I am writing this while I sit on my bed with my dogs at my side, reflecting on my life over the past few months. I have spent a good deal of my time working on different projects, primarily through the SER (Salud, Estrés, y Resiliencia/Health, Stress, and Resilience) Hispano Project, which looks at the effects of acculturation stress on Latinx immigrant communities. I have spent my time translating survey items and IRB consent forms (so much translating!), writing, reading research articles, and occasionally meeting with other members of the research team. Some weeks I have had very little tasks and been able to perfect my Kombucha brewing skills while other weeks I feel the impacts of numerous Zoom calls and looming deadlines. Through it all, I have realized the importance of staying resilient and adapting to change. My original practicum plan was to finish my practicum and turn in my deliverables by the end of July, but some delays in research and data collection due to COVID-19 and other unrelated events have forced a change in my plans and I will continue to work through the fall semester.
Despite these setbacks, I find that I am more open-minded and flexible. Before, I may have felt discouraged, but now I recognize the fact that there are many things outside of my control and being able to continue working with the amazing people who are part of the SER Hispano team is a true blessing. Throughout my time in school, from elementary all the way to graduate school, there are few places that I could truly call home and feel welcome. Being a part of a team of majority Latinx folks has refreshed me and made me realize the importance of being part of an environment of people who are supportive and uniquely understanding of my life experiences. During my free time I enjoy taking walks with my family, meditating, and trying out new experiments in the kitchen. I hope to be able to continue some of these hobbies and stay grounded even as the stresses of the new semester take hold.
– Andrea