Week 9 Blog Sunday, Dec 12 2010

I TRIED TO INTERVIEW A SENIOR AT THE LAST MINUTE AND ASKED HIM WHAT DOES HE THINK ABOUT XAVIER’ MISSION STATEMENT, HE SAID HE DOESN’T KNOW IT.  I WAS LIKE I HAVE IT PRINTED OUT AND HE TOLD ME HE REALLY DOESN’T CARE ABOUT IT.  SO DISRESPECTFUL !!! BUT LESSON LEARNED, DO YOUR WORK AS SCHEDULED FOR FRESMEN SEMINAR.

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Week 13 Blog Sunday, Dec 12 2010

I think Xavier was the best choice for me at the end of the day.  Based on my first sememter, I should have no problems in my six years at this Univeristy.  How can I have any problems when there is help here on campus.  If the teachers see you struggling they will do anything possible in their power to help you.  My first semester was very successful but can be better.  I had to make that transition from high school to college.  That was the hardest part.   Everything in high school was given to us, but its a different story in college.  You have to go out and get it on your own.  I read the mission statement thoroughly the other night and it made more and more sense to me evey time I read it.  I just wanted to come to school and just focus on pharmacy and pharmacy only.  But at Xavier that didn’t happen.  It’s a diverse learning system, so I had to experience others things from different majors.  At first I wasn’t all for it but I actually like they style of learning here.  I came to the conclusion that If I just foused on pharmacy I probably would have been too stressed.  Expericing other majors is fun and makes learning more exciting.  For instance, I took sociology the first semester.  I was like what does sociology have to do with pharmacy?  And still do not know to this day.  But sociology was a fun subject to learn.  Looking at other cultures and how they live made me realize how blessed we are as being Americans.  We have freedom that most countries are dreaming to have.  And in some other countries I was like why wasn’t I born there.  I am looking forward for the next semester at Xavier University.

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Week 11 Blog Sunday, Dec 12 2010

To me, treating patients is more important. I would definitely put my patients before any meeting if i was as doctor.  I would request to reschedule the meeting if it is possible.  If not to hell with it, I’m not gon let a patient die over it. Diseases can’t be scheduled. If you leave a patient for just a moment, something could go wrong and that person could die. There are  other doctors that can go to the meetings in his place. Paul Farmer doesn’t have to attend. In Haiti you will not find many doctors that will give up their time and money to work for free. Paul Farmer is one of  many that is not selfish and only think about money and take care of his business eventhough he might be putting a lot at risk. Any doctor can just take care of his patients. Paul Farmer takes care of his patients, their financial problems, take care of himself, and his financial problems. If Paul didn’t care about his patients in Haiti then maybe he would put the meetings before them and just worry bout himself. But since the patients are more important he tends to be at risk sometimes. He has so much dedication and passion in his work.  If he does not treat the patients, who will?  There would be so many people at stake. A high-profile meeting is not worth more than a person’s life.  If he let someone die, he will have to live with that in his heart.  If he misses a meeting what can possibly happen to Paul?  They will not kill him or treat him any different.

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Send an emali to your favorite teacher at Xavier thanking them for their work, and post the text of the email in your blog. Friday, Dec 3 2010

337uptown,

Thanks for the kind words! I will do what I can to get you in my class.

Dr. P

On 11/29/10, 337uptown wrote:

Hello Dr. Privett.  I just want you to know that I thank and appreciate you for this successful semester in chemistry.  You help me to maintain an “A” at the college level where I made a “B” in high school.  You made class fun with your excellent personality in lecture and lab.  Everyone wants to take your class, I even see people thats not scheduled for your lecture class sneaking in.  That explains why I am on the waiting list for your Chemistry 1020 class next semester.  But I am confident you will make some kind of arrangement to have me in your class. See you next semester!!!!

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Do some research on Katherine Drexel. Do you think she would be happy with Xavier today? Why or why not? Tuesday, Nov 30 2010

 With an avid interest in the material and spiritual well-being of blacks and Native Americans, Katherine Drexel dedicated her life and $20 million to start some work.  Mother Drexel took part in opening the first mission for Indians in Sante Fe, New Mexico.  She started building schools quickly for Indians west of the Mississippi River and for blacks in the southern part of the United States.  In 1915 she founded Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana.

In my opinion, Katherine Drexel would be happy with Xavier Univerisity as far as academics is a concern.  Xavier University is a national powerhouse.  It is ranked first in some major categories.  In pre-medical education, Xavier is first in placing African Americans in medical schools, where it has been since 1993.  According to the U.S. Department of Education, Xavier continues to rank first in the number of African American students earning undergraduate degrees in both life sciences and physical sciences.  The College of Pharmacy is one of the two in Louisiana and is amoung the nation’s top three producers of African American  Doctor of Pharmacy degree recipients.

These are some statistics African Americans should be proud about, so should Katherine Drexel.  She did not believe in racism and wanted to give others a chance.  And now we are taking advantage of it.  As a kid growing up, I was taught that this is a “white man” world and that I have two strikes against me already beacuse I am black male.  With a quality education, that should not matter.  But I know she would not be happy with COST OF  TUITION and the TERRIBLE ACTIVITIES that goes on around the campus.

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What role does money play in Farmer’s quest to provide health care? Saturday, Oct 16 2010

Money plays an important role in Farmer’s quest to provide health care.  Without money Paul Farmer wouldn’t be able to supply his facilities with the proper medicine or equipment for his patients.  Most patients he encounters have tuberculosis.  The more severe the disease is, Paul will need the money to get better medicine to treat the disease.  Then he thinks of some materialistic things that people in Haiti need such as hospitals and schools.  Now he is going to need the money to build these generous ideas.

At the same time money is not as important to Paul Farmer.  He does his services in Haiti for little or nuthin.  He uses what he has available to him and try to make something work.  He passed up the opportunity to make lots of money in America and decided to help people that needed help the most.  People these days are all just about money, and would rather make big money than help people in a different country.  I respect the decision that Paul made.  He wanted to make a difference in Haiti.Farmer believed that everyone should have health care.  It does not matter if you are rich or poor.

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What role does Farmer’s Catholic heritage play in his work? Does your religious heritage influence your work? Thursday, Oct 7 2010

Paul Farmer is a very caring, generous person.  I think his Catholic heritage plays a major role in this.  He treats others with respect like they are his parents or grandparents.  He never get aggravated at any of his patients because he understands their circumstances.  He knows if they had a second chance, they would have probably chosen another path to follow.  That is why Paul goes out of his way to help them.  He was raised the proper way.  If you think about it, the way Paul Farmer cares for his patients resembles the way the nuns care for people.  Like Farmer, they never get mad.  They wish that everyone has good intentios whether you are their friend, or if you are their enemy.

My religion plays a major role in my work also.  I was brought up in a religious family that stressed the importance of the ten commandments at church, and at home.  I am very glad my parents raised me the way they did because it help me through my life.   My only job was school, so my religion helped me to respect my elders and peers, never hate anyone, help others out when they need help, and many other things that will get you through life.  If it wasn’t for my family, no telling where I would have ended up.  With the life lessons I was taught, I will pass it down to my children so they can be on the road to success like I am.

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What is your favorite class at Xavier and why? Wednesday, Oct 6 2010

My favorite class at Xavier is chemistry.  People tell me that I have no choice but to like it because I am a chemistry/pre-pharmacy major.  Thats all I am going to know.  Chemistry, chemistry, and more chemistry.  But  it is not the class I only like, it is the teacher also.  If anyone have Dr. Privett you would know where I’m coming from.  She is such a sweet person and have a great personality.  You got to love her.  She helps you out in any way you need, she takes her time to explain what she is doing, and many other things that is going to help you pass her class.  It is impossible to fail!  If you do, you just didn’t want to do your work.  I wish all the teachers at Xavier would be like this.  From the things I hear, some teachers may go too fast, don’t know what they doing, or some students just don’t like thier class at all.

But don’t get it twisted Dr. Homan, I have a lot of love for you too!  You a very cool, laid back person.  If no one does not pay attention they would think you is our age.

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How has poverty benefited Haiti and New Orleans? How has it hurt Haiti and New Orleans? Do you believe in the preferential option for the poor? Wednesday, Oct 6 2010

In my opinion, poverty does not benefit Haiti and New Orleans.  Poverty is defined as the state or condition of having little or no money, goods, or means of support.  In Haiti and New Orleans we see a lot of this.  There are a large amount of people in these two cities that does not have any money.  So when a natural disaster  occurs they can not evacuate because of their financial need.  Now they have to stay around and hope that everything goes well.  The natural disasters that took place in Haiti and New Orleans caused many deaths because people did not have any money for transportation.  When it comes to goods, New Orleans have an advantage over Haiti.  There are many wealthy people in the US that helps supply the poor in New Orleans with goods.  I’m not saying they do not do the same for Haiti, but the only time I heard someone helping Haiti was when the disaster occurred.  New Orleans also have an advantage with the means of support.  Our government is really prepared for another disaster like Hurricane Katrina.  Unlike the US, Haiti does not have a strong government like us so whatever happens, happens.

Poverty hurts New Orleans and Haiti.  After Hurricane Katrina, President Bush flew over New Orleans.  He did not try to stop and make an appearance or anything.  But after the tsunami had struck a different country, he immediately reacted.  This hurted the people of New Orleans because they felt unimportant.  How can you put another country over your own?  I’m not sayin its not right but at least reach out to your people like you did for the other country.  After the disaster in Haiti the poor felt the same as the poor in New Orleans.  They felt that if we could go and help them in an effective way, why couldn’t their own government do the same. 

I do not believe in preferential option for the poor because there are poor people all over.  If you are poor, you are poor.  It does not matter where you from.  So if you can help the poor in other countries, you can do the same for yours and the poor everywhere else.

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What type of leadership skills does Paul Farmer possess? What type of leadership skills do you possess? Wednesday, Sep 29 2010

Paul Farmer is on a mission.  On the back cover it reads, “In medical school, Paul Farmer found his life’s calling: to cure infectious diseases and to bring the lifesaving tools of modern medicine to those who need them the most.”  The leadership skills he possess is trying to make the society a better place to live.  For example, he goes to Haiti and help out the people that are in need.  The majority of his patients suffers from tuberculosis.  He tries his best to cure the disease, and most of the time he succeeds.  If he does not succeed, he will find the solution to the problem for future references.

Another leadership skill Paul Farmer possess is that he tries to give everyone equal rights.  Somewhat, he can be compared to Barrack Obama.  The both believe  in health care.  Since Paul Farmer is working in Haiti, he is aware of the population of the poor.  You can basically say that Paul is doing his work for free beacause: women and children get service for free , so does the elderly, and men can get service for free if they are severly ill.  That is why everyone tries to make it to his hospital by any means necessary.  If the United States was in the same condition as Haiti, I believe Obama would have tried the say tactics.

At my high school I did not notice I was a leader.  I would not have notice until my coach told me to pay attention to my peers around me and see how I have a great impact on them.  He was right!  When I clowned around they did the same.  When it came down to being serious in the class room, they did the same.  So when i noticed that, I “put them under my wing.”  My class of 2010 were filled with athletes.  Many off us had scholarship offers to play ball at the next level.  I encouraged them that basketball, football, and baseball is not promised, but your education is.  They originally thought I was insane but began to realize that I was right.  All but two of us turned down the athletic scholarships.  The class of 2010 college enrollment percentage was the highest in our school’s ten year history.  I’m not bragging or anything but I think that I’m a huge part of that.

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