I should be studying for my test in an hour.
So I'm about half way into the semester. I have two midterms this week and I wish I could scream. I'm actually feeling pretty confidant about both of them but its still a little nerve wracking to walk into a big lecture hall to take a test with nothing but a pencil and a little hope. I've never been a good test taker. It could be something as routine as Facebook navigation but when it comes to choices a-d, I just lose it some times.
I am, however, feeling very confidant about my new major. I just had to come to my senses and realize that maybe I'm not quite ready for nursing. I wish I had done this earlier seeing as how I have a pretty rocky GPA and wasted a butt ton of money but I guess that is what college is about. I'm so much more of a social services type of gal. I love helping people in a way that really doesn't always require a thank you or a gift in return. I feel that Gerontology is just such a wonderful selfless field to go into. I am doing my service learning project at the Washoe County Senior Center in their adult day care program called "Daybreak." Predominantly, its designed for older adults with dementia. They can take people as young as 18 years old but I haven't seen any yet. There are some people who are affected by some sort of cognitive and/or degenerative diseases that are young but not quite 30s or below. I feel so out of place when I go and I get such a high on it. I love submerging myself in an environment that I have no idea how to conduct myself and learn from scratch. I appreciate so much more when I'm able to work out my problems and their problems together. Some of these adults have such late levels of Alzheimers and other forms of dementia that I can't help but appreciate the time we have. The other day we had accordion players come visit the center and one of the women told me how it reminded her of her old boyfriend who played the accordion. She told me the story about 2 or 3 times and every time I gave her my uninterrupted attention. The things that stand out in her mind are things that most will remember when their older yet others may let slip. One man has lost most capabilities of speech and memory and is at the final stage of losing balance. All of these people were once young and vibrant individuals with boyfriends, girlfriends, careers, and stories and this ugly disease has reduced them, not all of them mind you, to wandering, forgetful, clumsy individuals. To live in the now is essential because one day this now will be a distant memory, if that.
I was terrified to work do my SL at this facility because, not only had I never worked with older adults before, but I had also never been exposed to a single person with dementia. Walking into a room entirely filled with people suffering from the disease was incredibly intimidating. Coming from my one and two year old classroom to a class entirely composed of the opposite end of the spectrum was something out of this world. When I first switched to this major I was more focused on programs like the Foster Grandparents and other Inter-generational Specialist careers but I think, that slowly, I may be leaning towards a career in assisting adults with dementia and cognitive impairments. Of course I'm JUST beginning to submerge myself in this world but I really, really enjoy it. Every day I spend time with children and older people and I think that, without that combination I wouldn't be able to look at life with such a unique view. When a man told me "I died yesterday," and all I could tell him was that he looked mighty good considering the facts, I decided that there is nothing more fulfilling than helping those in such dire need of assistance. I have conversations about anything and everything with them and they are so grateful for the time they are given to just talk. Others aren't able to speak but that doesn't mean they don't want you to talk to them. I feel so happy and accomplished every time I leave that 4 games of bingo just doesn't seem like enough.
I am, however, feeling very confidant about my new major. I just had to come to my senses and realize that maybe I'm not quite ready for nursing. I wish I had done this earlier seeing as how I have a pretty rocky GPA and wasted a butt ton of money but I guess that is what college is about. I'm so much more of a social services type of gal. I love helping people in a way that really doesn't always require a thank you or a gift in return. I feel that Gerontology is just such a wonderful selfless field to go into. I am doing my service learning project at the Washoe County Senior Center in their adult day care program called "Daybreak." Predominantly, its designed for older adults with dementia. They can take people as young as 18 years old but I haven't seen any yet. There are some people who are affected by some sort of cognitive and/or degenerative diseases that are young but not quite 30s or below. I feel so out of place when I go and I get such a high on it. I love submerging myself in an environment that I have no idea how to conduct myself and learn from scratch. I appreciate so much more when I'm able to work out my problems and their problems together. Some of these adults have such late levels of Alzheimers and other forms of dementia that I can't help but appreciate the time we have. The other day we had accordion players come visit the center and one of the women told me how it reminded her of her old boyfriend who played the accordion. She told me the story about 2 or 3 times and every time I gave her my uninterrupted attention. The things that stand out in her mind are things that most will remember when their older yet others may let slip. One man has lost most capabilities of speech and memory and is at the final stage of losing balance. All of these people were once young and vibrant individuals with boyfriends, girlfriends, careers, and stories and this ugly disease has reduced them, not all of them mind you, to wandering, forgetful, clumsy individuals. To live in the now is essential because one day this now will be a distant memory, if that.
I was terrified to work do my SL at this facility because, not only had I never worked with older adults before, but I had also never been exposed to a single person with dementia. Walking into a room entirely filled with people suffering from the disease was incredibly intimidating. Coming from my one and two year old classroom to a class entirely composed of the opposite end of the spectrum was something out of this world. When I first switched to this major I was more focused on programs like the Foster Grandparents and other Inter-generational Specialist careers but I think, that slowly, I may be leaning towards a career in assisting adults with dementia and cognitive impairments. Of course I'm JUST beginning to submerge myself in this world but I really, really enjoy it. Every day I spend time with children and older people and I think that, without that combination I wouldn't be able to look at life with such a unique view. When a man told me "I died yesterday," and all I could tell him was that he looked mighty good considering the facts, I decided that there is nothing more fulfilling than helping those in such dire need of assistance. I have conversations about anything and everything with them and they are so grateful for the time they are given to just talk. Others aren't able to speak but that doesn't mean they don't want you to talk to them. I feel so happy and accomplished every time I leave that 4 games of bingo just doesn't seem like enough.