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And that’s a wrap! Thanks to the Harnett County Department of Public Health for allowing Team Pink this eye-opening opportunity.

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Macro Post 4

As the year wraps up, I cannot help but to reflect on the various aspects of Team Pink and our group practicum experience that we had through our work with the Harnett County Health Department. I am not going to lie: when I began this journey, I had no idea of how much flexibility would be required in the field of public health. It was definitely something that I was not accustomed to, given that a majority of my personal life and undergraduate career are both very structured and very straightforward. I am a planner. I like to have a plan completely laid out and know exactly what my job is, the things that are going happen, the materials that are going to be provided, and the logistics of how everything is going to be executed clearly laid out. Needless to say, I was in for quite the surprise and learned to adapt REAL QUICK.

The incidence that taught me the most about flexibility and rolling with the punches was the Pajamas, Pancakes, and Puberty event. We had just flown back into Raleigh-Durham International from our national conference in Colorado and I worked a shift until midnight as a graduate assistant. Needless to say, I was exhausted and after receiving blessings to skip class the next day from Dr. A, I decided to sleep in the next morning. To my dismay, public health had other plans for me. Something in my gut woke me up around seven the next morning and told me to check my email. That is when I found numerous emails asking me for information about my plans in regards to the skincare station. Originally, this station was not mine and I had agreed to “man” the station under the impression that the logistics were done and that free face wash samples and other materials would be provided by one of my fellow team members, who had verbalized that she had a connection with a former place of employment and could get samples from them. It was not until that Thursday morning that I realized that absolutely positively nothing was put into place and I had maybe one day maximum to put it together.

I immediately started running ideas by the preceptors, most of which were not feasible for the complex that we were going to be using now due to scheduling conflicts that arose because of Hurricane Matthew and double booking. Finally, I threw an idea at them that they kind of liked but were not completely sold on. I sent them a PowerPoint slide of age appropriate facts that were both directed at the girls as well as the mothers as well as an idea for a game. I decided to draw pictures of faces on poster boards and have them laminated. I would hang them on the wall and draw “zits” with a red expo marker, and have the girls race to see who could wash the zits with the “face wash” (bubble bath and loofas) the fastest. My preceptors did not seem to get the concept of the game, but my overall objective was to get the girls moving and to think that skincare and washing their face could actually be an enjoyable activity (I will let them find out the hard way when they are sixteen that it actually is not fun when pore strips and tweezing are involved).

It was during this experience that I also learned to trust my gut. After not hearing back immediately, I had to take action and to decide on whether or not to go through with my idea or to wait until I heard a response. I decided to go with my idea and proceeded to go to Wal-Mart in order to buy all of the supplies necessary. Thankfully, I received the go ahead response I was looking for shortly after. Even though my preceptors did not seem as excited about my station as they potentially could be, I had faith in my station and my ideas. I knew my target population and had spent a majority of my life volunteering with and working with with children. I worked specifically with girls at my former job, which was coaching gymnastics; thus, I know the types of things that they would like and find enjoyable based upon things that I had tried in the past that either worked or failed at my job. I knew that beyond a shadow of a doubt if I could make skincare, the most boring and not fun subject known to womankind, fun somehow that they would leave my station smiling and more knowledgeable than when they came up.

I was absolutely right. My station was an absolute hit. The girls flocked to it and thoroughly enjoyed racing with their new friends to wash pimples off the drawings faces, which probably resembled artwork that was similar, if not subpar, in comparison to what they could have drawn. The moms were beyond appreciative that I also thought to include them in my stations by providing them with educational materials on how to chose SPF and sunscreens, when to throw their makeup away, and providing tangible examples of the dermatologist most recommended face wash and skincare products for young pre-teens for them to see as well as their price points and where the products could be bought. By the end of the day, I actually had two guidance councilors commend me on how excellent my activity was and ask if they could actually have my poster boards and informational trifold boards for them to use in their own lectures and classrooms when they talk about puberty and the changes that the girls may experience in regards to acne and skincare. Even my preceptors told me how awesome my station was and apologized for not trusting me more.

Given the bumpy semester that I have had, the amount of enthusiasm and appreciation exhibited to me was very much needed in regards to my experience. This was probably the best and most rewarding moment of practicum for me.

 Through everything, I am beyond grateful for this opportunity. It was very beneficial for me and I took a lot from it, including new communication skills, teamwork, flexibility, and adaptation.

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Even though my mother had an accident yesterday, I decided to spend part of my morning at The Pink Ribbon Breakfast celebrating what many attendees recognized as another year of survival. I met the oldest Harnett County breast cancer survivor and reconnected with a sorority sister, who happened to attend the breakfast. Although I did not stay the entire time, what little bit I did was very enjoyable. I will not be quitting college though to become a fruit-scooper any time soon, as we realized I am literally the worst at putting grapes and other types of produce on attendees plates. Thankfully, some were very patient.

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As we’re finishing up with our group practicum, I am overwhelmed. This semester has been an experience, to say the least, but through every up and all the downs, I still find myself blessed. It has opened my eyes to a lot of things, both good and bad, and I am thankful that I can apply what I’ve learned to the future. 

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Macro Post 3

After the Pajamas, Pancakes, and Puberty event on November 5th, 2016, our preceptor, Mrs. Debra Hawkins, asked that a few of us from Team Pink write up an evaluation of the event if we were unable to attend a meeting at the health department to discuss in person. I thought this activity was actually extremely helpful, especially in regards to reflection of both the group and myself.

Overall, I believe that the event went extremely well. The stations, breakfast, speaker, and craft were planned and executed accordingly and seemed to work together simultaneously and very well. According the evaluations, both parents/guardians and girls who attended seemed to thoroughly enjoy the event in its entirety as well.

One criticism that was given by one of the girls was that there were too many stations. I somewhat disagree with this, but believe that it definitely can be approved upon. Instead of having too many stations in general, I believe that we had too many stations close to one another in terms of proximity. Some stations required physical activity, which was nearly impossible in some instances. Also, given the shape of the tabling area was more of a square verses a rectangular shape, it made the flow a little more difficult. Rather than a straight through experience, it oftentimes became very congested and clogged. This probably made some girls feel overwhelmed at times. I believe that this is primarily due to the location/building structure, which was out of our control given the scheduling conflict that arose. In the future, I would suggest that stations be set up in a straight line or only on two sides of the building rather than around the entire perimeter. I believe that this will improve flow significantly.

Also, not trying to pick on anyone, but the first station was not very interactive or fun for the girls, which was evident on their faces as they sat through the “lecture” that was being given to them. It was very long-winded and the speaker more so talked AT the girls rather than WITH them. Interaction and involvement are crucial, especially in an event like this. Information should be age appropriate, and presented as so.

Something that I noticed at my table in particular was that the moms REALLY appreciated having information for them as well. Yes, the event was mainly about the girls, but I tried to incorporate them as well to keep them interested and potentially teach them something new, for both their daughters/granddaughters as well as themselves. On my poster board, I had graphics showing when you should throw away makeup products. Many mothers made remarks that they were unaware of a majority of these expiration dates and were very appreciative of this new, interesting information. I also included a section about how to chose the best SPF product for their children and what kind of ingredients to avoid in a special “hey mom!” section, which used some terms/ideas that were way above the girls’ heads but still very relevant to the cause. Also, I had a few face wash products on the table that were considered “top ranked” products for younger girls which I was able to show and give price estimations and locations they were available at so that mom could potentially buy them if she so chose to.

I believe would be beneficial for next year is to incorporate more games into the stations rather than just “talks.” I have worked with kids for a large portion of my life and know for a fact that they are more susceptible to learning and cooperating with you if you somehow make what you are teaching them into a game or fun. Also, more activities for mother-daughter bonding may also alleviate some of that awkward tension that may arise from talking about puberty, pads/tampons, and other “weird” womanly things.

In regards to food, I believe that we should either buy more food or get rid of the self-serve idea. Although it was quicker than serving, some people abused the portion privilege, which prevented some people from getting bacon. Also, Erin discovered that the eggs were not entirely cooked in the middle, which conveniently was the portion that I had already devoured a chunk of because I was so hungry. Fortunately, I didn’t get sick and hopefully nobody else did either; however, that is definitely something that should be considered when ordering food for next year. If choosing the same vender, reviewing their recent sanitation grade and/or online reviews would be a good idea.

Otherwise, judging by the reviews, we did an awesome job and I am super excited that I was able to be a part of it! Good work ladies!

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So incredibly excited that my table and wash-the-zit-off-her-face game were such a hit amongst the kids, parents, and my preceptor! A school guidance councilor asked for my materials and for me to help volunteer when she teaches a class in the spring on what she considers to be the most boring part of being a girl (skincare) because "the kids really love you and you're awesome." I'm super excited for this opportunity and it feels awesome to actually be appreciated!

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This week in Duplin County, we were able to see public health first hand and get one of the most genuine experiences (and group fellowships) possible. I'm excited to take what I learned and apply it to our practicum experience!

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For the past week, our practicum took somewhat of a pause due power outages across the county and fall break. However, given everything going on with Hurricane Matthew, this quote from the CPHS Combine is stuck in my brain. Through it all, so many people who've lost everything remain positive. So who really is living in poverty?

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Reminiscing on last week and the sunny, bright, fun day that we had! This weekend, another one of our events was cancelled due to Hurricane Matthew. Please keep everyone in your prayers! Sorry for the late post, I actually just got power myself.

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Macro Post 2

This past weekend our practicum group was finally able to participate in our first community event. Two events were scheduled for Saturday: a barbershop barbecue promoting HIV awareness and testing, as well as a booth and skit at Denim Days to promote breast cancer awareness and the importance of early detection.

I was a member of the group who participated at Denim Days. After hours of preparation and constructive criticism, our group felt prepared. However, just like in the field of public health, things got a little messy. Even though we were told that we would have a table and chairs, there were none present when we arrived. Our table was also in the grass and not on pavement/in a parking lot like the other booths, making it a prime target for ants. Come to find out, I’m allergic to ants—who knew? So after my pinky toe completely swelled up, I started the hunt for some Benadryl. After ignoring the ominous warnings about how children would flock to the table for free face painting and being bombarded, two of the leftover three members of the group quickly learned how to paint faces. At the beginning of our skit, we had approximately two people watching us, but then Savannah turned into the most hype MC that Erwin had ever seen and completely engaged a crowd (got to admit, did not see that one coming—it was awesome). Through everything, like always, we rolled with the punches and had an overall successful day.

I think the key aspect that we, as a group, took away from this experience though was the importance of communication. Up until this point, we lacked communication among the group. However, I think it became obvious, that some members also needed practice out in the community. As the day went on, though, everyone got substantially better.

Having communication that is age appropriate is also a vital. If a women does not appear to be thirty-five years or older, it probably is not beneficial to talk about the intricate details of the mobile mammography program to her as it would be to somebody who is in the appropriate age range for a mammogram. Rather, you could provide the younger women with information or statistics about breast cancer in general.

Also, something that I personally experienced, was talking to kids about breast cancer. Since the free face painting was such a hit, we typically were swarmed by little kids; in other words, we typically were swarmed by lots of questions. While painting a ribbon on one girls face, another girl asked “what is that ribbon for” so I nonchalantly replied “it’s for breast cancer.” It did not occur to me until the girl asked “well what’s cancer?” that some kids, especially those who are younger who have not experienced cancer firsthand, do not understand what it is. It would have been pointless to use medical jargon to somebody who intellectually comprehend it, so my response was “it’s when these bad thingies are inside of your body and make you really, really sick” which made complete and utter sense to them.

Another thing I realized was it is crucial to go beyond the booth and our comfort zone. Sure, it was very important to talk to community members as they came by our table and to provide them with information pamphlets, educational materials, mammography applications, etc., but it was even more important to actually “get out” in the festival itself. Our team took turns walking around Denim Days and exploring the different booths. Savannah and I stumbled upon a LuLaRoe booth (which sells the most comfortable leggings that I’m convinced are magically because they are “one size fits all” but actually do in fact fit us all… mind boggling). The booth workers consisted of two older women, one of their husbands, and one of their teenage daughters. As we looked around, the husband came up for air while devouring cheese fries to tell Savannah that he liked her tattoos. We all became consumed with tattoo talk, mostly about what each of our tattoos meant to us (the man had around four, I have five, Savannah has a billion) and how Savannah had an apprenticeship back home at a tattoo shop. Upon hearing the terminology “back home,” the group realized that we were students. This gave us a perfect opportunity to transition into talking about our practicum experience and how we were working with the health department.

We told them that while some of our group was at a barbershop barbeque even promoting HIV awareness and testing, the rest of our group was here at Denim Days and was focusing on breast cancer awareness, early detection, and mammography accessibility. This immediately sparked input from one of the women, who was quiet up until this point. She told us that the other booth owner had actually been diagnosed with and beat breast cancer not too long ago. She, like many other women, had utilized the mobile mammography service that was provided by the health department in order to detect the disease early. This was the first time that I had experienced firsthand why our efforts were so incredibly important. We were able to extend an invitation to both of the ladies, as well as their families, to attend our Pink Ribbon Breakfast, which is our next event. It is a magnitude of different things: information for those who are interested, a support system and network for those who have been diagnosed with and are battling breast cancer, and a celebration for those who are survivors.

We were also able to connect with a family who, although they did not know anyone who had experienced breast cancer, were major supporters of the cause. As we began talking and getting to know them on a more personal level, they told us about one of the group member’s daughter, who was performing that night in some kind of singing showcase. This show was apparently was a big deal in the area, and they asked if they could have flyers for our upcoming events to give to her so that she could announce them during her show. Although a simple gesture, her announcement could easily have improved our outreach efforts and thus proving that in order for efforts to truly be successful, you have to dive in and get to know the community members. By developing that personal connection and sense of trust, there is no telling how truly successful an initiative can be.

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Had a blast educating some of the community and telling them why it's important to be screened for lumps in your humps (aka: breasts) because early detection increases your likelihood of survival!

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Macro Post 1

This team practicum experience has been one of the most eye-opening experiences in my educational career.

Our first event that was scheduled in September was called “Pancakes, Pajamas, and Puberty.” Its primary goal was to provide education and information to both young girls, ranging in ages roughly nine to eleven years old, as well as their mothers regarding puberty, the new biological/chemical changes that the body will experience, and other social aspects that young girls may face, such as self-esteem and body image, as a result of puberty. As a team, our main objective was to create mini-stations that would provide this beneficial knowledge, but also be engaging and fun. My station that I created was an interactive station called “trash your insecurities,” which was a spin-off of a philanthropic event that my sorority has every year at Campbell. Essentially, the girls would write something that they disliked about themselves. It could be anything from something about their personality, physical appearance, economic state, or anything else that they may feel insecure about. When done, they got to wad it up and symbolically “trash it” into a big trashcan with other girls’ wadded up insecurities. Then, each girl got to write something that they loved about themselves on a huge mirror while looking at themselves. By the end of the activity, there are tons of positive and uplifting adjectives on the mirror, which serve as a reminder to anyone who walks by the mirror of how unique every girl is, and a pile of insecurities in the trashcan, which represents how everyone has something that they are insecure about and how those insecurities are “trash” and do not define us. Although simple, this activity encourages positive attitudes, especially in regards to body image which is an area where a majority of female insecurities fall under.

Needless to say, my group was excited. We were proud of our stations and ready to see firsthand all of our hard work and preparation pay offt. However, as I have learned in public health already, things do not necessarily go as planned. Our first event had to be cancelled due to another event in the community, Breakfast with Cinderella, which would have potentially pulled from our target population. Thus, in order to avoid competition (and more than likely defeat because Cinderella probably seems way cooler to a young girl than talking about periods with their moms and strangers), our event was postponed until November.

Although our group was totally bummed and somewhat defeated after our first major, and only event before midterms, was cancelled, I feel like this was honestly one of the best things that could have happened.

As Dr. Megan Davies said, “public health is messy.” After my experience, I would definitely agree. Public health is sticky, it is definitely tough at times, and sometimes it just does not go the way that you expect for it to at all. Sometimes events get cancelled, events go awry, or events just completely and utterly fail. Thus, in order to be a successful member of the public health workforce, it is important to learn how to be flexible and how to adapt to sudden changes.

Another important lesson that I have learned from our practicum setbacks is what true leadership is. Before, leadership just felt like just a vocabulary term that was used to describe whoever was in charge. So in our case, Mrs. Debra Hawkins was the leader and we were just her noble followers. However, I am slowly starting to disagree and change my viewpoints of this static definition.

Now I see that a true leader as somebody who faces adversity and overcomes it. It is somebody who takes his or her failures and builds upon them rather than letting them define or destroy them. A leader is also somebody that encourages and motivates other team members to be the best self that they can be, while also holding him or herself to a high standard as well.

I am starting to see those qualities in myself and my team members, and to me that is the greatest achievement thus far. We may not get along all of the time (after all, we are all girls and this somewhat screams disaster waiting to happen), but it is absolutely awesome to see the change and growth in each and every single one of us. We are each becoming leaders in our own way.

Fortunately, the month of October is quickly approaching. It is full of promising events, including a BBQ Cook Off that provides free HIV testing for the community as well as a Pink Ribbon Breakfast. Stay tuned!

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So. Many. Bags. But that means IT IS ALMOST TIME FOR OUR EVENTS TO KICK OFF! So excited for the month ahead.

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We have wrapped up week five! After some constructive criticism, we've started to refocus on early detection and informing the community of services, like the mobile mammography mobile, that are available to them rather than just breast cancer in general.

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Today half of our team spent the afternoon rolling shirts for one of our events. I'm basically a pro at this point.

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Our first event got postponed until November, but we're at the end of week three and super excited to start working on our next event with the SHOP program. Stay tuned!

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This week I noticed that every time I saw something pink in my house that a huge smile came across my face. Although we don't have any pictures to show off all our hard work yet, we have been working diligently to get ready for our various events throughout the semester. I'm so incredibly ready to get out in the community!