As the years go on, I have noticed a steady decline in the ability of candidate students to conduct a successful interview. The ability to confidently sell yourself and provide a potential employer or professor a well-rounded view of your personality and professional qualities can really take you far in life. However, it seems this talent is an ...

     I graduated!  I cannot believe that it is over.  I’m done with school.  I’m done with fieldwork.  It is all up to me now.  It hasn’t sunk in yet.  I have been waiting for this for over 2 years and now it’s finally here.     Going back to school at 29 years old was the ...

Those of us in the laboratory profession know our scene all too well. Closed off from much of the world, listening to the hum of our instruments and running analysis after analysis, and loving every minute of it! I feel comfortable in this environment and even thrive in it, as many other that share my profession. However, are we getting the most ...

What a crazy week!  I started my final fieldwork placement in an acute care setting at a major hospital.  Talk about culture shock.  It is a whole different world there and I am scrambling to learn what I need to survive the next 7 weeks.  Everyone keeps telling me that I will see a lot there.  I have no doubt about ...

     Yesterday I found out where I would be placed for my final level 2.  I will be in acute care in a busy inner-city hospital.  I am a bit anxious about this placement.  Up to this point, I have been in adult day care, pediatric physical disabilities and pediatric development disabilities.  I have ...

     One of my instructors has been telling us for months to put on our “OT glasses” and look at the world.  Most recently, we were told this when a student expressed concern that many of our level 1 fieldwork placements are not in facilities that offer occupational therapy.  We were all unsure of what to expect or ...

In the last few weeks and months, most of us followed the news of three trials or events that captured the attention of national media. Casey Anthony was tried for a first degree murder of her daughter, Caylee, but was acquitted. The trial lasted 6 weeks. At the end, the jury found Casey not guilty of murder or aggravated child abuse. The verdict ...

It happens every sememster, regardless of the class load or subjects, inevitably I get burnt out.  This semester it happened last week.  I have been completely unmotivated this week which is unfortunate because I have had a lot to do including a my first home evaluation that is due tomorrow.  It's almost done.  This has ...

     I am working on some interesting assignments for school this week that has really gotten me excited. First of all, I had to make some sort of adaptive equipment. This was quite interesting and I had so many ideas! How many were practical, who knows, but I enjoyed coming up with the ideas. In the end I made a dressing ...

Anyone who has children knows the great parallel between teaching strategies and child rearing. Often times, the same techniques we use to raise our children are directly applicable in the classroom. One such technique is the discipline of standing back and giving your child a chance to show you they can handle situations. I can't ...