By far the biggest tangible skill I have gained from this summer is also the least exciting. By doing hours of chart review in the archives each week I have been able to gain a further understanding of Medical Records and how they can aid in research. While this is a valuable skill I am sure to use in future clinical research, other skills I have found more personally gratifying. Principle among such skills is the Spanish I have learned on the trip. While I am by no means a master communicator being able to move out of the sphere of surface level interaction and into more in depth conversation about both my own and the opinions of others has been extremely gratifying, and on this note I hope to now minor in Spanish and expand its role in my life. 

On the note of language, by far the leader I looked up to most was José. Coming into the organization, I was admittedly quite scared of what it would look like, and how I would be of use. Thanks to José that did not last long. I was able to quickly understand both what my responsibilities would be and more importantly that I was welcome. He made sure to introduce me to all 45 members of the organization personally, and always gave instruction to me with an air of respect. While this alone would be more than enough to make him a great leader in my book, José did much more. The thing I respected most about his style of leadership was that he was always the hardest worker present and never asked more of others than he was willing to do himself. In the future I hope to be both as welcoming and as hard working as José.