March 25, 2016 Mountain View Elementary School
I arrived at 8:45 a.m. I met nurse Matt, and was instantly welcomed into the Mountain View Elementary School. From the moment I arrived to the moment I left I was completely amazed by the way in which Matt had a way with children. I have shadowed a school nurse in the Superior School District in Wisconsin but the approach that Matt took was completely different. I was humbled to be apart of his work day. I never considered school nursing for myself but after my experience I was truly inspired. Each child that walked through the door completely melted my heart. From the "I have a tummy ache" to "my hamster gave my lice." Children say the darnest things, and this is so true. I learned that the Central Peninsula Region is only 8.4% Alaskan Native and that it is 84% majority white. I found this interesting, especially after coming from the Alaska Native Hospital and Clinic; I almost expected Homer to be of similar demographics, but this was not the case.
The nurse also informed me that 67% of the district lives at or under the poverty line, therefore qualifying the majority of the school for free and/or reduced lunches. I found this interesting because a lot of my own district falls in the same category. One cannot help but to compare to what is familiar to their own life. The experience with nurse Matt was truly a blessing and a once in a lifetime experience. It may have swayed me to once again return to considering a career in Alaska after graduation.
I arrived at 8:45 a.m. I met nurse Matt, and was instantly welcomed into the Mountain View Elementary School. From the moment I arrived to the moment I left I was completely amazed by the way in which Matt had a way with children. I have shadowed a school nurse in the Superior School District in Wisconsin but the approach that Matt took was completely different. I was humbled to be apart of his work day. I never considered school nursing for myself but after my experience I was truly inspired. Each child that walked through the door completely melted my heart. From the "I have a tummy ache" to "my hamster gave my lice." Children say the darnest things, and this is so true. I learned that the Central Peninsula Region is only 8.4% Alaskan Native and that it is 84% majority white. I found this interesting, especially after coming from the Alaska Native Hospital and Clinic; I almost expected Homer to be of similar demographics, but this was not the case.
The nurse also informed me that 67% of the district lives at or under the poverty line, therefore qualifying the majority of the school for free and/or reduced lunches. I found this interesting because a lot of my own district falls in the same category. One cannot help but to compare to what is familiar to their own life. The experience with nurse Matt was truly a blessing and a once in a lifetime experience. It may have swayed me to once again return to considering a career in Alaska after graduation.