NHC SF Member Blog: A Multitude of Drops

Hi y’all, my name is Mindy and I serve as the Behavioral Health Coordinator/COVID-19 Responder at San Francisco Department of Public Health’s Population Health Management Team. I was raised in the suburbs of Dallas, Texas, but I have lived in the Bay Area for the last five years. 

Throughout my service, I often find myself thinking about the ending scene to the movie Cloud Atlas where the following exchange happens: “No matter what you do, it will never amount to anything more than a single drop in a limitless ocean”, to which one of the protagonists replies: “What is an ocean but a multitude of drops?” 

This sentiment persisted during the COVID-19 Omicron surge. As part of my position, I call people notifying them that they tested positive for COVID-19 and connecting them with resources to help them self-isolate. During the height of the surge, it was daunting to finish one call only to find ten new cases added to our list. Furthermore, I knew that many of the problems that our patients were facing stemmed from deep structural inequalities and there was only so much I could do to help. 

Sometimes it felt like my efforts were that single drop in a limitless ocean, but in those moments, I tried to take that quote to heart: the minor victories - supporting a worried parent, submitting food referrals for families that needed them. I wasn’t changing anyone’s life, but I could at least try to change the trajectory of their next couple weeks.   

As the surge declined, I saw a report showing the number of calls the NHC members at SFDPH had made since we began our service, and I was blown away by the number. It didn’t feel like I was making a dent on a day-to-day level, but I saw that as a collective, over weeks and months, we had created a crater. 

Ultimately, I think the predominant feelings I have so far about my NHC experience are gratitude and appreciation. I feel grateful that I have had the chance to learn so much about not only concrete things like crunching health data, but also about the more abstract aspects of being a public health professional. I appreciate the guidance I have been given and the grace I have been shown as I grow into my position. Moreover, I’m happy to say that while my time in NHC has reshaped my sense of optimism, it hasn't necessarily diminished it. In fact, I feel more optimistic than before having met so many wonderful people who care so much about this community and about making access to healthcare more equitable. 

As we move towards two whole years of not only living through a pandemic but also incredibly heightened social tensions, I think it’s reasonable to feel a pervasive sense of cynicism about one’s ability to make meaningful change in the world. But one of the most important lessons I have learned thus far in NHC is that the elusive ideal of a “better world” is less of an end state and more of a choice that’s made every day to keep pushing on, drop by drop.

About the Author:

Mindy Dai is one of the 2021-2022 NHC San Francisco Americorps Members. She is currently serving with SFDPH Population Health Management Team.