Saturday mornings fill my heart with gratitude for the people around me. Anyone who has been with Street Medicine knows that the individuals we come across are so much more than their misfortune. Through my Saturday volunteer shifts, I have witnessed incredible bravery, faith, kindness, and companionship amongst people who are down on their luck.
It is easy to get disillusioned when working with individuals experiencing homelessness. You see so much pain, both physical and psychological, built up by years of trauma and adversity. You often wonder if the little help you can provide is really enough to make a difference.
You also see kindness and companionship in the friendships formed on the streets, and in the furry friends acquired along the way. You even see people who jokingly stop by to help the students. “Use me for practice, doc,” they often say, as they stick their hand out for a blood sugar check. It is moments like these that bring a smile to my face and keep me grounded. It is a humble reminder that regardless of the circumstances I am in, I can always share a laugh with those around me.
I’ve learned from our patients that students are a symbol of hope–hope that there are people who care and are willing to sacrifice their time to help. Hope that one day, when we’ve completed our training and are out in the real world, we won’t forget about them.
Medical training is as challenging as it is rewarding. It drains you as you set aside years of your life working towards a goal that can feel so out of reach. It drains you to be away from family, friends, and the places you’ve called home. It drains you to experience heartbreak, loss, and hardship, and to keep pushing forward. Regardless, we are all here because, in one way or another, we want to take care of people. Saturday mornings with Street Medicine have allowed me to reconnect with the reason I am here, and have allowed me to meet some incredibly kind and resilient individuals along the way.
Dalia Koujah is a third year medical student at the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix. She graduated from UCSD, majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in Human Developmental Sciences when she wasn’t at the beach. Dalia enjoys painting, trail running, and reading in her free time. Please feel free to reach out at dkoujah@arizona.edu.