and we danced our hearts out to the blaring Bollywood music. 

I have previously mentioned that I am taking a Social Epidemiology class at Haverford College. As part of our total grade, we were instructed to take the route 23 bus between 11th and Market Street from Center City to Chestnut Hill in order to observe the built environment around us. It was particularly interesting because as someone who is generally not particularly receptive to her surroundings, I started to view Philadelphia in a new light. We had to relate our observations to readings that drew a positive correlation between neighborhood conditions and health outcomes in communities. After soaking up ample material to talk about in our reports, by classmate and I walked around Chestnut Hill for a bit. It was a dainty town – with cobbled streets, fancy boutiques and an overall Bryn Mawr-esque vibe. We spent a good portion of our time on the way back talking about what we had seen around us and how we could relate them to the demographic characteristic that each place encompassed.

Today, I attended a volunteer reflection meeting for Holisticare Hospice. We talked about all the patients that we have been assigned and it felt great to sit back and reflect on our actions as volunteers for families that are experiencing the “end of life” experience.

As a very busy week ends and we are on our way to a new one, I am once again thankful for the place and the people that I continue to be surrounded by.

 

I declared my major in biology earlier in the week after much debate. The human body and its various intricacies have never failed to amaze me ever since I was a three year old trying to convince her micro-biologist grandfather to let her look through his microscope. I came into college thinking that I would be a biochemistry major and molecular biology major but owing to the diverse list of courses that Bryn Mawr offers, and with my interest in health systems, I started to develop an interest towards public health. Although Bryn Mawr does not provide public health as a major, the Bi-Co Health Studies minor is a good alternative.

As I have mentioned earlier, in order to get approved for study abroad next semester, I have decided to focus more on some of major and college-wide requirements this semester. Hence, the decision to take on five classes seemed like an impossibly possible task. I have a wide array of courses this semester that range from STEM to the humanities and an intersection between the two.

Organic Chemistry I – the academic life of a pre-med in their sophomore year seems to revolve mainly around this course (a trend that I’ve seen amongst most upperclassmen and my fellow classmates). My instructor for this course in Dr. Maryllen Nerz-Stormes and is probably the entire class’s biggest source of motivation. We have an exam coming up on conformation analysis, acid-base reactions and resonance – and like for any other exam, my study group sessions are in full swing. This course also has a lab component that undergraduates can do with post-baccs. Orgo lab is fun – I’ve learned several new techniques this year and have made my fair share of mistakes while attempting to conduct my experiments. 

Topics in the British Empire – this 200-level reading and discussion based history class taught by Professor Madhavi Kale, focuses on the history of colonised India and the different perspectives/events that led to the birth of independent sovereign nations as a result. As a Bangladeshi, my knowledge regarding the matter is not as broad as it should be and it’s very interesting to see why things came to be the way they are now and how history aids us in being able to understand that. We’re reading accounts by James Mill and a book by Romila Thapar currently and are analyzing the various ways in which a historian chooses to contextualize a given time period in history. 

Introduction to Health Studies and Social Epidemiology (at Haverford) – Both of these classes are to be counted towards my minor in Health Studies. The intro class, taught by Dr. Susan White,  focuses on the mechanism, representation and social structures of various diseases – currently, we’re going over influenza. Visiting professor Anne Montgomery, teaches Social Epidemiology and it is probably one of the most interesting classes that I have ever taken. We try to analyze various social determinants of health and read extensively in order to gain a better understanding as to how they may contribute to the theoretical model of how the social world gets under our skin.

Introduction to Neuroscience – this 200-level biology course taught by Dr. Karen Greif is probably my favorite amongst all the courses that I am taking this semester. Although very challenging in terms of the depth of material that one has to remember, it is fascinating to see how the smallest of neurobiological processes tend to have such complex mechanisms. I personally like writing bi-weekly blog posts that discuss a neurological topic highlighted by an assigned Scientific American article. Not only does further research on the matter enable us to understand how neurological experiments are conducted, they also assist in making us realize how intricate the the higher-order functions of the nervous system truly can be.

It is very difficult to find a balance between my academics, work-study commitments and off-campus volunteering engagements. However, I have realised that the key to not be overwhelmed by the girth of assignments and responsibilities that I have to live up to (mainly this coming week) is to work happy. If something is worth doing, it really is worth doing well. Surrounding yourself with like-minded people who will act as your support system, eating healthy, getting proper sleep, ( 5 AM yoga, in my case), going out into the city from time to time to appreciate what’s beyond Bryn Mawr might make the work load somewhat manageable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I really do hope that the rest of the semester is a smooth ride for us all. We’re almost approaching Thanksgiving break!

 

 

 

 

We’ve reached a point in the semester where the wheels are in full motion, midterms are in full swing, cups are filled with caffeine and the general adrenaline around campus is high. As someone who is currently enrolled in five courses this semester, it is natural to become overwhelmed with how fast paced my days are. To top it all off, I was sick throughout fall break and my productivity hit an all-time low. I do not recall ever sleeping as much as I did during that week – an indication that I was not tending to my body’s needs (self-care is SO important). Thankfully, although I did have a lot of assignments due for the week following fall break, I managed to take some time off for myself in order to appreciate the things that continued to happen around me.

On Friday, after three hours of organic chemistry lecture plus problem solving and two hours of hospice volunteering, I needed a breather. Don’t get me wrong. I love organic chemistry and the patient that I’m currently spending time with; but it is essential that I take some time out of my busy schedule to reflect and plan ahead.  Hence, I took to my favorite place during times like these – Manayunk, PA. It is a small, trendy town located approximately fifteen minutes away from Center City. Mainly known for its famous eateries and bars, this town generally tends to attract a younger population. I love walking around the streets of Manayunk and that is how I came upon Safa – a cosy Persian tea place. I am always on the hunt for good tea and it was pleasant to see the wide selection of teas that this place offered. I went with the classic Persian tea and got some pastries to go along with it. The ambiance of the cafe makes for a great study spot and the change in work space was refreshing for both my friend and I.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The past weekend also marked Halloweekend. I serve as a classroom aide in the Phebe Anna Thorne School and spent my Thursday carving pumpkins with kids and talking about costume ideas for Halloween. Some of my hallmates in Brecon decorated their doors with stickers and signs in celebration of Halloween. There were several social events on campus during Saturday night which felt nice given how stressful weekends tend to be for most people at this time of year.

Sunday marked my favorite Bryn Mawr tradition – Lantern Night. Each class has its own color – green, light blue, red, and dark blue. This lantern night welcomed the incoming dark-blue first year class to Bryn Mawr. The lantern is symbolic to knowledge and wisdom and it is said that the passing down of the lantern is representative of the passing down of knowledge from upperclassmen to first-years. I volunteered to be a ticket taker this time and witnessed the magic of Lantern Night unfold before me – dimmed cloisters, dark blue lanterns, first-years adorned in our “cult-like” black robes.

 

 

 

 

 

It truly is a humbling experience. I was ticket-taking with a current senior and after completion of the event, we went on to discuss what the event meant to us. Something they said to me will perhaps stick with me forever, “I realised how much I have changed, how much I have grown since my first lantern night.” There was so much truth to their words. Bryn Mawr does change you, at least it changed me. It pushes you to reach new heights, leads you towards self-discovery, makes you experience community via decades worth of traditions and I hope that by the time I am a senior, I too will have learned and loved to appreciate the things about me and around me.

Welcome, Class of 2022.

 

 

The past week has been interesting. I had to sit for two midterms for my neuroscience and organic chemistry classes, write an essay for my history class while having to maintain my other on-campus commitments. As you can already tell, I was extremely overwhelmed by the time it was Friday afternoon and I dragged myself out of lab lecture. To top it all off, I spent a good portion of that week sleep-deprived and sick. My caffeine yield for organic chemistry lab was terribly low and as someone who tries to set a benchmark for her work, I was extremely demotivated. However, I decided to treat myself at the Cheesecake Factory as I finished the final episode of my favorite show “Parks and Recreation.” The next day, my hell mom, Ariella Gifford ’19 took me apple picking. It was something that I had never done before and naturally, I was indifferent to the hype that was going around campus about Linvilla Orchards. 

 

 

 

 

 

In what seemed like the cutest little town, Media, PA, Ari and I drove our way into the orchard. It was a Saturday morning and we were greeted by a hoard of families. What I probably adored the most from the day was the little children who would frolic around the orchard with wonder in their eyes. Ari made it a point that I had my first ever funnel cake and it completely blew me away.

Our first stop was at the hay ride that drove us through the orchard – we saw pumpkin patches, a vegetable patch, strawberry patches, corn fields as we paved our way through the magnificent orchards. The wind blowing against us was probably the highlight of the ride because being the romantic that I am, with every breeze that hit me I felt more liberated.

Having entered a somewhat “zen” mode we made our way to the apple fields next. I was lost in a myriad of granny smith and fuji apples for a good hour. We ended the day with picking out a pumpkin to carve and with apple cider doughnuts.

That evening, the Asian Students Association at Bryn Mawr and Haverford arranged a cultural night showcasing Pan-Asian, South-Asian, South-East Asian and East Asian cultures. The evening was filled with relearning to embrace my cultural roots as the dancers in Mayuri and Afreen – two prominent Bi-Co South-Asian dance groups – graced the floor with various genres of Bollywood Music. There were performances by Choom Boom, several solo artists who danced to traditional Chinese music and by a very talented gymnast (who is currently a freshman here). Alex Lu – a spoken word poet from Los Angeles spoke to us about the struggle of immigrants in order to make a life for themselves in America, about the the need to fight not only for ourselves and our dreams but for our families too and most importantly about belonging. The night ended with a fashion show highlighting the traditional/ethnic wear all over Asia. 

This week, I have a literature review due for my Social Epidemiology class and am doing infra-red spectroscopy in my lab for organic chemistry. I will also be organizing the Pre-Health Society’s first meet-and-greet for the semester. Organizing events, and acting as outreach really does strengthen one’s ability to coordinate themselves in a group. Thankfully, the upperclassmen who are on the e-board for this club are the nicest of souls. Going forward, I am excited to welcome fall break with open arms. I will be staying on campus because I intend to catch up on readings and to work at the Phebe Anna Thorne School. I am looking forward to rediscovering Bryn Mawr in a good light again because although academia can be hard, it is broadening my horizons in ways that I never thought was possible.

As we dive deeper into the semester, I am reminded of the beautiful summer that I had not so long ago. I went back home to Dhaka, Bangladesh and worked alongside two incredibly talented researchers in a neurobiology lab (unfortunately, laboratory based work is not for me). I had ample free time to spend with my loved ones, spent lazy afternoons beside my mother and carved my own way along the busy streets of Dhaka for the umpteenth time. Last year, freshman year, has left me feeling tired but empowered. I often found myself marveling at the things my body allows me to do, and let myself absorb every experience that life put me through. This year, I am trying not to be my usual worried self – and how can I? With the beautiful facade that is Bryn Mawr, even the most dull days seem to come with a silver lining.
Over the summer, I came into contact with a representative from Doctors Without Borders – an international humanitarian organization that acts as first responders to global crisis. Having been inspired by the super-humans who put their lives on hold simply so that they can tend to the needs of vulnerable populations made me want to do something for the organization. I was told that they’ve started establishing student chapters in colleges all over the U.S. This was an excellent opportunity to let the Bryn Mawr community become well acquainted with current global health issues and to also serve as a platform for advocacy for those in need. Now that the student chapter has been officially registered as a club here at Bryn Mawr, I am extremely excited to contribute whatever I can towards the organization’s mission. Pictured below, is our “swag” gear sent by Doctors Without Borders HQ in New York.I decided to take a social epidemiology class at Haverford this year and the past week, we talked about adverse child exposures and how that may lead to poor health in adults. It’s a very reading-based class, and hence, it was interesting to analyze the different studies that researchers published pertaining to the topic. One would say that it was pure coincidence when a close friend of mine introduced me to an organization named – Playgrounds for Palestine. As the name suggests, the organization relies heavily on donations to build playgrounds for children all over Palestine in hopes that amidst the conflict between Israel and Palestine, these kids will grow up with a place to play. Since 2007, the organization has successfully managed to build 42 playgrounds for children all over Palestine. I jumped on the bandwagon with my friend as we went to volunteer at the organization’s annual gala held at the University of Pennsylvania on September 22, 2018. I was overwhelmed by the sense of community that persisted within the Middle Eastern community as everyone came together clad in traditional wear to support a noble cause. Dinner was traditional Palestinian food, and serving it turned out to be a fancy affair for us volunteers. Comedian Amer Zahr kept the guests’ mood cheerful throughout the evening. The day was a learning process for me because I picked up some common Arabic phrases, learned more about Palestine, and had my first shot at volunteering at a fundraiser. However, one moment of the event will stand out to me the most: while my friend and I were busy at the registration table, an elderly woman wearing earrings and a shawl that reminded me of home chanced upon us. She had a few questions about the schedule for the evening. One thing led to another and the three of us soon found ourselves lost in tales of travel. Turns out, she is a Mawrter! 

As our conversation about the places we’re from and the places we’ve been to escalated, our newfound Mawrter friend told us about her last visit to campus. It was to take part in the“ear-whispered artworks” by Tania El Khoury. She spoke of how deeply the Gardens Speak instillation had affected her and having shared the experience, we took to sharing our perspective of Tania El Khoury’s work. Gardens Speak was an experience that left me feeling broken yet empowered. I would strongly urge anyone who hasn’t been a part of her live art performance yet to participate in their free time.

I finished my training to become a hospice volunteer for Holisticare today and am currently swamped with work. As I try to be the best possible version of myself this year and am striking a balance between five classes, work and in all the endless opportunities around me, I am looking forward to a good year.

 

I decided to share some of the pictures that I have been taking of the beautiful flowers outside Canaday, Great Hall and the Rock arch in this week’s post for they perfectly resonate with my current state of mind and showcase the appreciation that we all harbor for changing seasons from winter to spring or from sorrow to joy. Self-care is something that I have struggled with for the longest time and it was only when I was well into my second semester did I truly start to act upon it.

Here’s how my life was during my first semester at Bryn Mawr :
I thought I liked living in a messy place but too much chaos in my room meant unwashed clothes all over the floor, misplaced exam papers, lost books and note cards etc. I even resorted to not shower on a daily basis and to never make the walk from my dorm to the gym. I put away my tasks and was no longer the punctual person that I used to be. I suffered from reader’s block and writer’s block. I was homesick and thought that without my mother pushing me to work hard, I would be able to do nothing. I did not go out of my room and chose to be miserable. My grades went downhill and I felt trapped in this beautiful place. I wanted to leave.

So what did I do? I made use of the many resources that were made available to us. I went to talk to Stephanie Nixon – Title IX coordinator, went to a counselor in the Health Centre, sought help from Rachel Heiser regarding study strategies, and I talked to my Dean. I would still say that all of that was secondary to what seemed like the hardest thing I ever had to do – I had to stand on my feet and come to terms with the harsh reality of my situation. My life was in shambles and only I could fix it.

It took everything in me to wake up and go to my 9 a.m. French class every weekday. I did my best to pay attention in all my classes and to not distract myself with my phone. I participated in class and started feeling a lot better by doing so. I set out short-term goals for myself and I worked accordingly. I told myself that it was alright to mess up sometimes because the realization that follows is what matters the most. I gave myself time to spend the weekend with friends, I started interacting with people in the dining hall (where I work) a lot more, I did my laundry and tried my best to keep my room clean.I became a peer leader for a body positivity group on campus. I talked to my mom and told her I was scared to adult without her. In a few weeks time,  I was on my way towards accepting Bryn Mawr as home. This semester has been kind to me. I realised new academic interests and will be working towards them in the coming years. I joined a group comprising of the most supportive individuals on campus. I took the time to know my classmates outside an academic setting and can feel strong relationships starting to form. I went out of campus into Philadelphia – found my new favorite restaurant. I attended several lectures on campus and was awed by how everyone is doing their own part in contributing to a better future. But above all, I let myself make mistakes and when I fell, I learnt to accept them and let them teach me what not to do from next time onwards. I almost made it to May Day and the beautiful flowers around me act as an reminder that change is inevitable and no state of mind can ever be permanent. The point that I am trying to make here is that there are plenty of reasons to not feel your best and there are ample resources to ensure that you do feel your best. None of us are alone here. It takes a lot of courage to take charge of your life but then again, that’s why we’re all here! Get involved! Get active! Start living! This life has so much to offer and only you can ensure that you’re living it to the fullest! It’s absolutely fine to be scared, to hit rock bottom and not comprehend where your life is going, to be immersed in a completely new place and to not know how you’re supposed to act. With time, it all gets better. 
Here’s to conquering finals week and to completing my freshman year here at Bryn Mawr!