Mason Wong's Pharmacology Community Service Blog

Thanks to the Student-Athlete Advisory Council of Tulane Athletics, there was a super fun opportunity for me to table at a Halloween Party for the Autism Society of Greater New Orleans. Earlier in the week, we had prepared some bags of toys, coloring books and candy to pass out at the event. As an important part of the event we all dressed up in costumes (I was a physician because I was too lazy to wear anything but scrubs). For the two hours we greeted kids of all ages and gave them the bags that we prepared. We even had some tattoos that the kids loved to get. It was so fun to see all the creative costumes that the kiddos put together and it reminded me how much fun it is to make a welcoming space for neuro-divergent children. It really reminded me of an opportunity I did coaching children with special needs back during my undergrad at WashU.

I've gotten to go to two more sessions of Let's P.L.A.Y. at the Lawrence D. Crocker College Prep School. Once again I helped run volleyball practice with 5th and 6th grade girls who have qualified for playoffs. On 10/19, in order to practice against some more challenging competition, Coach Izzy (the 7th and 8th grade coach), the medical students and I played a game of volleyball against them. We wanted to challenge their serve-receiving abilities and passing which has been inconsistent this season and really challenge them to elevate their level of play. Something that we've been trying to channel their energy into more words of encouragement for one another rather than criticizing their teammates when they miss a ball. It was definitely a fun challenge for them to play against their coaches, and I think having a common opponent helps them come together. In the next session, I was able to get three of the cross country freshmen to come along for volunteering. Landon and Par