Life Lessons at Bering

Sometimes one can see people my age coming into the dental clinic and I feel so bad that they are still so young and have a life to look forward to and then they have HIV/AIDS, this helps me appreciate life a lot more and resolve to do my best to ensure that I make safe and wise choices. It opens your eyes to the reality of the world and its good to talk to your friends about your experience because they should realize too the importance of this issue. I always advise my friends to take safety precautions and make sober choices. I would never want my friends to walk into such an office, it would be heart breaking. The entire matter is so sensitive at times.

I really came to realize how much I am inclined towards the dental field too as it has more importance than most would first think. My volunteer has allowed me to see beyond the everyday challenges in a work place but also to witness the hardships people go through and how we can influence their lives. I am always proud to say I have helped someone who needs help. Always would like people to volunteer, because it’s not only academic, it’s fun and exciting, and it offers a social outlet by allowing participants to meet new people everyday.

Thank you to all the Bering omega people who have been wonderful and made my experience amazing! I will continue to work there as long as I am allowed.

A Good Deed Goes Full Circle

Bering omega offers a lot of new experiences every time I go there.  I usually go there every Tuesday and Thursday. This semester, I have volunteered at Bering for more than 82 hours. The happiness I get from volunteering and helping people who truly appreciate your help is one of the best feelings one can experience.

 I have always enjoyed making a difference in the community I live in. I always enjoy finding ways to resolve issues, solve conflicts, and help people. What I have discovered is that it’s not even about money, rather it’s about dedicating your time to help one person – this makes a whole world of difference. Just imagine, if everyone helped one other person in this world, we would be well on the path to changing many lives and allowing opportunities for others to appreciate God’s nature and the beauty of the things He made.

Bering Omega has been a very special place for me because I have learnt a lot from them. I went in to help patients but they helped me by giving my life meaning and by making me feel appreciated, a smile of gratitude changes my day. The staff that works there is so amazing as well. They do not only help the volunteers to assimilate into the Bering culture, they make you feel like a family.

Nostalgia

Since I’ve started to volunteer at Bering Omega, there have been a number of people whose stories and situations have made an impression on my life. When interacting with some of the patients, I have allowed myself to reach beyond merely my duties and instead nurse those elements of inter-human responsibility.

One of the times when I felt really great about volunteering at Bering Omega was when a patient who has Parkinson’s disorder came in for his appointment. I was assigned to help the nurse take him around. The reason he stood out is that I have an inclination towards patients with Parkinson’s disorder since I too have a father figure who has been fighting Parkinson’s for 10 years now. I used to take care of him when I still lived in Kenya. I still visit him every time I return to Kenya. 

Having the opportunity to help someone with Parkinson’s was nostalgic as it reminded me of my dear father figure at home. Nonetheless, I also felt comfort and assurance knowing that someone, somewhere, somehow will return the favor and reach out to my father figure in Kenya. 

My World at Bering

When I started at Bering Omega I was assigned with clerical tasks such as filing the patient files back on the shelves, calling patients for reminders, and helping with general filing. With time I got better in all these tasks and, the management, realized that I could be entrusted with more and so they started giving me more responsibilities such as doing the paper work for patients, doing the lab work of patients, helping patients hands-on (because many of the patients at Bering Omega are older). They also told me to shadow the head dentist, who is the director as well. I learn a lot from my volunteer work and I continue to learn something new every time I go there.

Another task that I perform at Bering Omega is to organize patient files for the upcoming appointment. We file the patient’s file on the daily appointment shelf to access the files easily during appointments because there are so many patients that it is sometimes hard to find the file from the primary shelf. At other times I help in the lab sterilizing equipment and washing equipment. Sometimes I help them to update patient file with latest CPCDMS, Medical History and lab work so the doctor knows how to treat the patient, and this is usually updated every six months. There are so many patients that this process goes on and on. Sometimes I also help in going to the laundry area to collect towels and napkins for the patients.

After being there for six months, I try to finish all the left over because when the patients are in the staff is very committed and busy, leaving little to no time to address the loose ends. This is why volunteers are always needed . There is not one day, since I have been there, that I did not have work.

I am very happy with the professionals who work there. They take their work seriously and are really motivated to help their patients in any way that is needed. I have a very friendly rapport with all the people who work there. They invite me to events and sometimes to lunch, which Bering Omega has for its staff. The receptionist and the administrative staff I work with usually wait for me to finish up most work.

New Project

I changed my project from CIS (helping children) to helping HIV/AID's infected people with their dental needs.For this, I volunteer at Bering Omega Dental Clinic's administration section. I have been here since November '11, clocking in 6 hours / week religiosly.
   I wanted to do some volunteer work in Fall last year and so I started searching for a place where I can really make a difference. I also wanted it to have something to do with Dentistry as I have a liking towards this field. After applying to many places, I was awarded a few choices and decided on Bering Omega because I realised that it was different than all others.
    HHH is for homeless people but I found it less helpful, its possibly due to my roots in Kenya where I  have seen real poverty and the homeless here are not so in the true sense. I found many of them to be drug addicts who had run away from their homes. San Jose was another good choice but it was not different either. Bering Omega was my best choice because they are a Dental Clinic that offers a full range of oral and dental healthcare services to those with HIV/AIDS in the South-East Texas region.       
       For those with suppressed immune systems due to HIV/AIDS, proper dental care is of the utmost importance. HIV positive individuals can often suffer severe consequences from untreated infections that do not occur among people with healthy immune systems, many of which can ultimately be fatal if left untreated. I learnt a lot about the US system of management at Bering Omega, they have a custom database system to schedule appointments, admit patients, recording and filing patient files. They have a semi-automated system which enables them to manage some records in digital format while allowing some others to be kept manually.

My Visit to Houston Academy of International Studies

On 17th February 2012, i visited the campus. Gave in my details to the administrative office front desk. After one week i followed up with the school by visiting again on 24th Febraury 2012. This time i made sure to meet the VIPS coordinator (Ms Puente). She looked up if i was on the system and i was there for HISD and cleared. She then asked me to contact Mrs Perez and she said she will get in touch with me this week after checking out with the CIS. They said i will be getting a mail from the CIS about my status and allocation. Have not heard from them still...i just hope i can start soon! i have a passion to do something for my community people and whats better than teaching them sciences and math ( My favorite subjects :) ). I was talking to one of the adminstrator there and she was delighted to see me and she said they need some few volunteers for friday. I hope to hear from CIS or the School soon. :) Fingers Crossed!

PS: I like the campus location and set up. People seem nice and friendly too. I just found out my cousin also works in the same school. ( What a coincident?? and i can feel its going to be a great experience)

Houston Academy for International Studies

I just registered to serve Houston Academy for International Studies. I hope i could add something to this organization. Lets see i will keep you posted. :)

Check the site for Houston Academy for International Studies : http://houstoninternationalstudies.org/index.jsp