Fall quarter is coming to an eagerly-anticipated end, as finals begin this week. That means only 1 quarter left of on-campus classes, and only 1 quarter left before we begin our 3^rd-year externships.

I just keep reminding myself that this is my last holiday away from home, and this time next year, I will be celebrating with family. The excitement of what is to come is motivating me to really get my applications in order and start sending them out ASAP! As of now, I still have no idea where I'm going to end up. I definitely have a strong idea of where I want to go, but I'm not going to reveal that just yet.

I've been working a lot with one of my professors so I can find a great placement. Who knew it was such a process? First he has to contact certain sites to see if they are willing to take a 3^rd- or 4^th-year student and then start the application process.

Then, once I am accepted, the professor will personally make a visit to the site to make sure everything is OK. I'm actually really glad they do this. My worst fear is to end up at a site I hate. For many years, I did a job I was not happy with, and I don't want to start off my new career this way. By my professor knowing what my interests are, he can observe a facility and give me honest feedback. I feel protected in a way, and that gives me hope that I will end up at a great placement, close to home.

Being a working student, there is always a constant, but delicate, balance between work and school. Today is the 2-week anniversary of my re-entering the working world and, oh, how I missed it!

Being unemployed for 3 months certainly has a way of helping you appreciate certain things. It was nice at first to only think about school and assignments, but I soon began to get really bored (and broke). I happen to be one of those weird students that love working.

For me, I think it's more about being busy. I love to be busy, although not overwhelmed!!! I seem to thrive under pressure. This actually helps me stay organized and focused, believe it or not. If I know I have a test and a presentation coming up, I take out my trusty planner, and I strategize what night I will do each project. I usually end up turning in many assignments early, and I become better prepared. Of course, I get the "Are you crazy?!" looks when I describe my system but, hey, for some reason, it works great for me.

I think any student that has that extra responsibility to work, yet excels in school, has a very unique ability to organize that many don't have. As busy as I am, I even manage to make time for fun, or just plain relaxation. All of this moving and shaking will keep my gears well oiled when I graduate, and I will be ready to hit the ground running.

My plans to move to the other side of the country in the next several months have put a little shred of fear in my mind. I've been living on my own for quite some time and, like many, I've accumulated a LOT of stuff over the years. With my externship fast approaching, I've been able come up with some different--and profitable (yes, I said profitable)--ways to get rid of some of my things in order to try to get ready for this move. Just in case some of you are having the same problem, hopefully the below ideas can offer some help.

First things first--grab all of your books. All of those books that are collecting dust, and may even still be in boxes, can come in handy. There are specialty bookstores that will actually buy your books, and they LOVE text books. Go ahead; grab that English 101 text book from undergrad and make a few bucks!

Next, and this is especially for us ladies, check out your closets. If you're like me, you have tons of clothes that you've never worn or don't wear anymore. There are places that will buy some of your clothing, shoes and accessories. Who knew the purse your aunt bought you last Christmas could get you a little gas money?!  Make sure to do your research online and check out what is in your area. An awesome idea one of my classmates thought of was to have a joint yard sale between all of us. I think that's brilliant--we all need to move, and we all could use a little extra cash (and space) to do so.

As exciting as the idea of externship is, the reality of moving soon sets in. However, instead of dreading it, I'm going to think of this as an opportunity to use my creativity to start the experience off to a great start.

There just seems to be so many uncertain factors that are playing a major role in my decision making. For example, a few weeks ago, I had my interviews for the Navy externship. In addition to that, I'm also applying for a different externship in my home state and even externships in the nearby state of Georgia. All totally different places, that all do totally different things, and so every one of these sites, would require a totally different plan of action.

It's overwhelming and exciting at the same time. I almost wish I could just go to sleep and wake up knowing where I was going to go for my third and fourth year. My family, of course, is hoping I move much closer to home, and I wish the same. At the same time, I'm willing to sacrifice a LITTLE distance for a great experience. I know I'm not the only one, however. I've talked to my fellow classmates, and we all seem to be in the same boat. I also am not the only one trying to move at the speed of light to find a conclusion to this "saga". I know I must remind myself to be patient with the process, and soon I will be on my way to a great site to begin a wonderful experience.

A very disturbing discussion was brought up at my clinical site this week. For all you AuDs specializing in hearing aids, listen up--you might want to hear this!

At the risk of starting some controversy, I feel compelled to bring up this subject. It was brought to my attention that there is a company whose main selling point is to give patients the equipment to program their own hearing aids. Yeah, I said it! I may be late on this information, but I found it to be a little disturbing. Whose programming software is this company using? Is this illegal? Are they out of their minds?!

Despite the fact that most hearing aid patients don't even know how to clean them properly (no offense), what makes them think they are savvy enough to manipulate complicated software? I had to go online and check it out for myself. They had a very interesting forum on the site, and reading it made me even more disturbed.

Let me tell you, there are a lot of angry patients out there. Many of them were voicing how much of a good idea they thought this was and asking how they could get their hands on NOAH. There were a few voices of reason but, sadly, they were outnumbered. I surfed around a little more on this site, and the company was giving directions to patients on how they should go and get their hearing checked and then decline the audiologist's hearing aids.

Even though I honestly don't think this will get very far, I'm just appalled at the idea. It seems like just another thing to add to the list of "attempts to cheapen the audiology profession." I'm glad my preceptor brought this up, as it gave us an opportunity to generate discussion and for me to express my views on the subject. So fellow AuDs, be aware of what's out there.

Our third-year class had the unique opportunity to attend an all-day vestibular workshop on our campus. Of course, I was pumped about this! Vestib happens to be right up my alley.

The professor in charge of the event happened to know this little nugget of info, so he approached me to say that one of the main speakers was from my home state of South Carolina and he wanted to introduce us. I was excited and nervous about this--I finally was going to be able to meet an audiologist from South Carolina that was doing exactly what I wanted to do!

I was careful not to let my enthusiasm get the best of me and managed to prevent myself from saying anything stupid. He ended up being a great resource! He was able to give me some wonderful information about the field, as well as some state-specific information. I found out that very few audiologists focus solely on vestib, and tinnitus is even less touched. The talk motivated me even more to continue the direction I'm heading in.

Overall, the conference was very interesting and informative. We were able to use what we learned in class and apply it to many of the forums. There also were various other health professionals in attendance, such as a physical therapist and occupational therapist. This was important for me to see, because it confirmed that we as health professionals have to work together and at least be familiar with the other aspects of the body in order to better help our patients.

This conference definitely gave me that second wind I know I needed.

An announcement was made to our class this week, and it might change the start of my 3^rd-year externship. We were told that our comprehensive exams could be pushed back 2 months earlier, from May to March.  

How do I feel about this you may ask? I think it's GREAT! It changes everything!

OK; I know you may be confused by my reaction, so let me fill you in. In years past, comps traditionally are taken in May. Our 3^rd-year students leave for their externships in March, so that then meant they would have to scrabble up the money for a plane ticket back and find someplace to camp out for the week when it was time to take comps. This is what motivated the decision to move the date earlier, and I think it makes a lot of sense. When March gets here, we take our comps and get out of Dodge, never to return until graduation!

This caused me to think (I know, scary isn't it?); my original plan was to stay here until 4^th year, because I knew we would have to come back for comps in May and that I might not be in a position to make a lot of the arrangements. But, if comps get pushed back to March, I could leave and move back near home a whole lot sooner.

Since I haven't been home in almost 2 years, I am overly excited about that! I made sure to tell my professor about my plan, so now the hunt is on to find a site. I'm anxious to see what developments arise.

For those who are not sure what in the world a vestibular assessment is or what it's for, let me share. It is what audiologists use to evaluate dizzy patients. Of course, I could give you the half-a-page definition, but for the purposes of this blog, the short description works just fine. In any case, I've always found it extremely interesting, because you have the chance to actually see the balance system at work.

There is a piece of the equipment that monitors one of the eyes while the patient is asked to follow points of light, as they move in various directions. This gives the audiologist a chance to visually spot if anything looks out of the ordinary. I really enjoy watching the caloric portion of the exam. Here, the audiologist blows hot and cold air or water in the patient's ear and then observes the nystagmus (the eyes jerking back and forth). You really get to see some patients' eyes move in crazy ways.

This week, our class was fortunate enough to have an audiologist from a local balance clinic present to our class on this very subject. Wow, did he have some weird things to show us! The strangest video, by far, was of a patient whose nystagmus was moving in both eyes, but in opposite directions from one another (I know; it sounds crazy, but just try to imagine that). Cool stuff! It was very refreshing to see that other side of the profession of audiology. Hmm... more and more, I think I'm starting to find my niche.

This week, I thought I would bring up a part of school that is often overlooked--financial aid. If you haven't already, thank the folks in your financial aid office. And if they are anything like the people in the office at my school, invite them to Thanksgiving dinner!

Throughout my 2 years of audiology school, I have learned to go to them when I have issues because they have this unique ability to, as one famous rapper says so eloquently, "Make a dollar out of 15 cents."

Look, I'm the first to admit that I have pride issues and hate to ask for help, even when I need it. I don't want to be a bother, and I don't want to seem like I'm always asking for help. But, the fact of the matter is, as the people in financial aid recently told me, that's what they're there for. Like our professors, they want to see us succeed as students and want to help us when they can.  I've learned to trust that, and it has not steered me wrong.

My professors also have played a major role in giving me the extra push I need to keep going. They stress an open door policy, and they actually mean it. This can mean a lot, especially since many of us are so far away from home and family. Trust me, situations do arise, and things do come up, and, because of that, it's comforting to know that there are people you can talk to-people who have your back.

Our professors were in our shoes at one time, and they've probably been through the same thing, or worse. So, when (and, yes, I said, "when") your time comes, suck it up and seek some help. Speaking from experience, you will be glad you did.

This week, I finally got a chance to see my new site and meet my new preceptor. I'm very excited, because I have the opportunity to be working under an audiologist that works in an ENT practice. I know I will be getting my share of just what I've been longing for--weird stuff!

And the weirder, the better. As a student, I've been tapping into the brains of other audiologists about working with ENTs. Of course we've all heard the horror stories of not being respected and not being seen as competent peers. However, I've also been informed of wonderful working relationships and tight bonds amongst the professional staff. Either way, I think it really depends on the doctors involved and the situation itself.

I admit, because of the many negative things I've been told, I've been very skeptical about working in this setting. The last thing I want to be after 4 years of hard work and a swimming pool full of debt, is the friendly neighborhood "hearing aid girl." But, the more I'm beginning to probe (and I happen to be quite good at it, I've noticed), the more I find out that I should keep this option open.

As the term "AuD" becomes more prevalent, I'm hoping that there will be more of an understanding of what exactly is it that we do. In turn, folks, we have to understand that respect is not just going to be given to us. Keep in mind, we are the new kids on the block, and we have to earn our respect as well.

Cheers to a short and sweet first week back! Last week, we were able to meet the first-year students for the first time. A new concept was used this year during the first grand rounds. We were asked to sit beside a first-year and, when it was our turn, introduce them and tell where they were from. I thought this was a pretty cool idea. They got to know us and, in return, we got to know them.

I just realized that, starting this quarter, I will only be on campus 2 days a week, and the rest of the days I will be in clinic. The reality of being a third-year student is finally beginning to hit me, and I like it. I'm anxious to see where my new clinical site will be, and what new things I will learn there.

This weekend I also was able to get another car, so I am officially back on the road! I'm still continuing to look for a job, but considering all that has improved over the last week, I'm willing to be patient about that... at least for the time being. If nothing else, this whole experience has taught me to prioritize what is important and what's not so important.

I realize how important education is to me, and I am willing to make the appropriate sacrifices for it. The countdown is on,  and it's T-minus 1 year and 11 months until I can officially call myself a Doctor of Audiology. I can't wait!

I know I'd better enjoy what break I have left now, because by the middle of November, I'm going to be on my knees begging for another break. As the beginning of my third year is drawing ever so close, I've been trying to narrow down what I want (and don't want) to do. I know I don't mind hearing aids, but I don't want to do them day in and day out. I would just die of boredom.

However, I've found that I'm very interested in the electrophys, vestibular, and yes, even cerumen management. The weirder the case, the more I like it. In fact, the last time I went to clinic, I was able to see my first "cauliflower" ear, and it wasn't on a big muscular guy; this ear belonged to a small tiny woman. I tried my best not to stare, but I badly wanted to examine it; just the inner scientist in me.

During this time, it's also hard not to reflect on my AuD experience. In our first week, we will welcome the first year AuD students, and I can't help but think back when I was in their shoes. It was so exciting to be starting a new chapter in my education, in a new place, a new school and with new people. It also makes me realize that even though I've had my trials, I know I've made the right decision to go back to school when I did.

So welcome to all new AuD students! Hopefully, you will soon discover what I did, and be glad you made this choice.

My mother use to always tell me that all you needed was faith the size of a mustard seed to get things accomplished. This is week is certainly testing my mother's theory. I'm still on the job hunt and coming up with absolutely nothing, and time is ticking until the next month.

They say the recession is starting to recover, but I'm not seeing it at all. I've been unemployed for a month now, and as long as I can remember, I've never been unemployed this long. This is obviously a problem that has effected people throughout the country, and it seems especially hard for us students who, in addition to all the regular bills, are also paying our way through school and need to work around class schedules. I know it's been rough on me-a fact that hit close to home last week when my car was repossessed-I know, it's pretty intense.

Everyone has been very supportive, from my mom to the financial aid office and audiology department at my school, but even though I've had hard times before, this is one of the most difficult struggles that I've ever faced. I knew I would have to sacrifice when I decided to go back to school, but I can't help but to think at what cost?

I imagine there are others out there who may not have their cars repossessed but have felt the combined wallop of a bad economy and the grind of student life. I'm hopeful for the future, as I've just come too far not to succeed. In times like these we need to keep faith, even if it's only the size of a mustard seed. When faced with hardships, which are prone to occur during school even for those who are employed, we need to remember this and keep mindful of our ultimate goals.

The job hunt continues and, as of now, nothing solid yet. I applied as a traveling tutor but have no clients yet, so I have to continue pressing on for something else. To be honest, going to people's homes, riding around in 110-degree weather and running my car into the ground is slowly starting to seem unappealing, but at this point I need M-O-N-E-Y. Therefore, I must continue the fight.

This weekend was starting off to be quite uneventful until an old friend from college came into town. I soon found out that I had other classmates that live in this area! So we all hung out, had a couple of drinks, talked about old times, and asked the "where are they now?" questions.

Being so far away from home and having no family here really makes me appreciate having nearby friends so much more. It was so strange and wonderful to see people I knew--people that have known me for more than 10 years--here in Phoenix, experiencing the same things I am experiencing. From the intense culture shock to the speeding cameras, we talked about it all.

I also discovered one of my friends knew some people that were hiring, so of course I had to put a good word in for myself. Speaking of good words, as I mentioned last week, I finally passed the remedial portion of my COMPS. Due to the remediation, I was not able to go to clinic for the summer quarter, so I have to make it up. I started earlier this week and am still a little nervous. I've been out of practice for 8 weeks, and I know I'm rusty. Hopefully, they will be patient with me as I get back into the swing of things. As they say, it's like riding a bike, right? Stay tuned.

I finally had the chance to redeem myself and retake my COMPS. Only this time, I had a lot more knowledge and a lot more confidence. I think I blew it out the water!

What a wonderful feeling to finally get that over with; now, I can move on. I'm still on the search for another job and still not coming up with much. They are not kidding when they say it's rough out there, even with a college degree.

I did have the opportunity to meet with a job coach and go over my résumé. She was able to give me insight on what employers are looking for and told me I was selling myself short on my résumé. She helped me realize I was an experienced professional, and I need to market myself accordingly. Big ups to her! I needed that talk! So the hunt continues, only now I have a better weapon.

On Friday, I had to do the physical for the Navy externship I applied for, and that was quite interesting. It started at 5:45 a.m., and I was clearly one of the oldest people there. I didn't feel bad, though, because I was in better shape than a lot of the younger girls (can't help but feel good about that). After all was said and done, it was 1:30 p.m.! It was a long day, but I'm hopeful; I never thought of myself as the military type before, but I'm looking forward to taking advantage of this opportunity.