{"id":112560,"date":"2021-02-16T09:48:31","date_gmt":"2021-02-16T15:48:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/?p=112560"},"modified":"2024-12-19T16:48:19","modified_gmt":"2024-12-19T22:48:19","slug":"leveling-up-for-her-best-friend-and-the-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/for-our-wellness\/leveling-up-for-her-best-friend-and-the-community\/","title":{"rendered":"Leveling up for her best friend and the community"},"content":{"rendered":"

For student Clarice Kavanaugh retirement meant reinventing herself as a doctoral student of Business Psychology. But with the pandemic, it also meant stepping up for her community. Ms. Kavanaugh lost three of her closest friends to COVID-19. Through feelings of hopelessness and grief, she resolved to educate her community about the pandemic and the vaccine. Whether it was being a part of the vaccine trials in early 2020, or starting a podcast, inaction was not an option for this former pharmaceutical rep and current The Chicago School adjunct professor.<\/p>\n

Loss and COVID-19<\/h4>\n

\"ClariceLosing loved ones is the biggest price we paid with COVID-19. Could I have avoided it? Could I have done something more? These are just some of the questions that haunt me every single day since I lost my best friend Charles Chuck Jackson Jr. <\/em><\/p>\n

Early last year, as Chuck was preparing for his annual ski trip to Idaho, I tried to reason with him to sit this one out. At that point in time, this pandemic seemed like it was China\u2019s problem. He, like many, did not believe that it would affect us. Unfortunately for Chuck, it took away the best years of his life. Losing my best friend was such a terrifying experience. I did not get a chance to say my final goodbyes. I felt so lost and helpless that even prayers could not get me out of my grief.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

Making a difference<\/h4>\n

As someone who has spent thirty-five years in the pharmaceutical industry working with HIV, I knew right away what a pandemic meant. But people did not take the quarantine requirements seriously. So, I decided that I had to convince them. Since March 2020, I have done everything to educate people about the pandemic. Putting up posts on social media, sharing my experiences with the \u201c<\/em>L.A. Times<\/em><\/a>\u201d and confronting people-if I had to. I decided to stop at nothing. So, when I heard from the CDC about COVID-19 vaccine trials, I jumped at it. The trials at AstraZeneca were the only ones to include people from communities of color.<\/em><\/p>\n

Past and Present<\/h4>\n

\"ClariceWe African-Americans have been continuously failed by the American medical system. Past violations like the Tuskegee experiments are the root for our mistrust in the vaccine. I took part in the trials to convince the members of my community about its validity. I have also started a weekly podcast called \u201d<\/em>The Pain of Change<\/em><\/a>\u201d where I bring experts like doctors and psychiatrists to talk about the <\/em>vaccination<\/em><\/a> process. Over the past weeks, I have received interest from many people who were on the fence about taking the vaccine. But I have also been alienated by some of my friends and family. Clearly the battle is not over, and all I can do is continue to work every day. If it appears to be over the top, I don\u2019t have an apology!<\/em><\/p>\n

\"ClariceI have never been shy about hard work. I started my career thirty-five years ago on the South Side of Chicago and moved to L.A. to manage leadership roles for Abbott Laboratories. When I retired, I knew it was time to rebrand myself. Getting a <\/em>Ph.D. in Business Psychology<\/em><\/a> was a logical progression for me. I am working on projects to help African-American women like me. I am also an adjunct professor at <\/em>The Chicago School<\/em><\/a> where I get to share my life lessons with students.<\/em><\/p>\n

I am very blessed to enjoy my second career as much as my previous one. It is always about taking \u201cmy great\u201d to \u201cmy greater\u201d and to level up. That is my life\u2019s mantra.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Learn more about The Chicago School<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Chicago School is dedicated to providing you with an exceptional education rooted in innovation, service, and community.\u00a0Enroll in one of our more than 30 academic programs<\/a>\u00a0today or request more information by filling out the form below!<\/p>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For student Clarice Kavanaugh retirement meant reinventing herself as a doctoral student of Business Psychology. But with the pandemic, it also meant stepping up for her community. Ms. Kavanaugh lost three of her closest friends to COVID-19. Through feelings of hopelessness and grief, she resolved to educate her community about the pandemic and the vaccine. Whether it was being a part of the vaccine trials in early 2020, or starting a podcast, inaction was not an option for this former […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40,"featured_media":112568,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[704],"tags":[],"coauthors":[1090],"class_list":["post-112560","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-for-our-wellness"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nLeveling up for her best friend and the community - Insight Digital Magazine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"For student Clarice Kavanaugh retirement meant reinventing herself as a doctoral student of Business Psychology. 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