So, I have been trying to get in touch with my internship supervisor for a couple days now, but none of the emails are being sent. I called the only number I have for him and left a message this afternoon. It has now been several hours and alas, no call back. Which has pretty much started the numerous worst case scenarios in my head. Number one being that my supervisor was fired and or laid off and forget to mention it to his anxious little intern. No big deal, right? Oh, gosh if that happens, well let's just say I apologize now to my many friends that will be receiving angry text messages and hysterical phone calls. Let's just hope the hospital's email server is down. I have until Monday sometime to figure out, when and if I'll still be doing my internship this summer. If for some unknown reason, the worst happens...this blog will definitely be a boring one. Yikes!
Today I spent most of my day doing absolutely nothing. I was, however, rudely woken up at about 5:30 this morning by Shelby, the cat, for her morning breakfast. I am living in an apartment that is run by a cat...what has my life come to? After my much needed morning coffee, I participated in a very grown up and independent act of grocery shopping. I suppose my last three years of having Janice around to cook our meals at the Kaydee house really made me naive to the price of food. I mean seriously, bread and milk are expensive! No wonder the cabinets and fridge at home are always empty. I should probably apologize to my mom for complaining each time I'm home that there is nothing to eat. Being independent is expensive, especially when you have a 400 hour UNPAID internship.
I'm no expert, but unpaid internships just don't seem fair. Not only is it unpaid, but I'm paying OSU to work for free. Oh, and it is going to cost me $4 a day for parking. So, for my ten week internship, it is going to cost me around $250 just to park. Now let's add in gas for my car, money for lunch, grocery shopping, my tuition to OSU and the grand total comes to about a hundred billion dollars. Ok, so I'm being dramatic, but to a poor, jobless college student that is what it feels like. I mean whatever happened to child labor laws? Yeah, yeah, I'm twenty-one and those don't apply to me. But you see the point I'm trying to make, right?
Even with all of the craziness and stress of the upcoming, unpaid internship, Dallas has still been such an amazing experience. I found a letter that I wrote to my brother the summer before I started college, and in it I was so worried about "failing at life" (no I am not making that up...I told you I am a worst case scenario type girl). I suppose you could say that Dallas and my newly acquired independence has given me confidence in myself and my abilities to survive. So, wherever God decides to take my journey, I'm ready. Let's just hope my journey still has an internship in store for me this summer.
Miss you all!
Friday, May 28, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T
I have decided that being independent is a great feeling. My brother has been in London for almost a week now, and honestly having the apartment to myself has been amazing. I feel all grown up. It is weird, but this summer has already taught me that whatever happens after college, I'm going to be just fine.
I emailed my Internship Supervisor today to confirm all of the specifics and details for this summer. I am so excited to get started. Yesterday, I went and walked around the hospital. It was a little awkward just wandering aimlessly through the halls, but I wanted to know where I was going to be working. The hospital is absolutely gorgeous. The waiting rooms and check in desk looks like a fancy hotel lobby. The nurses and doctors were all wearing navy blue scrubs. I felt like I was in a scene from Grey's Anatomy - minus the love stories. I can't believe that in just a few days, I'll be the one wearing the scrubs and brand new ID badge.
I discovered that the rehab facility is located on the sixth, seventh, and eighth floors. The populations I'll be working with are people over 18 with traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, burn patients, and general orthopedic problems. There are 124 patient beds, which means a massive case load. However, I am trying not to freak out and just looking at helping all those patients as more experience. Hopefully, more experience and this internship will equal a very nice job right after graduation.
For everyone that has been asking questions about how life outside the internship is going:
My days so far are consisting of taking care of my brother's girlfriend's 30 pound cat, laying out by the pool, and hanging out with a new friend. My aunt and her family live only about 10 minutes from my apartment, so I have been able to see them almost every day. I love that I get to see my cousin Grayson play in his baseball games, and play hide-and-go-seek with Carly. My family is awesome and I am so thankful that I'll get to spend the summer with them as well. All in all, I am having the best possible time in Dallas. This experience has been so much more than I could have asked for, so let's hope it keeps up this trend. Although, I do miss all my friends....love you all so much!!!
I emailed my Internship Supervisor today to confirm all of the specifics and details for this summer. I am so excited to get started. Yesterday, I went and walked around the hospital. It was a little awkward just wandering aimlessly through the halls, but I wanted to know where I was going to be working. The hospital is absolutely gorgeous. The waiting rooms and check in desk looks like a fancy hotel lobby. The nurses and doctors were all wearing navy blue scrubs. I felt like I was in a scene from Grey's Anatomy - minus the love stories. I can't believe that in just a few days, I'll be the one wearing the scrubs and brand new ID badge.
I discovered that the rehab facility is located on the sixth, seventh, and eighth floors. The populations I'll be working with are people over 18 with traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, burn patients, and general orthopedic problems. There are 124 patient beds, which means a massive case load. However, I am trying not to freak out and just looking at helping all those patients as more experience. Hopefully, more experience and this internship will equal a very nice job right after graduation.
For everyone that has been asking questions about how life outside the internship is going:
My days so far are consisting of taking care of my brother's girlfriend's 30 pound cat, laying out by the pool, and hanging out with a new friend. My aunt and her family live only about 10 minutes from my apartment, so I have been able to see them almost every day. I love that I get to see my cousin Grayson play in his baseball games, and play hide-and-go-seek with Carly. My family is awesome and I am so thankful that I'll get to spend the summer with them as well. All in all, I am having the best possible time in Dallas. This experience has been so much more than I could have asked for, so let's hope it keeps up this trend. Although, I do miss all my friends....love you all so much!!!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Perspective
Well, I have now been awake for almost four and a half hours. The fact that I woke up to my alarm without the snooze button at 5:45 am today is a miracle in itself. This morning I was supposed to time my commute to the hospital again. However, my cousin Craig surprised me and went along for the ride. Craig was that college student anyone would have loved to be. His intelligence came easy and he had a real passion for learning. After graduating from college, he applied to Medical School. His first couple attempts didn't end up well, so he decided that the Peace Corps was a great alternative. Finally after his year in the Peace Corps, Medical School became a reality.
Craig continued his passion for learning all the way through his classes, internships, and residencies. He quickly discovered his passion for delivering babies. About a year into his medical practice, he noticed that his joints were hurting from standing on his feet for long stretches of time. Like any twenty-something, he ignored the pain and thought nothing more about it. A couple more years passed by before the pain became too much to ignore. Craig went to the doctor and explained his symptoms. The doctor became very concerned and started a plethora of tests and scans. Before the month was over, Craig had been diagnosed with a rare bone cancer. His career as a doctor had ended about as quickly as it had began. His passion and calling was no longer something he could physically continue.
This story about Craig has been something that my mother has told me numerous times over my lifetime. Each time I heard it, I remember thinking how sad it was, but it wasn't until today that I fully understood. Craig volunteered to ride with me to give me the shortcuts and back roads to cut my commute in half. After surviving the cancer, Craig began doing medical research at the University of Texas Southwestern Schools. His passion could not be taken away, even after losing his ability to practice medicine. Now he must use crutches for mobility and has had too many bones and joints replaced to list. While we were riding in the car today, I saw the way he lit up when talking about his experiences at the hospital. His journey has been a tragic love story. Yet, he doesn't show his disappointments or let his complaints about his ending get in the way of living now. He has recently become a professor at a small college in Dallas teaching Anatomy and Physiology.
Craig became an inspiration to me today. He is a true example of being content with whatever life throws your way. Just like my patients for this summer, Craig had to find his hope and excitement for living life again. He found other ways to fuel his desire to be a part of medicine. He devoted years to medical research and is now investing his time into other future nurses, doctors, and therapists. God reminded me today that sometimes Plan B can be just as sweet.
Craig continued his passion for learning all the way through his classes, internships, and residencies. He quickly discovered his passion for delivering babies. About a year into his medical practice, he noticed that his joints were hurting from standing on his feet for long stretches of time. Like any twenty-something, he ignored the pain and thought nothing more about it. A couple more years passed by before the pain became too much to ignore. Craig went to the doctor and explained his symptoms. The doctor became very concerned and started a plethora of tests and scans. Before the month was over, Craig had been diagnosed with a rare bone cancer. His career as a doctor had ended about as quickly as it had began. His passion and calling was no longer something he could physically continue.
This story about Craig has been something that my mother has told me numerous times over my lifetime. Each time I heard it, I remember thinking how sad it was, but it wasn't until today that I fully understood. Craig volunteered to ride with me to give me the shortcuts and back roads to cut my commute in half. After surviving the cancer, Craig began doing medical research at the University of Texas Southwestern Schools. His passion could not be taken away, even after losing his ability to practice medicine. Now he must use crutches for mobility and has had too many bones and joints replaced to list. While we were riding in the car today, I saw the way he lit up when talking about his experiences at the hospital. His journey has been a tragic love story. Yet, he doesn't show his disappointments or let his complaints about his ending get in the way of living now. He has recently become a professor at a small college in Dallas teaching Anatomy and Physiology.
Craig became an inspiration to me today. He is a true example of being content with whatever life throws your way. Just like my patients for this summer, Craig had to find his hope and excitement for living life again. He found other ways to fuel his desire to be a part of medicine. He devoted years to medical research and is now investing his time into other future nurses, doctors, and therapists. God reminded me today that sometimes Plan B can be just as sweet.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Preparation
This past week in Dallas has been spent in preparation for my internship. I moved into my brother's one bedroom apartment, unpacked all of my clothes, bought a new alarm clock (one without a snooze button), and blew up my air mattress. On the home front, I would say I am fully prepared. However, the driving situation is another story. My hospital is only about a 15 mile drive, but add in traffic and it quickly becomes an hour bumper-to-bumper drive. Yes, this means I must say good bye to the lovely days of waking up ten minutes before my class starts and still making it a few minutes early. I have a feeling that coffee and I will become the very best of friends.
While all of the preparation that happens before the actual internship is complete, I am not completely positive my mind fully comprehends the situation. I have been attending college classes for the past three years, but was I really paying attention? I'll be honest most of my studying happened around midnight the night before a test. Kristen and I would cram for about three or four hours and then "wing it" from there. Sure I have gotten good grades, but what happens if I didn't store all of those definitions and facts in my long term memory bank? College is supposed to prepare you for your real world job, right? So, why do I feel so unprepared?
At first most people laugh when they find out my major is Leisure Studies - Therapeutic Recreation. However, what they don't realize is the difficulty that is our job. We work with people that have just had their entire world turned upside down. Car accidents, cancers, electrocution, depression, strokes, burn patients, amputees, and schizophrenia. Our patients must start over and learn to live their life again. Sometimes that includes a wheelchair, pace maker, or constant medication. I am supposed to be able to help them heal and begin to enjoy life. I make sure a superstar athlete that just lost his leg, realizes he can still participate in the same activities before his amputation, with a few adjustments. My job not only helps rehabilitate, but it restores hope that was once lost. Talk about a lot of pressure for a brand new intern.
I have been given an amazing opportunity to change and touch people's lives this summer, so pray that I have actually retained some knowledge from the past three years of college. Also, pray that the three million dollars worth of liability insurance I had to purchase isn't needed.
While all of the preparation that happens before the actual internship is complete, I am not completely positive my mind fully comprehends the situation. I have been attending college classes for the past three years, but was I really paying attention? I'll be honest most of my studying happened around midnight the night before a test. Kristen and I would cram for about three or four hours and then "wing it" from there. Sure I have gotten good grades, but what happens if I didn't store all of those definitions and facts in my long term memory bank? College is supposed to prepare you for your real world job, right? So, why do I feel so unprepared?
At first most people laugh when they find out my major is Leisure Studies - Therapeutic Recreation. However, what they don't realize is the difficulty that is our job. We work with people that have just had their entire world turned upside down. Car accidents, cancers, electrocution, depression, strokes, burn patients, amputees, and schizophrenia. Our patients must start over and learn to live their life again. Sometimes that includes a wheelchair, pace maker, or constant medication. I am supposed to be able to help them heal and begin to enjoy life. I make sure a superstar athlete that just lost his leg, realizes he can still participate in the same activities before his amputation, with a few adjustments. My job not only helps rehabilitate, but it restores hope that was once lost. Talk about a lot of pressure for a brand new intern.
I have been given an amazing opportunity to change and touch people's lives this summer, so pray that I have actually retained some knowledge from the past three years of college. Also, pray that the three million dollars worth of liability insurance I had to purchase isn't needed.
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