Identifying sources of shame and how we can find direction

Dear Montecito ities that opened my eyes to a love of science, but I still didn’t know what I by Stella Pierce wanted to do with it. I knew I wanted to help people.

Montecito Alumni Write Letters When figuring out what I wanted to do, sometimes I’d reflect back from Life’s Front on my years in Montecito. I’d think about our Service Learning class R aise your hand if you’ve ever wondered why medical workers do what they do. Don’t be question persists: why go into healthcare? Well folks, today we’re hearing from Anna Martin – someone to at Crane, sorting items at the food bank or playing with bunnies. I’d think about a program I belonged to called Assisteens where we’d work shy. No one can see you after all, remind us why medical workers do on different programs aimed at helpyou’re reading a newspaper. what they do. ing the community. My favorite was It’s a natural thing to watch news footage of hospitals, the beds packed, Dear Montecito, volunteering at the school store for kids from underprivileged families, the staff tired and wonder how anyMy name is Anna Martin. I was a store that allowed families to pick one could want to go into healthcare born in San Francisco and have spent out a few outfits, new shoes, and (even when there isn’t a global health the majority of my life in the Bay other essentials, all for free. It is a crisis). As someone who has at times Area. In fact, I only lived in Montecito little-known fact that there are some been attracted to the medical field for two years. You see, we came up herself, I’ll be frank: I question the here often when I was younger to faculties of those who willingly purspend time with my cousins and sue such a taxing, and often, dangergrandparents who live here. My early I knew I wanted to help people. When figuring out what I wanted ous job. So I’m thankful. Thankful to memories of Montecito are speckthe front liners and thankful that this led with what these vacations were to do, sometimes I’d reflect back on my years in Montecito. pandemic, if anything, has granted like: visits to the beautiful beaches, us a renewed value for our medical playing with my cousins in the sand, personnel. all that good stuff. But that was just

Still, there is something lacking, and vacation. Real life is a little more knowledge that moving schools (espefamilies that cannot afford multiple I know what it is. It’s a question. (I complicated. cially during middle school) is never outfits for their children, and so the adore all things medical; I love the Some years later, my family decideasy. kids take turns going to school and new tools to locate cellular changes ed to move down to Santa Barbara My first year at Crane was rough. wearing that outfit. This means that and the squishy organs with special while my sister and I started attending I met some people who are now lifethe children miss out on attending enzymes, but I understand that my the seventh grade at Crane Country long friends, but not everyone was school and developing integral skills interest is not a popular one.) And the Day School. It should be well known as nice. I remember one math class needed in life. I believe it was this in particular. We were all doing our program that showed me how much individual practice work when one I really wanted to help people and classmate turns around and asks me: showed me how much I wanted to “Hey. Anna, don’t you live behind incorporate this into my future career. the El Pollo Loco?” I currently attend the College of I don’t remember ever having been Charleston in Charleston, South asked a question that made me feel Carolina. There, I am studying so small. I wanted something biting Biology, so I can become a nurse. to snap back at him. I probably said Choosing nursing wasn’t easy. I knew something along the lines of: I liked science and helping others, but “Yeah, you got a problem with I wasn’t sure what that held for me. I that?” did struggle, like any college student, The boy turned around and just with wanting to – maybe – switch laughed with his friends sitting next majors. During times I felt discourto him. aged, I often considered other paths I think I went home that day and for myself (for a while, I thought I’d thought of a million things I could become an elementary school teachhave said to him. er). However, it became clear: I loved Like: “Yeah, does it matter?” Or science too much to give up on the maybe just: “No, I actually live behind medical field. I really would like to be the 7/11.” a pediatric nurse one day. I love chilOh well, it was seventh grade. dren and think that if I can help some People were mean. I did live in the of them to feel better, then I want that San Roque area, so he was right. I opportunity. lived near the El Pollo Loco, and my To all those who are entering college family got dinner from there on a few soon, it is unfortunate that, because occasions. Is there anything wrong of the way things have been, making with that? new friends will not be as easy as it Real life isn’t vacation. This wasn’t might have been. But I challenge you the Montecito I was used to seeing to get creative. Reach out to others in on visits to my grandparents’ house, your classes, meet the neighbors in but there were good things that I your dorm, leave your door open on didn’t have before. After all, Crane move-in day. I know it might seem was where I really discovered an intervery scary and intimidating, but honExceptional Architectural Finish est in science. Under the beloved Phil estly, everyone is feeling the same von Phul and the affable Pat Bixler, way. College is a chance to meet new (805) 450-2049 | JAMES@JJCSB.NET we learned about Physics by building boats and Chemistry by burning people and grow as a person. Reach out, challenge yourself. You’ll never Cheetos. These were the sort of activknow unless you try. •MJ 28 MONTECITO JOURNAL “When a man opens a car door for his wife, it’s either a new car or a new wife.” – Prince Philip 9 – 16 July 2020