by Atmadarshan
Monday, May 19th is my first day “back to school” in 35 years! I feel as excited now as I did back then, although my experience is already shaping up to be totally different than all my education before.
My days in the high school chemistry lab
Do you recognize me in the black and white photo? My high school and undergrad days focused heavily on science. I studied chemistry, physics, biology, genetics, and more. The laboratory was my second home.
How life can change as time goes on! My next degree will come from John Carroll University’s Department of Theology and Religious Studies, with a concentration in Hospital Chaplaincy. This MA program is run in conjunction with the Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Spiritual Care, where my internship starts next week, and aims to enhance the clinical study I’ll be doing there.
Just like long ago, I was a little nervous about meeting my fellow students. Would they be nice? Would they like me? Would they want to be my friends? But it turns out my first course will be an independent study program I designed myself! I chose the (hopefully impressive) name “Understanding and Supporting Sanatana Dharma Death Observances in Modern Clinical Chaplaincy Settings," which means I’ll investigate how death, dying and funeral rites are conducted by people in and from the Indian subcontinent. My goal is to understand how to best support a wide variety of patients, family members, and hospital staff through ailments and healing journeys, wherever they may lead.
My new school, John Carroll University
I’ll be reading numerous books and many articles, along with reviewing several websites, to gather information for my final 30 page paper. This achievement will hopefully help not only me but others who want to apply this valuable knowledge. I’ll keep you posted on how my journey goes. But so far my teachers and “principal” (Assistant Dean Summerfield) are very nice, and I’ve got tasty treats for my lunchbox - I’m feeling good about my first day of school!