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Child Observation Report

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While I hesitantly explained why I was passing fliers in their neighborhood, I could not help but notice the five young men’s Spanish worded tattoos running across their faces, chests and arms. All signs unexpectedly indicated that I was not only standing in the company of members from the MS-13 gang notorious for committing some of the vilest crimes in North and Central America, but also conversing with them about soccer and life. As my attempt of establishing rapport continued, it was hard not to think of their reputation of recruiting teenagers as young as thirteen years of age, ironically the same teenagers that my church and I were trying to save. Regarding that confrontation, and the similar ones that followed over the seven summers …show more content…

For close to six months I had the privilege of shadowing Dr. Chu at a family medicine clinic where the majority of her patients were Hispanic. During that time, she became not only a mentor, but also an exceptional role model of someone who showed genuine compassion to individuals not being able to afford health care treatments regularly. Beyond extending payment due dates and exuding concern and affection for her patients’ families, she showed a level of commitment regarding cultural competence that resonates with me to this day. With her warm personality and fluency of the Spanish language I would repeatedly see noticeably reserved and apprehensive first time Hispanic patients become shocked and relieved to hear their doctor speak in their native tongue. By simply learning to speak their language I witnessed how a doctor can use medicine and cultural competence to help others in a more personalized way and further develop a greater level of trust. It is this same level of commitment and personalized care that I strive to use day in and day out while currently working as an EMT. Whether it is by smiling, bandaging, and telling a young person suffering from a sports related head laceration injury that everything will be alright or simply transporting an elderly patient and holding their hand after a fall, I am certain that my efforts as an EMT are teaching me something new each day regarding cultural competence, and the responsibility that is required to help individuals in real life emergency

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