Gonna start picking it up with the school work soon. Been studying more muscles than reading lately.
Once our online access is granted, I'm so gonna tear into those assignments and get them done early so they won't be hanging over my head the whole weekend. This has to be a fun weekend for me; there won't be many (or any) after that!
Any other budding PTAs out there know what I'm saying?
Showing posts with label studying. Show all posts
Showing posts with label studying. Show all posts
Friday, August 15, 2014
Thursday, August 14, 2014
Review: Day Fifteen
Gotta make this one shorter than the others. My life outside PTA school is about to become a speck of what it once was. I'll have time to keep up the blog but probably not much. Weekend articles may get smaller, but hopefully nonetheless interesting for you folks to read. Usually they take about an hour to research (including APA citation; I'll get better at that as I go) and roughly 30-45 minutes to type. Might be cutting my overall content by about a third, so it all takes an hour. We'll see! If I have time, my best use of it will be putting my face between the pages.
Got most of my books today, save one. I have to order that one online. It's a lab book though, so I probably won't need it during the first week anyway.
So long for now. Got some muscles to work out before hitting the books again.
Got most of my books today, save one. I have to order that one online. It's a lab book though, so I probably won't need it during the first week anyway.
So long for now. Got some muscles to work out before hitting the books again.
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Orientation Re-cap
I realize this is a pretty late post, but I've been busy! It was orientation day today.
I won't go into too much detail as to the specifics of who was there and where people were from. This blog won't be doing that. I want to keep my identity (as well as that of my classmates') as incognito as the Internet will allow.
Essentially what happened today was similar to the first day you start a new job: you meet new people, you shake hands and introduce yourself, you make small talk about where you're from and/or why you're there. Eventually you meet the boss(es) who tell you they're excited to work with you and that you'll fit right in (maybe not exactly, but I'll get to that). Then you fill out all the proper paperwork that tells everyone you're you and you're here to fulfill your duties, and you go home. Seven and a half hours after it started.
Today was basically that. I met my new classmates -- who were roughly all around my age, mid/late 20s, mostly from my area; though some were from farther away. We had a little ice breaker activity where we had to learn about the person sitting next to us and present our deskmate to the class. Then the teachers who run the program followed suit, and we started filling out first-day paperwork (health assessment forms, immunizations we had to get, emergency contact info, etc).
A teacher from another department gave us a lecture (with PowerPoint slides) on proper study habits and how to look and act professionally. He was from a research background so the information was presented in a very straightforward albeit lackluster way: and it was only 11am by this point.
Luckily we had a lunch break where we, as a class, got to talk to some students who were in the throes of their final semester of the program. Basically they spent an hour telling us we need to study hard and keep on top of things, because when you slack off in this program, the consequences can be dire (though, to be honest, when is slacking off ever a positive thing?). It was a nice warning, and it felt much more heartfelt coming from another group of young people who have been through it all than it would have if our teachers had kept telling us (like they had been telling us, for weeks now). Very big help, too, was the emphasis on studying muscle diagrams and origins/insertions/actions/innervations. I need to get back on that before next week!
We took a tour of the facilities after lunch, and we got to see where we'd be having labs and lectures. This was less interesting for me because I'd been taking pre-requisite classes on our campus for roughly a year. The building we were in was part of a central campus that houses classrooms for different programs, including the anatomy & physiology classes; I was no stranger to the building layout. It still seemed strange to me that there were people now going to school with me who had never even stepped foot inside my campus before.
After that we returned to our lecture classroom and talked about the PTA student manual for the rest of the time there (a monotonous three and a half hours that was). We got our schedules (which were basically made for us by our teachers; we had no real choice in what to take or when) and after a short Q&A with the director about how to read our schedules (since they were incomprehensible to most) we were dismissed. A lot of students still had to pay for their classes and get equipment and books from the bookstore; I paid for my classes online so I simply left.
So that was orientation. I'd say it was exactly what you'd expect: lot of ice-breaking and paperwork, and then your superiors spend several hours telling you to act and dress appropriately.
Tomorrow I have to get my student ID and parking tag made so security won't think I'm some weirdo hanging out with PTA students. Then I need to work on getting updated textbooks. I'm already a member of my chapter of APTA, who I believe follows this blog (how cool would it be if they read it?).
Just a few more days! Gotta keep it up!
I won't go into too much detail as to the specifics of who was there and where people were from. This blog won't be doing that. I want to keep my identity (as well as that of my classmates') as incognito as the Internet will allow.
Essentially what happened today was similar to the first day you start a new job: you meet new people, you shake hands and introduce yourself, you make small talk about where you're from and/or why you're there. Eventually you meet the boss(es) who tell you they're excited to work with you and that you'll fit right in (maybe not exactly, but I'll get to that). Then you fill out all the proper paperwork that tells everyone you're you and you're here to fulfill your duties, and you go home. Seven and a half hours after it started.
Today was basically that. I met my new classmates -- who were roughly all around my age, mid/late 20s, mostly from my area; though some were from farther away. We had a little ice breaker activity where we had to learn about the person sitting next to us and present our deskmate to the class. Then the teachers who run the program followed suit, and we started filling out first-day paperwork (health assessment forms, immunizations we had to get, emergency contact info, etc).
A teacher from another department gave us a lecture (with PowerPoint slides) on proper study habits and how to look and act professionally. He was from a research background so the information was presented in a very straightforward albeit lackluster way: and it was only 11am by this point.
Luckily we had a lunch break where we, as a class, got to talk to some students who were in the throes of their final semester of the program. Basically they spent an hour telling us we need to study hard and keep on top of things, because when you slack off in this program, the consequences can be dire (though, to be honest, when is slacking off ever a positive thing?). It was a nice warning, and it felt much more heartfelt coming from another group of young people who have been through it all than it would have if our teachers had kept telling us (like they had been telling us, for weeks now). Very big help, too, was the emphasis on studying muscle diagrams and origins/insertions/actions/innervations. I need to get back on that before next week!
We took a tour of the facilities after lunch, and we got to see where we'd be having labs and lectures. This was less interesting for me because I'd been taking pre-requisite classes on our campus for roughly a year. The building we were in was part of a central campus that houses classrooms for different programs, including the anatomy & physiology classes; I was no stranger to the building layout. It still seemed strange to me that there were people now going to school with me who had never even stepped foot inside my campus before.
After that we returned to our lecture classroom and talked about the PTA student manual for the rest of the time there (a monotonous three and a half hours that was). We got our schedules (which were basically made for us by our teachers; we had no real choice in what to take or when) and after a short Q&A with the director about how to read our schedules (since they were incomprehensible to most) we were dismissed. A lot of students still had to pay for their classes and get equipment and books from the bookstore; I paid for my classes online so I simply left.
So that was orientation. I'd say it was exactly what you'd expect: lot of ice-breaking and paperwork, and then your superiors spend several hours telling you to act and dress appropriately.
Tomorrow I have to get my student ID and parking tag made so security won't think I'm some weirdo hanging out with PTA students. Then I need to work on getting updated textbooks. I'm already a member of my chapter of APTA, who I believe follows this blog (how cool would it be if they read it?).
Just a few more days! Gotta keep it up!
Monday, August 11, 2014
ETA: 16 hours
Roughly 16 hours until I start my orientation. I'm super pumped for it, but I hope I get some actual sleep tonight.
I don't really know what to expect. And whenever I start thinking there'll be a test or quiz of some kind, I start reviewing old A&P notes.
So... tune in tomorrow to find out what actually happens!
I don't really know what to expect. And whenever I start thinking there'll be a test or quiz of some kind, I start reviewing old A&P notes.
So... tune in tomorrow to find out what actually happens!
Friday, August 8, 2014
Review: Day Fourteen
More review of the muscles and nerves. Been studying mostly at work. I'm eight days from quitting my part-time job to devote all my free time to school.
It's been a long struggle but I think I'm finally getting it all together. Mostly now I just have to work on being able to "demonstrate" each action at each major muscle and be able to point out where each origin/insertion is, which can't be as difficult as memorizing each in the first place.
Looking forward to finally getting back into the classroom, though. Those A&P courses are wonderful but they don't adequately prepare you for the rigor of the program (or so I hear); when I did my observation hours a few months ago, I spoke with a PTA who was also a state APTA board member who told me he had (keyword: HAD) to study for four hours a night.
While all the extra study time doesn't bother me much, the class-wide presentations plus the clinicals plus the extra study time might.
We'll just have to see.
It's been a long struggle but I think I'm finally getting it all together. Mostly now I just have to work on being able to "demonstrate" each action at each major muscle and be able to point out where each origin/insertion is, which can't be as difficult as memorizing each in the first place.
Looking forward to finally getting back into the classroom, though. Those A&P courses are wonderful but they don't adequately prepare you for the rigor of the program (or so I hear); when I did my observation hours a few months ago, I spoke with a PTA who was also a state APTA board member who told me he had (keyword: HAD) to study for four hours a night.
While all the extra study time doesn't bother me much, the class-wide presentations plus the clinicals plus the extra study time might.
We'll just have to see.
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Review: Day Thirteen
Another day, another re-acquaintance with muscles and bones. I'm getting awesome at determining where each major landmark is, and telling which muscle is which type. Jury's still out on whether I could do it on a test (when it really counts), but I know I won't completely fail either, so that's a slight relief.
A huge milestone for me today was that I bought a new laptop (Acer Aspire E series). It was basically the same price as my old one that busted after four years of extensive use but has twice the memory and RAM -- which is still nothing to write home about really, but it gets my writing and research stuff done no problem, so it's good for school.
I'm sorry these updates have been coming in kind of late recently. It's been hectic getting things done while keeping a regular update schedule. I mean, I hadn't had a laptop for a while. But my updates will be on a regular schedule soon after, and hopefully won't deviate too much from here on.
A huge milestone for me today was that I bought a new laptop (Acer Aspire E series). It was basically the same price as my old one that busted after four years of extensive use but has twice the memory and RAM -- which is still nothing to write home about really, but it gets my writing and research stuff done no problem, so it's good for school.
I'm sorry these updates have been coming in kind of late recently. It's been hectic getting things done while keeping a regular update schedule. I mean, I hadn't had a laptop for a while. But my updates will be on a regular schedule soon after, and hopefully won't deviate too much from here on.
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Review: Day Twelve
Today I got more of the muscle/nerve/bone stuff done while running around getting immunizations and buying equipment. Turns out that my campus bookstore is open during super inconvenient times while the bookstore of a neighboring university (and my alma mater) has the stuff I need at super inconvenient prices. Goniometers? Gait belts? Sphygmomanometers? All terribly priced. BUT at least I'll get them in time, rather than taking time off work to buy ones at slightly reduced prices... right?
Right?
Getting immunizations has been a terrible pain too, but at least it's finally done. I got three injections plus I need to go back for a couple more (two-step/three-step injections). So... here's hoping I don't have TB! Or Hep B! Or Tetanus!
Seriously. Tetanus is nothing to mess with. I have seen photos, and there are a few famous paintings (you can see them online) of people with tetanus. Looks like one of the worst ways to go. Like medieval torture-bad.
Right?
Getting immunizations has been a terrible pain too, but at least it's finally done. I got three injections plus I need to go back for a couple more (two-step/three-step injections). So... here's hoping I don't have TB! Or Hep B! Or Tetanus!
Seriously. Tetanus is nothing to mess with. I have seen photos, and there are a few famous paintings (you can see them online) of people with tetanus. Looks like one of the worst ways to go. Like medieval torture-bad.
Monday, August 4, 2014
Review: Day Eleven
What little time I've spent not doing clerical chores, I've spent either studying or eating meals. It's been pretty much non-stop paperwork chores all day today. Had to get a bunch of pre-orientation materials printed out and turned in to the proper offices, then shop around for equipment (goniometers, gait belt, etc.) for the first lab which I believe we're doing on orientation day. Either way it's better to get the purchase out of the way now rather than later.
I was sent a bunch of review materials through email Friday, and I've been going over them since. It's probably going to take precedence over the muscle origin/insertion/action/nervation stuff though I know those are necessary too. I just can't ever feel 110% confident on any of it, and that frustrates me to a great extent.
In more positive news, however, with all of these chores out of the way, I'm several steps closer to being properly prepared (physically, anyway) for orientation and the start of class proper. I really can't even begin to express how excited I am to finally have classes that seem more than tangentially relevant to my career.
How about you guys? What are your career goals/ambitions? If you're in a health profession already, how do you feel about it and what is your ultimate goal (e.g. academia, research, public office, etc.)?
I was sent a bunch of review materials through email Friday, and I've been going over them since. It's probably going to take precedence over the muscle origin/insertion/action/nervation stuff though I know those are necessary too. I just can't ever feel 110% confident on any of it, and that frustrates me to a great extent.
In more positive news, however, with all of these chores out of the way, I'm several steps closer to being properly prepared (physically, anyway) for orientation and the start of class proper. I really can't even begin to express how excited I am to finally have classes that seem more than tangentially relevant to my career.
How about you guys? What are your career goals/ambitions? If you're in a health profession already, how do you feel about it and what is your ultimate goal (e.g. academia, research, public office, etc.)?
Friday, August 1, 2014
Review: Day Ten(?)
It's been a short while since I last updated, and I haven't gotten a chance to do much reviewing, so instead of lying about it I thought I'd just inform you all that this weekend will be a bit of a different pace from the others. That is, I'll probably not get to the weekend article until Sunday evening sometime. I'm in the middle of getting a new computer this weekend for the tax-free weekend, and the lack of an accessible computer/internet connection 24/7 has put a slight temporary damper on my update schedule. Not a problem though, really.
Sorry for the lack of content. Everything will be back to normal Sunday.
In the meantime, anyone have any sports physiology/physical therapy ideas they might want some information on? I can cover a pretty large range of topics. If there are any ideas that might require assistance from someone with more expertise than myself, I can perhaps interview some.
Sorry for the lack of content. Everything will be back to normal Sunday.
In the meantime, anyone have any sports physiology/physical therapy ideas they might want some information on? I can cover a pretty large range of topics. If there are any ideas that might require assistance from someone with more expertise than myself, I can perhaps interview some.
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Review: Day Eight
More muscle diagrams. Been going over the physical therapy textbooks though. They have some interesting ways of putting it all together that make this seem like more than just a bunch of memorization. It's definitely been worth it to take a look.
I'm hoping when time comes to apply all this knowledge, at least SOME of it will stick. So far it's been eye-opening how much review there is to do in so little time, plus how easily you tend to forget the things you studied when you were in "test mode." I remember going over the nerves and their functions by myself at a local coffee shop and literally just telling myself to "run through them again" if I wasn't 100%. I'm hoping a similar approach will be helpful here (I did well in the nervous system sections of A&P I, after all).
Anyone out there ever had something you just had to get 100% on, regardless of how much of a struggle it seemed? I'd love to know in the comments.
I've been at this pre-physical therapy stuff for so long now it's starting to feel old hat. And I've only been at it a week and a half!
C'mon, school!
I'm hoping when time comes to apply all this knowledge, at least SOME of it will stick. So far it's been eye-opening how much review there is to do in so little time, plus how easily you tend to forget the things you studied when you were in "test mode." I remember going over the nerves and their functions by myself at a local coffee shop and literally just telling myself to "run through them again" if I wasn't 100%. I'm hoping a similar approach will be helpful here (I did well in the nervous system sections of A&P I, after all).
Anyone out there ever had something you just had to get 100% on, regardless of how much of a struggle it seemed? I'd love to know in the comments.
I've been at this pre-physical therapy stuff for so long now it's starting to feel old hat. And I've only been at it a week and a half!
C'mon, school!
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