Red Capsule

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     This is the first capsule of all for the 2021-2022 school year.

sunset of the day after IDA


    We had a rather unusual opening of the semester with hurricane Ida that came at the end of first week. It was my first time experiencing a hurricane, given that I just moved here in the end of June. Everyone around who had been living here for years told me that I did not have to worry because downtown is usually the first place with restored electricity, and I live near Tulane hospital. So I was quite confident that I did not need to evacuate, and I would stay home and study for the upcoming exam next Monday. 


    Well, turned out I was so so wrong about this one. My apartment lost electricity even before the landfall of Ida, and it did not come back for about a week. After 3 days of no power and eating cold food, I decided to evacuate with Tulane's shuttle to Houston. Most people were in a restless and anxious state, and it wasn't until when the bus drove out of New Orleans and onto the highway, I saw all the trees down, debris on the ground, houses with damages. I finally realized how devastating this event was. Growing up in a city with beaches, I experienced a few minor typhoons, and that was it. I could never imagined something like this, not to mention how people survived Katrina. 


   

Dining room at the hotel Tulane provided in Houston,TX

    But not all were bad. During difficult times like this, like natural disaster, when things are not within our human's control, I see incredibly powerful cohesion of people, whether in this, together. Everyone, regardless of their age, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, all have their minds and hearts on the same thing, same goal, to help the people around them. I was especially astonished by how well and thoughtful Tulane took care of students and faculty, how they have planned out everything in such a short time to accommodate everyone. It was truly impressive, and exceeded my expectations of what a university can do to help its people. 


     Luckily power went back quickly after everything settled. I couldn't believe how excited I was for classes to start again, and coming back to Hutchingson building. Graduate classes are certainly every different from undergrad. It feels kind of weird but good that I'm in such a small class, compared to at least a hundred people in one class back in undergrad. But I love how accessible and kind our professors are, that I was able to communicate my feelings and concerns with them personally. The pharmacology curriculum is as rigorous as the program description said, and I believe it pushes and helps everyone in this class to reach their potential, develop better studying habits and strategies that is crucial to our future academic goals. 

Location: New Orleans, LA, USA

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