LJ Idol: Week 0: Introduction
"Compared to other consumers, we spend more on healthcare. The reason for that is us. We behave differently at the..."
I stretch. With one hand I perfectly target the off button of my alarm clock, effectively silencing NPR; with the other hand I stroke the soft fluffy fur of my black Labrador Retriever Fossey who thumps her tail in a happy morning greeting before wiggling around so vigorously the bed shakes as if we were having an earthquake.
Why does Monday morning come so early? I dutifully climb out of bed, and at 5’2” in shoes, I do mean climb, and hit the shower. By the time I return to the bedroom Foss has taken over my vacated spot on the bed and I’ve figured out exactly what I’m wearing to work, or at least what color will make me happy. After all, if I’m not wearing the right color it is impossible for me to have a good day. Feed the Foss; dust on the basics of makeup so I am less likely to be mistaken for one of my students. Grab my cane since Fossey is in retired guide dog status and off we go for a quick jaunt around the parking lot so Miss Fossey can do her business.
Back from the walk on a chilly autumn Indiana morning, I exchange the rigid power walking cane for the telescopic “I can get you out of my way at work” cane and head into the kitchen to make breakfast for Dunkin the Guinea Pig, and grab his namesake, Dunkin Donuts’ coffee for myself.
Cane in one hand and coffee in the other it’s off to the bus stop for the twenty minute ride to work where I’ll spend the day solving the crises and day to day problems of college students with physical disabilities, chronic medical conditions, visual impairments, and traumatic brain injuries.
I am often asked how I got into this line of work. The short answer is that while there is no specific degree in Disabled student Services in Higher Education, I was able to target my own education toward such a job. Alphabet Soup wise, I have a Bachelor’s of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders, a Masters of Arts in Teaching -major in Special Education with an emphasis at the Post-Secondary level and a Masters of Arts in Rehabilitation Counseling. The hows and the whys shall come later. After all, there are many more weeks in the competition!
This is my entry for Week 0 of therealljidol. Comments are loved. More info on your role in all this coming as it is relevant
I stretch. With one hand I perfectly target the off button of my alarm clock, effectively silencing NPR; with the other hand I stroke the soft fluffy fur of my black Labrador Retriever Fossey who thumps her tail in a happy morning greeting before wiggling around so vigorously the bed shakes as if we were having an earthquake.
Why does Monday morning come so early? I dutifully climb out of bed, and at 5’2” in shoes, I do mean climb, and hit the shower. By the time I return to the bedroom Foss has taken over my vacated spot on the bed and I’ve figured out exactly what I’m wearing to work, or at least what color will make me happy. After all, if I’m not wearing the right color it is impossible for me to have a good day. Feed the Foss; dust on the basics of makeup so I am less likely to be mistaken for one of my students. Grab my cane since Fossey is in retired guide dog status and off we go for a quick jaunt around the parking lot so Miss Fossey can do her business.
Back from the walk on a chilly autumn Indiana morning, I exchange the rigid power walking cane for the telescopic “I can get you out of my way at work” cane and head into the kitchen to make breakfast for Dunkin the Guinea Pig, and grab his namesake, Dunkin Donuts’ coffee for myself.
Cane in one hand and coffee in the other it’s off to the bus stop for the twenty minute ride to work where I’ll spend the day solving the crises and day to day problems of college students with physical disabilities, chronic medical conditions, visual impairments, and traumatic brain injuries.
I am often asked how I got into this line of work. The short answer is that while there is no specific degree in Disabled student Services in Higher Education, I was able to target my own education toward such a job. Alphabet Soup wise, I have a Bachelor’s of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders, a Masters of Arts in Teaching -major in Special Education with an emphasis at the Post-Secondary level and a Masters of Arts in Rehabilitation Counseling. The hows and the whys shall come later. After all, there are many more weeks in the competition!
This is my entry for Week 0 of therealljidol. Comments are loved. More info on your role in all this coming as it is relevant