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COLUMBUS SCHOOL FOR GIRLS
VOL. 66
ISSUE 3
March 2023
Mapping Out The Journey to Medicine ISABELLA LUCKAGE, XII As seniors enter their final month of high school, they are often feeling a myriad of emotions: sadness and excitement as they prepare to leave the nest, but also joy as they spend these fleeting moments with one another. However, what you may not know is that the seniors’ final three weeks of school do not actually include the stress of final exams. Rather, the seniors are offered the opportunity to immerse themselves in their deepest passions during their Senior May Program (SMP), an opportunity that is incredibly rare and “fantastic” according to SMP coordinator Dr. Emily Krichbaum. Even more exciting, this year’s seniors have been offered a brand new path for SMP that many students can’t wait to pursue:
baum and Dr. Marya Cassandra, a CSG alum, my dermatologist, and parent to Jacey Cassandra, XII, are the fearless leaders of this track and are determined to give the participants an unmatched experience. While it is certainly still an option to shadow a single doctor or nurse for your SMP, this program will, according to Dr. Cassandra, “expose seniors to different specialties and more specifics about what is relatable to them at this point in time in their education.” Participants will not only shadow doctors; they will also speak with a panel of current CSG alums in medical school and residency, learn about becoming a nurse, physician’s assistant, MD and DO, do patient simulations, and even learn to suture! This SMP will offer a comprehensive look at the field of medicine, allowing students to expand their horizons beyond the most well known medical professions.
These seniors are all smiling with excitement to explore the vast field of medicine this May. Photo courtesy of Isabella Luckage, XII. Additionally, one of the greatest benefits of participating in this program is the many mentors
are possibly exposed to, the more [likely] you are to connect with one of those people [...] that you could identify with or have a longer term relationship with.” Additionally, by building these valuable relationships and exploring the field of medicine as a whole, students will have a unique opportunity to truly decide if medicine is the field for them before hitting the ground running in college. So, how is this actually going to work? Seniors will each be given their own rotation schedule of the various professionals, all affiliated with CSG, they will be shadowing, including the opportunity to explore dermatology, pediatrics, orthopedics, and more. The students who participate will undoubtedly have a life changing experience with these many opportunities, and underclassmen should get excited for more tracks like these during your senior year.
In This Issue Independent Studies Inspire Exploration
a pre-designed medical track! Dr. Krich-
Kick Off Spring Cleaning Bakers of CSG: Mrs. Hartshorne and Mrs. Smeeding POLL Clogs vs Uggs
Uniform Update: Blazers What's Happening in Middle School?
Get to Know Ms. Skaggs
CIARA LATHAM, XII
Often at CSG, many of us find ourselves in an academic slump chained to a cycle of scholastic achievement: learn, test, repeat. So easily we write off the idea that education caters to our curiosities and what inspires us most. Yet when we do cater to our individual intellectual hunger, it is revealed that the pursuit of knowledge is just as great as knowledge itself-- and a few students have already discovered this. During my junior year, I took Introduction to Modern Black Studies. Every “B” day morning, I would head to Dr. K’s office and canvass readings by Du Bois, Washington, Hughes, Hurston, and so many more. To my surprise, Dr. K had collections of annotated works from her graduate study along with endless amounts of knowledge to share. My study of classic Black works left a lasting impact on me-- I find myself returning to them over and over again. Though it’s something not everyone can admit, I have a genuine love for learning, experiences like independent studies remind me of that. Maya Howard, XII, reflected on her independent study, “Mixed in
America”, with chief equity officer and DEI coordinator Ms. Smith. “Mixed in America” was a social study course on Biracial identity in the United States. As Maya wrote in her comprehensive paper: “I knew how I had been treated as a multiracial person in society. Did my experiences support or contradict others? Are there underlying reasons? I wanted to know.” Maya also detailed that her interest was not unprovoked. The portrayal of a mixed-race figure in Netflix’s Self Made (a limited series about early African-American millionaire Madam CJ Walker) sparked immense curiosity. During her study, Maya delved into “Black-White multiracial
Netflix's historical miniseries, Self Made.
Readings related to Black feminism. Photo courtesy of Ciara Latham.
populations in America.” The outcomes were deeply rewarding which Maya credits in part to the close alignment with her own identity. “I learned some of my experiences were supported through scientific evidence and surveys of other Black-White multiracial individuals,” she explained. As I began my final semester in high school, I felt the need to return to my academic areas of interest. Once again, I approached Dr. Krichbaum about coordinating another independent study. I knew that if my current experience was even half as illuminating as my first independent study, the work would be worth it. I encourage anyone with a interest or passionate to begin your pursuit now. It’s never too late to start learning.