Practicum is Awesome
So, my practicum is pretty much completely awesome. It's also the reason I've barely been updating. It tires me out so much I don't do any school work on Tuesday or Wednesday and then I have to do it all the rest of the days. It's pathetic really.
Anyway, I work with people with severe and persistent mental illness (mostly schizophrenia) through the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. These are people who simply can't function in the community without intensive support, and they're probably always going to need intensive support. That's just the way it is. They come from all sorts of different backgrounds, from very well off to very poor. They have all levels of education. Some were teachers or lawyers or other professionals before their first acute episode while others were living off the streets. Mental Illness doesn't discriminate. These are the people that medication helps, but not enough. These are the people no one else wants. That don't fit in anywhere.
Some of my clients appear perfectly normal and it's not until you sit down with them, talk to them and get to know them that you realize how much their lives are impaired by their condition. Others, you can tell just by looking that there is something going on with them; they're dirty and wearing extremely strange combinations of clothing. Strangely, some of these clients are more put together when you talk to them! And so, I spend my days traipsing all over the city, weaving my way in and out of client's delusions and magical thinking, and I have to tell you, these are some of the most awesome people ever (although, you probably won't hear me say that when I'm sitting beside someone who hasn't bathed for two weeks or changed clothes in a week). I love what I'm doing. It's awesome.
So other than that, not much to update. I'm working at the school library... not the most interesting job, but I'm surrounded by books, so it's definitely okay! I shelf books and process books and run the circulation desk, but other than that, not much happens. I love it when I get to actually help people with something. Like teach them how to look for journal articles, or how to cite something etc...
I'm getting my wisdom teeth all out Friday...should be interesting. They're giving me general anesthesia which I've never had before, so I'll admit to being a bit nervous, but I'm sure it will go fine.
Anyway, I work with people with severe and persistent mental illness (mostly schizophrenia) through the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. These are people who simply can't function in the community without intensive support, and they're probably always going to need intensive support. That's just the way it is. They come from all sorts of different backgrounds, from very well off to very poor. They have all levels of education. Some were teachers or lawyers or other professionals before their first acute episode while others were living off the streets. Mental Illness doesn't discriminate. These are the people that medication helps, but not enough. These are the people no one else wants. That don't fit in anywhere.
Some of my clients appear perfectly normal and it's not until you sit down with them, talk to them and get to know them that you realize how much their lives are impaired by their condition. Others, you can tell just by looking that there is something going on with them; they're dirty and wearing extremely strange combinations of clothing. Strangely, some of these clients are more put together when you talk to them! And so, I spend my days traipsing all over the city, weaving my way in and out of client's delusions and magical thinking, and I have to tell you, these are some of the most awesome people ever (although, you probably won't hear me say that when I'm sitting beside someone who hasn't bathed for two weeks or changed clothes in a week). I love what I'm doing. It's awesome.
So other than that, not much to update. I'm working at the school library... not the most interesting job, but I'm surrounded by books, so it's definitely okay! I shelf books and process books and run the circulation desk, but other than that, not much happens. I love it when I get to actually help people with something. Like teach them how to look for journal articles, or how to cite something etc...
I'm getting my wisdom teeth all out Friday...should be interesting. They're giving me general anesthesia which I've never had before, so I'll admit to being a bit nervous, but I'm sure it will go fine.