So, we are back from Christmas break as of a couple of weeks ago, starting our 4th out of 5 quarters and we are considered "seniors". We are studying Pathology, Shiatsu (LOVE IT), structural bodywork, and Professional Development. It is SO crazy how fast time has flown and yet, I wish it would fly by a bit faster. The great, amazing news is that I got straight A's again! For some reason, I am genuinely surprised when I look at the grades posted in class each time. There is a warm sensation, followed by giddiness that explodes into a huge smile every time!
Don't get me wrong, I love school, but I am just anxious to figure out life. Speaking of which, current life is still busy with an almost full time work schedule, school and kids on the weekends and little bits during the week and I have still found time for a social life. Adam and I are getting everything ready to file. Seems like we are
BOTH ready now. He and I remain friends though. I have now lived on
my own for 10 months, if you can believe that. Time sure flies. I did have an awesome opportunity to teach about the heart in Jake's class. It was so fun getting to know his classmates. They are so smart and fun and a little crazy, but I miss working in the classroom SO much. I hope I get to do it again even though I am not a great teacher. (don't really like to be in charge)
I have grown quite attached to my class and consider them almost family. We all have grown so close and have our little jokes and our concerns for one another. It's funny, sometimes I find myself zoning out looking at all the faces in my class and soaking up the diversity. We'll never be all together again after we graduate like it is now. I am sure some will keep in touch though. I am not the oldest in my class, but amongst the people I surround myself with I am the senior citizen. LOL However, I did have to prove my age to a fellow student, by showing him my driver's license. HAHA!
One of the girls started MASH in our classroom (remember that?)... so we all have fake husbands and wives. My fake husband is only 21,we have 5 kids and live in a shack and I think we drive a VW bus, LOL. We only have 10 minute breaks in class, but it seems we make the most of that time. There is a small group of us learning how to crochet, another group is making plans to go into business together after we graduate. Last quarter, we had a running/exercise group, but the security guard put a stop to that.
Sometimes we go out after school and play pool/air hockey together or go to midnight showings of "New Moon". LOL I kept falling asleep during that one (we'd just left theeeeee most boring lecture). Luckily my good friend Jordan kept nudging me in the side and WAKING me up! And she made sure I woke up when he took off his shirt...hahahahaha! We wore custom made "Team Jacob" shirts. This picture was taken after the movie. I was SO TIRED, that I could hardly stand up. Notice in the picture I am holding on to Mackenzie. LOL
I am going to start a class yearbook and put it on Shutterfly. I only wish I would have started at the beginning, but we still have two quarters left and graduation and we know each other a lot better now.
Girls' night out! Jordan, me and Bree in Tempe before
dancing in Scottsdale.
A group of us at the midnight showing of "New Moon".
Good times! Just wish I wasn't so tired! Mark, Nikea,
Bree, me, Mackenzie, and Jordan.
These 3 got called grannies because they are learning
how to crochet. I have been working on other things
during our breaks so I haven't had a chance to learn yet.
Our massage and reflex teacher Stephanie with a bunch
of us. We had just taken our anatomy final. YAY! I do miss
anatomy though. I think I am an official anatomy geek.
Who knew? Stephanie, Bree, Mackenzie, Chardette, me
Nikea and Jordan.
Matt and Nikea... these two sure liven up our classroom!
Bree and I playing shuffleboard... the two of us had an
awful time focusing on actually playing the game instead
of engaging in conversation.
Our clinical internship has been an amazing experience. I was really nervous the first time, but I was put right at ease by meeting amazing people that come in and just want to relax or have pain and tension released. Every Saturday Kenzie and I leave at 6:45am for the school. We check in with the clinic manager, get our booth set up and call out our first client. The goal is always to massage 5 people in 5 1/2 hours (High 5's). Our first week, we there was a miscommunication in time restraints, so a bunch of us didn't get in our high 5, but we're told we'll have credit for it at graduation. This has REALLY helped me with time management, a skill I don't normally possess. haha! We will do this for 21 weeks and crank out 110 hours of massage for our resumes, not to mention the time in class and outside of class. My favorite feedback from a client after a massage was "You were like a friend to every muscle!" I was soaring after that.
So, in all seriousness and as graduation nears, I can't help but think of which direction I would like to go. Getting a job right after graduation might mean a chiropractic office, or a spa, or massage envy. Not sure yet what I'll be doing. As I said before, my first priority is to eventually work with cancer patients. I learned recently with the passing of a friend I visited only hours before she died of breast cancer that I CAN massage cancer patients. The hospice nurse that was with her, explained to me that it is possible to work with hospice cancer patients and that they have 2 massage therapists on staff. I wrote an article in my pathology class on the benefits of massage therapy for these patients. The studies that are being conducted are showing that there is a significant decrease in pain and anxiety. Reflexology, in particular can decrease the perception of pain and nausea and increase relaxation in such patients.The beauty of it, is giving them comfort during this painful time.
I massaged a lady in clinic before Christmas that was in remission (it
was her birthday too) from breast cancer. She had her eyes closed so
she couldn't see me, but it was difficult to hold back the tears for
this sweet woman. Almost started up again as she thanked me profusely
for the massage. :) I have actually had some really meaningful experiences in clinic. The big dilemma... all my clients will be close to imminent death. Can I emotionally do it?
My niece Marissa was adopted from Romania almost 14 years ago and I can still remember watching the Dateline and 20/20 episodes that unveiled what life is like in an orphanage in a third world country. The children were rocking themselves and when my niece was brought home at age 2, she was left in her crib all day. She was fed and changed ONCE during that day. That was so disturbing and broke my heart. I keep thinking it would be an amazing experience to go to Romania and provide infant massage to those sweet souls who are lacking in that positive nurturing touch that every child of God deserves. It is so key for their brain development and emotional development and ultimately their survival. So, my newest daydream and I pray that it comes to fruition is to take some other therapists, photographers, storytellers and whoever else wants to donate service time with me over and hit as many orphanages as we can and provide infant massage. Prior to that, I will take a continuing education course in infant massage to further my skills. I mentioned this to my friend Jenny last night and she is SO in! We talked about looking into getting a grant or funding elsewhere to make the journey.
There is so much more to tell. For now, that'll do!