Blog 2024-02-14

Public speaking has never been my forte. This week my class took a trip to visit the Toastmasters in downtown mobile. One of the most nerve-wracking parts of Toastmasters is table topics, a segment where participants are given a random question and must respond on the spot. It was designed to improve quick thinking and impromptu speaking, two things I struggle with. My question was "What is something you think is still going to be important 100 years from now?" of course, my answer was kind of dumb and not very well thought out. I answered "books." Honestly, what kinda of answer is that. After I was finished speaking, I was glad I did it, but I also never wanted to do it again. Visiting Toastmasters was a reminder that stepping outside our comfort zones is how we grow. As a future professional in the biomedical field, I now see how crucial it is to communicate ideas clearly, whether in a research presentation, a job interview, or even an unexpected question in front of a roomful of strangers.

The second thing we did this week was out valentines themed assignment, Romeo Cupidon. Romeo Cupidon is an 11-year-old boy who I diagnosed with ocular albinism, stage two hypertension, lateral epicondylitis, and winging scapula. His ocular albinism explains his vision impairment, light sensitivity, and nystagmus, as it affects pigmentation in the eyes and disrupts normal visual development. His stage two hypertension is a serious condition that requires lifestyle modifications and possibly medical intervention to prevent long-term cardiovascular complications. The lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) is likely a result of repetitive strain from his archery practice, causing pain and inflammation in his forearm and elbow. Additionally, his winging scapula (something I, myself have), characterized by the protrusion of his shoulder blade, suggests weakness or dysfunction in his serratus anterior muscle, potentially muscle overuse. Basically, this 11-year-old boy has some serious issues.