Presentation Day!!

Let me give you a taste of what our field work has been all about...
 



 

Something for the road...

 

During the delivery of the different presentations a topic was touched on with one of the groups, namely that clients should not be classified according to their race...

 

This got me thinking about the 'Beyond Cultural Competence' article that we were given at the beginning of the semester. According to the article, cultural competence can not be examined like other quantitative components. It is rather a type of thinking and knowing about oneself, others and the world.

 

So very often people only focus on the achievements in life which can be weighed up, compared and graded but there are so many qualities of great value that do not get as much recognition from society...I have to think of the 9 intelligences. They are all of utmost importance but unfortunately they are ranked in a so called hierarchy of importance in society.

   

 

The article speaks of critical consciousness being of such 'overlooked' nature. The article describes it as "reading the world". In order to develop a critical consciousness, we have to examine ourselves closely, with regards to our believes, values, assumptions, bias etc. This means having an adequate understanding of ones own 'make up' as well as that of others, the world and everything in it.

 

The psychosocial module has been well set up and I believe that blogging was put into place to develop our critical consciousness which I appreciate. The articles that we were supplied with, are amazing as they unlock a whole new field of importance to us! I strongly recommend that the module should try and lay even more focus on the development of the students critical consciousness as I see this as the key that will unlock one of the important doors to becoming a better therapist and advocate for our clients....because the marks that we receive do not always reflect the true potential...and besides, we need to think about what will become our drive when our work wont be marked any longer...

 



 

                                                                                                           Reference

 

Kumagai & Lypson, 2009, 'Beyond Cultural Competence: Critical Consciousness, Social Justice, and Multicultural Education', Academic Medicine

84(6), pp. 782 - 786 

 

 

 

 

 



...I still have this dream no matter what!

 

Prac is over!

 

Nine weeks of intense work and learning in the field is over...and I feel like I have come a very long way...this I noticed whilst evaluating my clinical performance...

 

It has been a real bumpy ride, I won't lie! Going into the module with a physical and avoidant mind-set did make things awfully challenging for me. I learnt that it's important to identify ones personal barriers and then to work on them as best as possible in order to become a better person. This however must be one of the most trying things for us people, as we often don't like identifying or uncovering these problematic areas that are a part of us. There is no harm in owning up to your weaknesses and finding help or some motivation...to many it may spell out 'weakness' but to me it makes people truly beautiful! This experience has taught me how important it is to reflect upon ones life by examining oneself in a mirror now and again and to put that critical thinking cap on when being confronted with personal, daily or global issues.    

 

Even though it has been a tough semester, I have enjoyed the time out in the field. It has been a completely different learning experience from the ones I have had so far, with clients that have similar problems to you and I...the only difference is that their barriers are a little different. I've learnt that life is all about CHOICES and staying true to yourself and your believes! There is no quick fix when it comes to life....we have the choice to travel the path less or more travelled and yet they both have their potholes. I believe that it is not the path that you travel or take but how you travel it and what you make of it...meaning, your attitude and approach toward it counts most. Once those are right, you can take any old road!

What kept me going for most of the road, were my clients that were assigned to me! Together we sat down and examined possible solutions to break through their personal 'barriers' that kept them from reaching their optimal occupational performance. This became my personal drive. I have had the most incredible clients so far! They have taught me so much and it was such an absolute pleasure working with them. It is just such a pitty that we didn't get to work with them more often and on a regular basis...but that is fourth years hurdle.

Us OT students worked very hard and well together in my opinion. We shared ideas, assisted one another with our write ups, shared our material, gave critical feedback and supported one another during difficult and emotional times. Not only were the students from my class amazing to me (in so many ways) but also the students that have gone before us. The students that are a year ahead of us also lend us a helping hand. Megan in particular who got her brother Andrew to come in and conduct a welding session with my clients. Just goes to show how blessed I am! I also want to pass the love on like they have done and will pay closer attention in the future to those that are in need of some inspiration because at the end of the day it is about how many lives you have touched or changed and not how much money or power you have earned! Oh and me and my text book have also taken our relationship to the next level...

Tomorrow is our project presentation and we will be receiving our final feedback for the semester. I hope that I will not forget the reason why I am here, doing what I am doing.

I have this incredible dream that I am working toward and I will give it my all... 



When enough is enough...

“Life is ten percent what you experience and ninety percent how you respond to it.”
― Dorothy M. Neddermeyer

 

This week has been an absolute anxiety sickened time!...I have never witnessed so much anxiety around me! What was going on!? Tears were streaming left right and centre and people showed different sides to them that I had never ever seen before! I did not know that anxiety can have such a stronghold on people...which is quite sad! Ok don't get me wrong, I also get my fair share of anxiety but when it affects your entire being like it has done to some of the girls I honestly don't think that it is healthy! (haha says the one who is lying in bed with a fever)

 

Their anxiety, I guess, shows how much they want to achieve and become an OT...but there is a fine line between being overly passionate and being self destructive. Hey, then again, some people are prepositioned and their anxiety is more easily triggered...but is it really worth it to stress so much at the end of the day? Doesn't it consume the beauty of life!?

 

I have great reason to stress as my marks aren't what they are meant to be but it does not help looking back on my failures and  to wallow in them...I need to focus more on my downfalls and find help which came at the right point in time!:) We got a tutor who is an OT that has a great deal of knowledge in store! She is so not judgemental and all she wants to do is help! I really appreciated our session together and am determined to work harder on my theory.

 

I am just going to keep on going as I have this amazing dream...

This month is Down Syndrome Awareness Month!

 

On Monday, Barbara from the KZN Down Syndrome Association came to chat to us about how they reach out to the different communities in KZN! What made her talk even more profound was the fact that Barbara has a daughter called Jennifer who is a Downy. Her personal stories really touched me and made my chaotic morning more bearable...here stood a mother before me who did not choose to have a downy child and look where she is at now!...she was being a gigantic support to so many other mothers who find themselves in similar shoes as her. She also added that her husband was her pillar during the tough time and when he accepted the situation she slowly did the same... 

 

So I usually catch a lift with my uncle to varsity but we had our final case presentations the next day and a lot had to still be done so I took my own car...half way to the varsity, the petrol light went on which didn't make me stress because there are tons of garages on the way...only problem was that when I opened my cubby whole to check if I had enough money to fill up...it wasn't there!
So while I was waiting for someone to rescue me, I left my car light on and guess what, Knut, my car didn't want to start!!...Lovely Monday morning.

When I finally got to the lecture I was a little apathetical about being there but Barbara made it all worth it! I felt a little ashamed of the fact that I was moaning about my (what I thought) 'big' problem when really it was nothing at all...My dad's Godson is a Downy. People are often under the impression that having a Downy is a burden for the entire family or that it's because there is something cognitively wrong with the parents...well that is a misconception.  

Barbara told us that mothers immediately when they find out that they have given or are carrying a Downy as the famous question "why".  "Why me?!" When my dad's godchild was born it was a huge shock to everyone as the other children were perfectly healthy! Now little Heino has become a real blessing to all of us! One gains a whole new perspective when confronted with situations like these that are not planned and that are a little out of the ordinary.

Then again who wants to live an ordinary life...  





 Every ending is a new beginning!

"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending."

Maria Robinson

 

My emotions are on a roller coaster ride at the moment! I find goodbyes terribly sad...and lately there have been a whole lot of them! I think that this may be the reason as to why I battle to let people get too close to me. On the one hand because the people you care about the most tend to hurt you the most and on the other hand saying good bye to people you care about feels like a part of you will be missing once they leave. Maybe I am not as strong as I would like to be after all....but life is all about taking risks! If you don't try out it out you will never know what it has in store for you?

 

Yesterday we said goodbye to our first clients which was not easy as they have made our fieldwork such a pleasure! What made my day was when one of my clients gave me a tissue box that he had made during the wood working group! Sooo creative! Felt smothered in love!

 

 

On the way home, holding the box on my lap and admiring it, I remembered my Kinesiology session I had in the holidays! During the session whilst working with my muscles and sub consciousness, the therapist asked me if I could associate something with the emotion 'crying' as it came up during the 'pre checks'. To me this tissue box held an important life message...'fill it up with an adequate amount of tissues and keep pushing on in order to fulfil those dreams'.

 

Last night was our annual OT ball. It was so special sharing this evening with the 4th years! They have come so far and it has been a real privilege getting to know some of them a little better throughout these three years of OT! They are such a diverse bunch and so very accepting of one another which is what life is all about. We have learnt so many important lessons from them that we will take along on our journey! Our 3rd year table was buzzing with happy and sad times that we have encountered which shows how much we have grown and achieved in our days of being OT students! They will definitely be missed!

 

xxx

 

 



 

The Jar of Life

 

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full.. The students responded with a unanimous ‘yes.’

The professor then produced two Beers from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed..

'Now,' said the professor as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things—-your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favourite passions—-and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.. The sand is everything else—-the small stuff.

'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.

Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and mow the lawn.

Take care of the golf balls first—-the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the Beer represented. The professor smiled and said, ‘I’m glad you asked.’ The Beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of Beers with a friend.

 

This little philosophy I came across is a beautiful way of explaining how we should prioritize the important things in our lives....but do we always stick to these priority lists of ours!? I think that as an OT student we fight a daily battle of keeping our priorities straight, well I feel that way at the moment. It is probably just a phase but I feel as if OT is a HUGE pebble in that jar of mine and that the rest of my 'golf balls' have little room.

Well maybe it is time to get a bigger jar...