Just Like That

And suddenly, just like that, the summer is over and a new semester begins. Number 5 of 9! I can't believe how quickly OT school is going! Only 2 semesters of coursework and a year of clinical fieldwork left! This semester will be my busiest yet: I'm taking both of my electives this semester with a total of 19 credits (yikes!).

The focus of the coursework is pediatrics, which I do not have a lot of experience in. Our fieldwork for the semester will be at an early childhood development center (I'm not sure which one I'll be at yet), and we have projects in a couple different classes that are in conjunction with our peds class. We're also taking a course on teaching and learning, one on professional reasoning, an inter professional health promotion course, and our second research course.

For our health promotion course we have a big project surrounding health education in the community. Half the class is doing it at Boys and Girls Club, but I lucked out and am in the group going to a senior center. We'll be doing a health fair at the senior center.

For our research class we will be choosing a topic for our advanced doctoral experience (ADE) research project. We will be exploring the literature surrounding our topic, and creating a plan for our ADE. We will continue this process in our research course next semester. So this is huge!

One of my electives this semester is occupational therapy in low vision. I'm really excited for this class and I am going to learn so much! We'll be focusing on assessing low vision in the context of an individual's life activities (occupations), and treatment-how the individuals can live and do the things they want to do with low vision. Not only am I excited for the topic, I also love the teacher (Kim Schoessow), and some of my favorite classmates are also in the class (Cora, Richard, and Amanda). 

My other elective is going also going to be really fun! It's a program called the Spaulding-IHP comprehensive aphasia program (S-IHP's CAP) We are doing this with the speech language pathology (SLP) students, and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. It's a five week intensive course for eight people with aphasia (a communication disorder caused by stroke), run by eight SLP students, and four OT students at our school. Each participant has daily individual speech therapy, group speech therapy, group OT, and there are additional fun classes at Spaulding including adapted sports, music therapy, swimming, etc. Mary Hildebrand is our advisor who is doing the program with us. The other OT students running the groups with me are Cora, Nikki, and Jade, and we're all super excited. More on the program to come. The next few weeks will be super busy, but I'm going to learn so much and gain valuable experiences!

I have to go work on my aphasia group plan for this week, do my homework, and organize a meeting for the student occupational therapy association (SOTA) professional development committee (which I am chair of). But before I go, here's a 1st day of school selfie (that was taken on the actual first day of school last Monday):

2014: A Year of Uncomfortableness but also Goodness

In 2014:

• John graduated from UVU in computer science
• I was accepted into graduate school in Boston
• I had to leave a favorite job of mine (helping people with disabilities find competitive employment) and we had to say goodbye to many people we love in Utah
• We traipsed (or rather drove) and camped across the country with our evil cat: 
• In New Mexico we had an unexpected and tragic funeral for our motorcycle and we nearly froze without sleeping bags, but we LOVED Carlsbad Caverns
• In Texas we didn't camp but stayed with family; our cat explored stairs and had an unwanted adventure meeting a big puppy
• We discovered a great Podunk town in Arkansas, and experienced the muggiest & hottest camping of my life
• In Kentucky we visited Mammoth Caves and John had a run-in with a Tick while camping
• In Pennsylvania we stayed with family again
• And finally we arrived in Boston 
• Once in Boston we experienced homelessness for a week after our housing fell through and we scrambled to find something new
• We camped for most of the week and then were invited to sleep on a then-stranger now-friend's floor for the weekend
• Luckily through a series of fortunate events and chance meetings we found a fantastic little apartment for a great price (for Boston that is: it's still twice as much as we paid in Utah for only half of the space)
• We moved into a new apartment on the first day of my new graduate program (thanks to the missionaries we survived moving into a 3rd floor apartment with a narrow windy staircase)
• I began my doctorate of Occupational Therapy program
• John worked from home for a summer, then decided he needed to see people in person and so he got a new job in Chinatown, Boston 
• He now works for a start-up company called Act.md, which makes medical software for doctors and patients to communicate with one another. He's learning a lot and enjoying it
• I experienced a surprise pregnancy but then had a miscarriage
• It was very difficult and heartbreaking, but it turned into a faith-building experience. I learned more about the relationship between Christ's sacrificial atonement, healing, and repentance
• I got to read some interesting books and articles, attend a couple fascinating conferences, and be confronted with new ideas and thought processes
• Our cat is starting to get a tiny bit more friendly with strangers (he tends to be mistrustful and introverted)
• We discovered the deliciousness of homemade jam (we will never return to store-bought jam)
• And we really enjoyed making some amazing new friends in Boston who we are looking forward to continue getting to know!

Although it was a good year, it was a year that really stretched me as a person. Growth is good, but I won't feel bad about saying goodbye to 2014. Here's to a New Year full of wonderful people, new experiences, and learning!

I'm excited to welcome in 2015!!!

The Discovery of My Life's Purpose

Recently I re-read a couple of books which caused me to pause and take a look at my life to determine what my vision for my life is. One of these was "Man's Search for Meaning" by psychologist and holocaust survivor Victor Frankl, the other was "The Anatomy of Peace" by the Arbinger Institute. Victor Frankl's philosophy is that every individual has a purpose in life. That purpose differs in each person, and is determined by that individual. In order to overcome any trial, affliction, depression, discouragement, etc, no matter how big or small, a person must discover the meaning of their life and actively pursue it. The Anatomy of Peace is a parable of a man who is put in a position where he is brought to understand his need to find inner clarity and peace in his interactions with himself and others.

Both books inspired me to contemplate and re-evaluate what brings meaning to my personal life, how I interact with the people around me, and what kind of influence I would like to be on the world. I had the time to reflect on what makes me truly happy, and how I personally integrate that into my life. Here is what I came up with:

The meaning and purpose of my life is to help other people to fulfill their individual potential and to be able to do the things that bring meaning to their lives.

This is a recurring theme in my life in various ways. It has manifest itself in my educational and occupational pursuits, my religious service, and my relationships with the people I care the very most about. This theme is what brings enjoyment and meaning to me in art, music, literature, theater, film, dance, philosophy, education, religion, and culture

I don't know how to express the journey I have undergone over the last several years which have helped me to better understand myself, so I have created a brief timeline of the most influential learning experiences in my life for a little over the past decade that have this recurring theme. You are welcome to skip the timeline to see my goals in relation to the purpose of my life.

My Process of Discovery Timeline

Childhood
-Development of my love for people, different cultures, religions, and languages
-Exploration of meaning in dance, art, music, and nature

2001-2002: 
-Discovery of my love of the human body and medicine
-Grappling with the divorce of my parents, finding healing and peace, learning to interact in a healthy way with the opposite gender (really this should go under the years 2001-2012)

2002-2006:
-My fascination with physical therapy and watching the physical body heal
-Caring for my siblings and helping them deal with the emotional turmoil in our lives and encouraging them to do their best in their pursuits

2009-2010
-Serving and growing to love the people of Switzerland as I helped them in their spiritual journeys of healing, love, understanding and peace. Love of helping them to strengthen their families, creating relationships with God, improving their personal finances, serving the people around them, growing in confidence and abilities as they served in the church organization

2011-2014
-My interest in psychology-particularly abnormal psychology
-Working at the Utah State Hospital, an acute & long-term psychiatric hospital changed my life-Seeing people overcome their physical and mental challenges, heal, grow, and learning to love people without regard to their past mistakes

2012-2013
-Serving as the president of the local chapter of the world's largest women's organization helped me to connect with beautiful, strong women seeking to find their own purpose in life and strengthen their relationships. I enjoyed hearing about the challenges in their lives and attempting to assist them with their physical, spiritual, and emotional growth

2012-2014
-Learning about addiction and learning to love people despite the sometimes devastating effects it can have on relationships and individuals. Supporting and listening to some of the people I love the very most grapple with these challenges
-Working with people with disabilities to help them find and maintain employment has helped me to see how engaging and participating in the community through employment helps people to gain self-confidence, self-reliance, new skills, develop relationships, and experience an overall increase in happiness and self-loveg
-Building a great friendship and finding the love of my life in this friendship changed me and helps me every day to learn to be a better person (we joined and began our lives together when we were married and sealed for time and all eternity on 16 August 2013 in the Oquirrh Mountain Temple!)
-After undergoing a crisis in which I did not know what educational & vocational paths to pursue, discovering there is a vocation called "occupational therapy" which encompasses all of the things I am fascinated with changed my life! Shadowing the profession helped me realize that OT is the perfect vocation for me, because it is therapy to help people participate in the things that bring meaning to their lives.
-My application and acceptance to Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions in Boston will bring a new chapter of my life this June (2014) and help me to pursue the things that bring meaning into my life and other's lives. I'm thrilled, nervous, elated, excited!!!

Again, the meaning and purpose of my life is to help other people to fulfill their individual potential and to be able to do the things that bring meaning to their lives.

My goals in relation to my purpose in life (not necessarily in order):

-Graduate with a doctorate in Occupational Therapy

-Make a difference to individuals and communities

-Provide service in the communities in which I live

-Travel the world and serve other people

-Raise engaged, thoughtful, and considerate children

-Nurture relationships with the people around me, particularly my husband, children, family, and then expanding to a wider circle of people within the community including church members, friends, professional relationships, and under-served populations

-To have a heart at peace with myself and those around me

I would recommend that you read those books, and then take the time alone in a peaceful, happy place to consider what your own life purpose is. I believe that God guides and directs us, and he can help you to realize that purpose in your live. Your purpose and meaning in life is as unique as you are, and no one can tell you what that purpose is, only you can find it.

Our Boston Adventure!

The first week of February found me on a plane by myself with two carry on bags, and lots of books to keep me entertained on the way to Boston! I was headed to the school of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) for an interview for graduate school! It was not the first big city I have navigated to and around partly alone, but it had been a while since my Berlin adventure of 2007, and I was a wee bit nervous. Not only was I feeling jittery about navigating in Boston without my John, but I was feeling a great deal of anticipation for my actual interview.

After landing, I lugged my bags to a bus stop and rode the hour long trip to a suburb of Boston where John's Uncle and Aunt, whom I had never met previously, were to pick me up. John's dad had contacted his brother to help me arrange a place to stay, and so John's uncle graciously agreed to host me. After formalities, get to know yous, a delicious chili feast and relaxing evening, I retreated to my bedroom to prepare for the upcoming interview.

The next day dawned bright and early, particularly since the time zone was two hours earlier than that of Provo's. I prepared meticulously including my interview outfit and going over my notes. John's Uncle dropped me off at the Charlestown Navy Yard, and I was on my own. Since I was 45 minutes early, I strolled along the harbor bundled up in the poofy coat which John's aunt had insisted I wear (apparently I had not prepared as adequately for the cold as I had thought). This is what I saw:

Here's what I posted with this pic on Instagram: "Why yes, I think I could stand having a view like this every day of graduate school..."

My impression of MGH only got better throughout the day. It is a brand new doctorate program, which I find exciting! Most of the occupational therapy programs are currently 2 year masters program, but MGH is a new 3 year doctorate program! The facilities are just as beautiful inside as outside, with state of the art classrooms and brand new occupational therapy labs. The faculty were very nice and thrilled with being part of being such a great new program. The program itself sounds fabulous, with a heavy emphasis on inter-professional education, hands on education, clinical work beginning at the start of the program, and many opportunities for students to serve within the community! My interview was fun, and overall it was a very positive experience. I left being able to picture myself as a student of the school.

The rest of the weekend flew by with entertaining myself on the Boston Freedom Walk, experimenting with Boston's public transportation system, getting to know John's aunt and uncle over an Indian dinner, forgetting my purse at the Indian restaurant and having to drive back to get it, a fabulous blitz-tour of Boston's two art museums (the MFA and Gardner museums) given by John's uncle who is a bit of an art buff and is part of the asian art committee. Here's a couple pictures from that:

The evil Gnyardon and his followers were even illustrated in the MFA!
I wonder what poor, unsuspecting soul they are stalking! ;)

My appetizer, which was a "taco", at the Gardner museum

Uncle Steve's soup--I have got to try my hand at making butternut squash soup!

Last glimpse of Boston from the plane

So I headed back home to Provo, Utah, to await the response from MGH. I focused on work and tried not to think much about the upcoming results.

A couple of weeks later, I received an acceptance letter to MGH! I also received an acceptance letter to USciences in Philadelphia, as well as an invitation for two skype interviews with schools in DC and CA. I did the interview with Howard University in DC, and we contemplated our options. We considered a lot of factors about each of the schools and locations before finally making our decision. This decision was made before even receiving the results from Howard (which I am pretty sure I got into).

Brace yourselves....



And the verdict is in! We are going to Boston in the middle to end of May!!!




Phew! Glad that decision is made. I am filled with many different thoughts and emotions. On one hand I am thrilled to be pursuing my dream of going to occupational therapy school! I am so excited for the change of scenery, the adventures and experiences to come. I am sad to leave Provo and all of my friends. I don't love living in Provo, but I love my friends here and will miss them a lot. I am also really sad to leave my new job at Rise Employment Services. I have loved working with people who have disabilities to help them find employment!!! I have committed to myself to find all of my current clients jobs before I leave! They are so capable and I want them to have employment where they will be happy and be able to contribute. I will miss working with them, and with my lovely coworkers.

Change is good. I feel a little overwhelmed and anxious about the changes, but I am also eager to begin a new chapter in our lives. I am so glad to have John by my side to experience these changes with!

The program begins June 1, so we'll be leaving Provo sometime mid- to late-May.

Wish me luck! :)