Throughout my nine years of musical experience, I have never truly been exposed to the variation of music that is played all around the world. While I listened to Vietnamese music in my household as a child in contrast to the American top hits, I did not consider myself a well-rounded musician. Taking this course has allowed me to analyze the vocal technique and instrumental patterns from different cultures and religious groups. The importance placed on lyrics and instruments differ depending on each group. Understanding how composers and songwriters use these tools to express feelings, political messages, social values, and experiences give me the chance to appreciate what I am listening to. Surprisingly, the themes reflect almost simultaneously across cultures.

       We all may have unique events that occur in our lives but that does not discredit the concept that we feel powerful emotions toward the things that really affect us. Today, I am able to apply the musical knowledge I have learned from this course towards unfamiliar music. For example, while classical music is not my forte, I am able to listen to the musical dynamics and see how it evokes emotion in audience members. Simple crescendos and decrescendos have the ability to move people from tears to joy within seconds. They can craft stories without the use of lyrics. As long as you have the patience to listen and break down what is being played into your ears, music can bind us all together and allow us to connect.

      While my interests in biology are closely related to medicine, the understanding of marine organisms is crucial. Both humans and vertebral organisms have some similar anatomical structures. Learning about marine plants and invertebrates can be applicable to creating medications or treatments as they serve as the base of the food web.

      Aside from learning about marine organisms, we studied the marine ecosystem and the impacts of climate change. Ocean acidification and El Nino effects can influence where specific species may live or migrate due to the damage in some habitats or unstable water temperatures. The course has enhanced my knowledge about conservation efforts. Humans play a large role in maintaining the marine environment. Doing activities such as reducing pollutants, decreasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the lithosphere, and fishing can preserve species and marine quality. 

      What I found very fascinating about the course was that my research matched some of my professor’s case study work. We both conducted research on the impacts of invasive species in novel ranges. We strive to maintain biological control through the reintroduction of natural enemies and our understanding of coevolution.

      In this course, I have learned not just academic material but physical material. Going on excursions allowed me to see the marine environment in a new light while also learning how to kayak and snorkel for the first time. I learned just as much about myself as I did with marine biology. 

The most sacred rule of medicine is to do no harm. To do so would violate the morals and ethics of medicine. While every health care professional strives to provide the best care, pass on teachings, and serve others— they are not always perfect. There are some cases where health care professionals generate additional harm. What can we do to minimize such harm? Well, that is a largely heated debate among those in public health, specifically global health. 

Global health is a public health sector that focuses on studying, researching, and improving health among different populations around the world in order to achieve health equity. There are organizations working tirelessly to care for others that may not have access to the  resources and practices of health care. On the surface, they appear to be helping millions of individuals but majority of the time, they are not as divine and miraculous as they seem. Lack of cultural sensitivity and competence can have larger effects on population health than a pandemic alone. Western medicine perceives spirituality and alternative medicine as ineffective. This effectively leads to individuals to avoid health care professionals which allows chronic conditions to get worse. 

This class has taught me the significance of cultural competency and the need for health care professionals who possess such understanding. Global health care has the potential to achieve equity but more training is needed.