| (no subject) |
[Dec. 16th, 2008|04:03 pm] |
I am heading into my last semester. I can hardly believe it, but at the same time something happened over this semester. I went from feeling not-so-sure about how to actually be an O.T. to now feeling like I can do it and I am ready to face the big world. But I have to get through one last semester and some fieldworks first.... ;)
After 4.5 years of living in coldish country, I have finally stopped caring about what other people think and wear my massive coat in 45/50 degree weather because I feel better (and warmer) when I do.
My research project is stressing me out. I am waaay behind and have run into some problems- mainly cuz I am working with an instructor, a doctor, and the president of school and the three do not seem to communicate. I guess that's what I get for begging the school to let a masters student work on a driving project. But there still is not another lab I would rather be in. I just cross my fingers I can get enough subjects/data by April.
I thought I would never say this...but I have realized how valuable research is...or maybe I've been brain-washed by Wash U... But either way I think research is very important, I just hate doing it. If occupational therapy is going to be widely recognized we need more research to back ourselves up and show the world how great we are. There are so many areas we can work in and so much we can do to help people... but if we do not show evidence insurance will not cover us!!! I have collected sooo many stacks of articles for all types of patients and all sorts of treatments and I plan to spend my extra printing money just printing lots of newly published articles about O.T. so that I can tell my clients with confidence that this strategy or piece of equipment or training WILL help them be independent, shower/toilet independently, feed themselves, cook, care for their family, drive, money manage, go back to work, etc. etc.
It is strange that one person may want time to hurry by and another person wants that same time to slow down, even stop if possible...but time just keeps moving at the same pace. One of my best friends at school just found out last month that her mother has terminal cancer. It is just horrible how fast it all happens. A month ago her mother just complained of feeling tired and a pain in her stomach.....and then it becomes the worst. A couple weeks later her gma dies, and her computer breaks the next day. But she comes to school strong and sometimes with a smile. And it is just amazing how time will just keep going. I worry so much about this. How any moment life can turn upside down. I worry about everyone, I worry about my family and I have since I was very small as I am sure a lot of people do. It is so scary/hard to lose someone you love. |
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| It's been a long time. |
[May. 17th, 2008|07:49 pm] |
I graduated from my undergrad two weeks ago. Let me tell you, that was a fiasco. Let's say I've talked to IWU A BUNCH and they keep brushing me off, then telling me I'm missing this and that, and I have to keep straightening things out with all DIFFERENT people. Then, the day before I walk, they tell me I'm missing a credit. I go to the registrar and they were missing part of my transcript. Um-what is wrong with these people. I go to graduation and listen to speeches about moving on and how this is a beginning, not an end....i am bored...I close my eyes...they call my name...the ceremony is finally over. Just mail me my diploma and I will not hold grudges.
After, we discovered that the restaurant I wanted to go to was closed down. At the new restaurant I drop nail polish on the floor and it splatters all over Ryans brand new coat. We should've stayed in St. Louis.
My golf team (IWU) got 4th place at Nationals. That is the last spot that still gets a trophy/banner in the gym, and also the best our team has done at Nationals. Am I sad I was not part of it when I easily could've been? - yes. Would I have stayed an extra year knowing we would get a banner? - Prolly not. I still got an award for being an outstanding senior athlete and I feel like this is still my team and I am proud. I did well at that tournament before and I am glad I will be finished with school in a year. (btw kelly s. is going to be at wash u also next year)
Anyways, Ryan took me to Branson for a few days to celebrate my graduation and early bday. Its my golden bday-22 on the 22nd. Its the first bday in a long time that I will actually be in school. Ryan left last Tuesday to go home and work for the summer. I miss him a lot. The first day wasn't so bad, I was at a driving conference all day and did not have to think about being without him. When I got home, it was a different story.
I begin my summer semester Monday (I wont be home 'til end of July). I hung out with Ryan's good friend, J.B., the past couple days looking at condos he might buy around the city. It was enjoyable. It felt like I was on HGTV's "House Hunters" and after each condo I tried to think of what I would say were the positives and negatives-kinda fun.
I read the book "A Thousand Splendid Suns." It's by Khaled Hosseini, the guy who wrote "The Kite Runner." I liked this one better, but, boy, well it's incredible. This book brings out every emotion, especially hope. I just wonder if a male reading this book feels the same power of emotion- the same anger. (The author is a male I tell myself.) I am blessed to live in a free country and to know a life without war constantly in my front yard. I remember after reading "Kite Runner," thinking that I would not be able to sit through that on screen- my brain's images are bad/sad enough. It's wierd knowing that I have lived during the time this book takes place. I have been so free-sort of- while people have endured and been so helpless. |
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| Grad School |
[Feb. 24th, 2008|05:28 pm] |
I enjoy seeing the same people everyday, although it can sometimes seem like a sorority. I like that the majority of the classes are interesting and you can see their pertinence to your life and future career. I enjoy getting to play with wheel chairs and learning how to pop wheelies in class. I love thinking that I could possibly change the world AND get paid AND help people all at the same time!
I am pretty sure that I will be doing my master's research/project on driving in older adult populations. The project consists of sitting in on driving evaluations and training sessions and going to meetings, etc. This project originally was only supposed to be for doctorate students, but (after asking nicely) the faculty is going to let me do the project. We are looking at the older adult population with stroke or mild dementia and I am super pumped which is another thing I love about OT school! :)
In other news, I still like st. louis (despite the weather-which is at least better than Bloomington) and have a list of things I want to see/do before moving back home. Life feels like an adventure at the moment and its kind of exciting. :) |
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| Good luck all! |
[Dec. 4th, 2007|04:31 pm] |
I'm so excited for christmas/the holidays! Ryan found the xmas station and ive been singing all day...well not really. I can not wait to come home, but I will miss ted drewes late night ice cream runs. :)
http://taypas.googlepages.com |
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| Hi journal |
[Sep. 5th, 2007|01:24 pm] |
St louis is a crazy city that never sleeps(Ryan is pretty much in love) This weekend we went to a greek festival and a japanese festival which were both really neat/fun/gyros are yummay. Ryan and I went paddle boating in forest park on saturday and then saw superbad. The view was beautiful and its really a shame I dont own a camera for any of this. :(
I also went to the city museum one night. I could try to describe it- but its too hard. Its not a museum; its more like a jungle jim for adults thats enormous and kinda scary, but thrilling. Ive decided that BUD is served everywhere aka at ryans law school...we went to a happy hour there and students were playing beer pong INSIDE the school. WHAT???
We start looking at dead bodies tomorrow in lab. I also just signed up to do a dance class with kids who have Cerebral Palsy. I'm really excited for that. Yay! I'm doing an assistantship with a professor who specializes in autism. I'm glad because I wanted to try other areas for field work and this way I can still work in the autism field in case thats what i want to end up doing.
Ashley gave a law student her phone number. She just handed him her number, but now he kinda has a girlfriend. Oh well it was funny. |
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| Summer |
[Aug. 4th, 2007|10:43 am] |
I love summertime. St. Louis is only 11 days away now. My feelings are mostly excited with a tad bit of nervousness. I'm excited to be in a new and bigger city that is filled with new people and things to do. I'm excited to be on my way to doing what Ive always wanted to do. I'm excited to have my own room and a cool apartment. And I'm excited because no more long distance relationship for me! But I'm nervous because I'm afraid I will have no time seeing that class/labs go from 8-5 everyday and then homework on top of that. Car theft is a big problem in St. Louis also. But for the most part I'm really excited to begin a new chapter in my life.
I hope people come and visit...we'll have plenty of room! |
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| (no subject) |
[Apr. 16th, 2007|06:19 pm] |
Ryan and my parents came to visit this weekend. Ryan watched me play (pretty bad) golf in really really cold cold cold weather (like 30something degrees with wind). It's good to have supportive people your life. It was my last tournament of my college career. Only Nationals left to go. Ohhh and I earned the MVP award and Im very happy about that. :)
On Friday we went to St. Louis to look at apartments. Ryan took a tour of the law school and officially accepted to Wash U. It is kinda weird cuz back in January I thought there was no way he would be at the same school, but it just worked out that Wash U really wanted him and gave him a sweet scholarship. Ashley and I spent the day looking at tons of apartments. Ryan joined in the afternoon and slept in the car during some of the tours. Ashley and I ended up liking the first apartment we saw. So we went back to look at it again/pay the 300 downpayment and Ryan comes in and is like "I don't have a check book, but can I pay a down payment on a one bedroom?" And we all just start laughing and the guy was like "are you serious?" Ryan did not look interested earlier and we just assumed he would look with his parents later, but he said we spent all day searching and he trusts that we found the best deal. (Which I think we did.) So yup. That's that.
Now back to my paper:( |
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| :) |
[Mar. 30th, 2007|05:26 pm] |
The weather over spring break was sooo nice and there wasn't too much drama. The beds sucked, though. They didn't have mattress pads or anything. I can usually sleep anywhere and through anything, but I never slept through a whole night down there.
I'm really excited for this semester to be over and I'm so excited for Wash U!!! Only like 5 thousand research papers stand in my way from being donezor. Another Kappa Delta, Ashley, is also doing the 3-2 program which is awesome because we are getting an apartment together and it will be glorious!!! This summer is going to be glorious too. Man I have so much to look forward too it makes it hard to concentrate.
Ryan is doing really good on car right now. He is very dedicated and the car is amazingly cheap this year. He should update on it. I cant wait to see him and my family in just two weeks!!! AHHHHH!!! |
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golfballhead's journal