A Balancing Act

(Article submitted as a requirement in school on impressions for community clerkship. Submitted 24th June 2011.)

The earliest days of January this year were spent by ways of preparation for community clerkship. The batch had to attend two weeks of lectures regarding the activities, requirements, and basic know-hows in community organizing. For personal aid, still as part of preparations, talking to friends from the upper batches related to community work was also done with every opportunity.

It was in the last week of the same month when the formal immersion began. That first week was all about getting-to-know people, setting a first impression which is an important ingredient in building good rapport–an essence in a fluid relationship one must possess if he wants to succeed in his humble endeavor of community organizing.

In the foster home, one must be as cautious as if in a situation wherein you are deemed to walk in a lake with smoke coming from the water. The natural attempt would be to walk tipped-toe for you are in dilemma whether the smoke was a result of flaming hot lake water or from a frozen cold one. You can’t take the risk to walk on it without restraint unless you are already familiar to its attributes.  

Schedule setting is not as easy as when you do your personal itinerary. You do not only consider your own time and your personal chances of accomplishing what you intend to do but it is a must that you take respect for the time of other people involved, may they be barangay leaders or a group of parents. And of course, setting an alternate schedule either for a day or another activity is wise so as not to waste time for one does not know how cooperative the weather will be.

RHU consultations–which started on the second week–and home visits were good grounds for interacting with the community people. Aside from the interactions that helps nourish the fragile relationship with the community, you get to learn from them clinically. As how it is described on the rules of conduct for students enrolled in community clerkship, the community is a “laboratory”–does not sound good if one would think of the word maliciously–but true in its good sense, a melting pot of wisdom may it be clinical or social.  

It is a common opinion among non-medical and even health professionals that community organizing alongside with community health is an easy task. Though those are all plain and unqualified opinions lest they have done or currently undertaking community health.

Since one can only get close to perfection but never reach the improbable point, conflicts will always occur along your way. Thus, an open mind is necessary as well as patience and determination coupled with passion for community service.

Gratefulness should always be given away for every help of any kind from anyone among the community people. Just like being thankful, the lessons you learn in the community may be the same lessons you can learn at home, in a classroom, or in a hospital ward but they will all be germane everywhere.

Community health is a balancing act in its every sense. It is a balancing act when it comes to people, decisions, and intentions. One of the noblest things you can do on a balance beam.

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It's nice to be writing again. 

=)