I hope everyone is starting off their new year joyously and with a spirit to live life well. While I am never one to set myself up for defeat through futilely making new year's resolutions, I do now and then step back and take a look at where my life is and how I can make it - and myself - better. That being said, this latest examination just so happens to coincide with the birth of the new year.
I feel strongly compelled to boost my personal overall wellness factor seeing that I will soon be assisting others in being well. I feel obligated to do so. How can I tell someone else that x & y will help make them better when I myself am not doing that. So, I have resolved to take time to concentrate on myself, my overall wellness, my physical, emotional and spiritual well being.
Interestingly enough, my family has recently begun a fitness challenge - I'd say it's more likened to a wellness challenge. Over the next six months, my extended family on my mother's side is committing to making changes in their food consumption, exercise, and weight loss. While it is a competition, the main focus actually lies in making small changes that will greatly affect your overall lifestyle.
What have you done today to make your life better? We all say we have no time. Take a long hard look at your life and I'm sure you will find the time! I firmly believe that as a future occupational therapist, it is my obligation to live the principles and ideals that I will be utilizing with my clients. I encourage everyone to do the same.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Get The Most You Can
A lady never tells her age. I don't consider myself to be a lady in the classic sense of the word. I'm 31.
As an "older" student, I have the privilege of bringing a bit of wordliness and perspective to my OT studies. My undergrad days consisted of a great deal of relaxation, socializing and partying. I did, however, participate in a few groups, tried the diving team for a semester, and was even the president of the dance company for a year. Still, I'd say my overall undergrad experience can be classified as getting by with the least amount of effort. When I embarked upon this great journey of OT studies, I made one promise to myself: I would get the most possible out of my {very pricy} graduate education.
So far, as my first of four semesters comes to a close, I feel I've done a great job with this promise to myself. Engaging in every opportunity I possibly can has not only been fulfilling, but has also broadened my perspective and knowledge base. The tools I've learned outside the classroom have been just as valuable as the education I'm receiving.
As the days pass by swiftly, I find myself setting goals and actually achieving them, which then motivates me to do more and more. A vicious cycle, I know, but quite conducive to my overly active imagination! I've volunteered at the state conference and a local disability awareness day, listened to speakers, engaged in meaningful conversations with guests and professors, and have now begun to write about my experiences - not because I am required to do so for class, but for the possibility of getting published while still in school {my number one goal}.
While I don't necessarily regret my undergraduate experience, I do wish I had sought out more experiences. I encourage each of you to catch the bug I've caught - regardless of your age or level of study. You will find that when you look back on what you accomplished as a student, you'll be quite pleasantly surprised. I know I already am!
As an "older" student, I have the privilege of bringing a bit of wordliness and perspective to my OT studies. My undergrad days consisted of a great deal of relaxation, socializing and partying. I did, however, participate in a few groups, tried the diving team for a semester, and was even the president of the dance company for a year. Still, I'd say my overall undergrad experience can be classified as getting by with the least amount of effort. When I embarked upon this great journey of OT studies, I made one promise to myself: I would get the most possible out of my {very pricy} graduate education.
So far, as my first of four semesters comes to a close, I feel I've done a great job with this promise to myself. Engaging in every opportunity I possibly can has not only been fulfilling, but has also broadened my perspective and knowledge base. The tools I've learned outside the classroom have been just as valuable as the education I'm receiving.
As the days pass by swiftly, I find myself setting goals and actually achieving them, which then motivates me to do more and more. A vicious cycle, I know, but quite conducive to my overly active imagination! I've volunteered at the state conference and a local disability awareness day, listened to speakers, engaged in meaningful conversations with guests and professors, and have now begun to write about my experiences - not because I am required to do so for class, but for the possibility of getting published while still in school {my number one goal}.
While I don't necessarily regret my undergraduate experience, I do wish I had sought out more experiences. I encourage each of you to catch the bug I've caught - regardless of your age or level of study. You will find that when you look back on what you accomplished as a student, you'll be quite pleasantly surprised. I know I already am!
How Did You Get Where You're Going?
If you had told me five years ago, even one year ago, that I would have gotten an A in Bio, dissected a cadaver and looked forward to getting up by 6:00 a.m. every Monday through Friday, I probably would have laughed in your face and walked away. Yet, as my life has gone thus far, never is a word that comes back to haunt me time and time again.
Take my banking "career". As a wide-eyed recent college graduate, I took on the world with abounding excitement, expecting great things to come my way. I, of course, headed for the Great White Way and all the fulfillment that comes with being a famous Broadway dancer. I dated a banker who was all that you would expect - the slick facade, the corporate card, and all the pompous attitude one could muster. Upon our relationship's demise, due only slightly in part to all the aforementioned lustrous qualities Mr. X possessed, I swore I would NEVER work in a bank. Two years later, there I was...living back in the hometown to which I swore I would never return, working for the President & CEO of a regional community bank.
Thank goodness for fate. It was at that place where I met my wonderful husband and many dear friends. Never say never...it's a cliche for a reason!
I have started my OT studies after graduating with a BA in Photojournalism in 1999. About mid-way through my pregnancy (a year and a half ago) I decided I needed a change professionally and began the process toward becoming an elementary educator. So how the heck did I end up studying OT? By the graces of a wonderful and insightful Graduate Admissions Director who saw something in me and said, "Hey, did you ever think about OT?" Of course my answer was, "What is OT?" {insert groan here.}
I did my homework and here I am, deep in the throes of occupation-based, evidence-based, top-down, client-centered studies and so grateful to the gentleman who saw the OT in me.
Take my banking "career". As a wide-eyed recent college graduate, I took on the world with abounding excitement, expecting great things to come my way. I, of course, headed for the Great White Way and all the fulfillment that comes with being a famous Broadway dancer. I dated a banker who was all that you would expect - the slick facade, the corporate card, and all the pompous attitude one could muster. Upon our relationship's demise, due only slightly in part to all the aforementioned lustrous qualities Mr. X possessed, I swore I would NEVER work in a bank. Two years later, there I was...living back in the hometown to which I swore I would never return, working for the President & CEO of a regional community bank.
Thank goodness for fate. It was at that place where I met my wonderful husband and many dear friends. Never say never...it's a cliche for a reason!
I have started my OT studies after graduating with a BA in Photojournalism in 1999. About mid-way through my pregnancy (a year and a half ago) I decided I needed a change professionally and began the process toward becoming an elementary educator. So how the heck did I end up studying OT? By the graces of a wonderful and insightful Graduate Admissions Director who saw something in me and said, "Hey, did you ever think about OT?" Of course my answer was, "What is OT?" {insert groan here.}
I did my homework and here I am, deep in the throes of occupation-based, evidence-based, top-down, client-centered studies and so grateful to the gentleman who saw the OT in me.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Homage
Let me pay a necessary homage to my blogspiration - http://otstudents.blogspot.com/.
I don't know if it was the picture of "Miss OTPF" (by the way I have a phenomenal nominee for you!) or if it was her posting on the top ten ways to impress your professors...whatever it was, thank you Karen for inspiring me to start my own blog!
Peace.
I don't know if it was the picture of "Miss OTPF" (by the way I have a phenomenal nominee for you!) or if it was her posting on the top ten ways to impress your professors...whatever it was, thank you Karen for inspiring me to start my own blog!
Peace.
TechnOT
Hey all. This sorta tech-savvy chick is blogging her way through studies in Occupational Therapy. I am in my first semester as a Master's student and am pondering the many exciting days ahead of me. I'm sure this blog will be filled with many entries related to client-centered, top-down approaches that I'm learning. Feel free to add your comments and to let me know when I'm totally off base!
I'm excited about this opportunity ahead of me and am sure you will find my journey as exciting as I do. wink. wink.
I'm excited about this opportunity ahead of me and am sure you will find my journey as exciting as I do. wink. wink.
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