Between Two Worlds

When I go home, the house is always noisy
When I go home, I cook chicken soup and apple crisp
When I go home, I take my little sister in a wheelchair for a walk
When I go home, I help my brothers with their math homework
When I go home, my 12 siblings ask me why I have to leave
When I go home, I read a bed-time story to my little sisters
When I go home, my mom tells me the family has run out of money again
When I go home, my mom asks me when I am going to get married
When I go home, my siblings ask what it is like to live in the city
When I go home, I feel, well, at home

When I go to church, I greet my friends
When I go to church, I pray and sing with my family
When I go to church, I spend time with God
When I go to church, I hear a sermon about women staying home
When I go to church, I hold my friend’s baby and wish that I was married
Now when I go to church, I feel just a little out of place

When I go to class, I get to study with my classmates and friends
When I go to class, I get to learn fascinating things about humanity
When I go to class, I learn more about the human body
When I go to class, I realize how behind I am and worry that I will fail
When I go to class, I think everyone is smarter than me
When I go to class, my friends invite me to a bar, but I don't drink
When I go to class, the girls talk about what kind of birth control they are using
When I go to class, the other students tell stories about their parents who are physicians
When I go to class, the other students talk about how much money their parents can give them
When I go to class, I feel a little out of place

When I see a patient, I love to hear her story
When I see a patient, I realize her story is not so different from mine
When I see a patient, she tells me about how her family is poor
When I see a patient, she tells me how she worries about her family
When I see a patient, she explains how much her church means to her
When I see a patient, I think that I just might be able to make a difference in someone’s life
When I see a patient, it reminds me why I struggle to balance these different worlds
When I see a patient, I don’t feel so out of place