For the final blog post of the semester I felt that it was fitting to have this amazing group collaborate to reflect on their experiences and give some advice to future students. This blog gave me the opportunity to get to know each one of these students a little more with each post. I am so proud to say that their writing and ideas reflected the content we have discussed in class over the last 3 years. It is not often that as an educator, you are afforded an inside look at your students' truly authentic opinions about their excitement, fears and goals for their future. This blog gave each student a voice to talk about aspects of therapeutic recreation that make them tick and it has become my favorite assignment by far.
This group has impressed me with their growth, resilience and dedication to this field. I am beyond excited to see what they contribute to the growing field of recreational therapy and I hope that many of them continue to contribute to this blog as professionals
Advice from Natalie:
Making valuable connections with people whether it's through a conference, social media, volunteering, or simply everyday interactions with others is the best advice I can give. Throughout my 4 years at Springfield College, I have developed genuine relationships with people that I never expected which helped me grow in my learning and future career. For example, during one instance at a conference, I randomly connected with a woman who would be my future practicum supervisor at an adaptive outdoor recreation organization. The entire conference I was intentionally looking for the director of the organization and literally could not find her anywhere. The last workshop I attended for the day I coincidentally sat next to a woman who turned out to be the program director for the organization! We developed a valuable connection at the conference and even a year after completing my practicum, I have still stayed connected and engaged in the activities they serve the community. This is because I created great relationships with the staff, directors, and I love the organization overall. I also believe that making connections with others requires you to make the most of every opportunity you are given. Maybe that is a cliche saying.... but it really is one of the ways I was able to secure my practicum and a number of different experiences because I did not shy away when the opportunity to make a connection with someone presented itself. I hope when you have the chance you will do the same because you never know what can happen!
Advice from Lexi:
When I graduate, I’ll have completed six long years of college. Throughout those six years, I learned how to believe in myself, even when I felt like I had hit a dead end. I dropped my major going into my senior year. Read that again if you have to. Can you believe that? I wouldn’t either if I were you. From that situation and others that I’ve experienced along my college journey, I learned some of the most valuable lessons that I now like to pay forward as advice.
Do not doubt yourself just because things aren’t going the way you planned; with an assignment, with a class, or even with your whole major. The next time you feel as though you are being challenged or tested by something, try to remember this phrase: “If you think you can, you will. If you think you can’t, you won’t.” This simple phrase can encourage you to adopt a growth mindset and be open to all the possibilities and opportunities that could be yours if you just believe in yourself.
As I had progressed through the PT major, I learned more and more about what the field is actually like, and how it is not really what I thought it would be like. It was the hardest truth I’ve ever had to face in my life, because, as a PT major going into my senior year, I felt like I had it all figured out. I only had 2 years left of grad school and then I’d be done, I’d have my doctorate degree, and I’d (hopefully) get a job within 6 months of graduating. Not to be cheesy, but this was the time when I finally decided to let go of the major, a huge part of my life and my identity at that point, and follow my heart.
Because of my experiences with questioning my major and my whole six years of college, I love to give advice to students who are still in college. I especially enjoy giving advice to students who are trying to choose a major. I’ve been there twice, once when I was 17, and then again when I was 21. What difference four years can make! My biggest piece of advice for someone who may be questioning their major is to take a step back, and look at the big picture. Ask yourself this, "What will I lose if I am no longer in this major? What could I gain from taking on a new major? Which major, my current or potential future, aligns the closest with what I value the most?" For me, it was simple. I really value forming meaningful connections with people that I'm working with, including my clients. I felt that with a career in PT, I wouldn't be able to form these meaningful relationships with my patients in the same way I would with a rec therapy client or participant, where we treat the whole person, not just the physical aspects.
Doubting yourself will not help you, and it will certainly not give you any answers that you are probably going to be looking for. Believing in yourself and what you stand for could one day be the difference between you being offered a job and not being offered a job. Think about how much better an interview could go if you go into the meeting with confidence and belief in yourself and your skills versus having no confidence in yourself, doubting yourself, and not portraying the confident individual that you are and all you have to offer.
Another favorite quote of mine is this: “Always represent yourself to the best of your ability.” This quote comes from one of my all-time favorite professors from my college career, Dr. Paolone. He was my exercise physiology teacher. This quote resonates with me because it makes me think about my actions on a deeper level. How will what I do affect others? Am I benefiting someone else or myself? Am I doing the right thing? Am I being honest? Do people see me as a respectable, trustworthy, and genuine person? Over the last six years, and throughout my whole life, I've learned, and will continue to learn, how my actions can and will make a difference. Dr. Paolone often reminded us in class, as well as in an emotional baccalaureate speech, to never sacrifice our honesty, integrity, and character. He always told us that these three characteristics are the most important, and are things that no one can ever take away from us; we can only give them away. I love this quote from him because it brings accountability into the equation. Holding ourselves accountable is vitally important to being a professional in any career, as well as in our personal lives. Only you should be handling your responsibilities, and if you pass them off to someone else, it could reflect negatively on your honesty, your integrity, or your character.
Although it has been 3 years now since I took exercise physiology, I think of Dr. Paolone's words at least three times a week. You may be thinking, how do Dr. Paolone’s quotes relate to doubting myself? I’ve thought about that too. But in all my thinking and reflecting on his words, advice I’ve received from other great professors, and my six years of college experience, I think I have summed it up. If you give away your honesty, your integrity, or your character, you will be more likely to doubt yourself. If you know that you have upheld all three of these characteristics, and upheld them well, then you probably are a person who genuinely believes in yourself; and a person who believes in themself is a person who will always represent themself to the best of their ability.
Advice from Alexx:
And just like that, my final semester of in class learning is officially over. Next semester I will be doing my 14 week long internship at a psychiatric hospital in Hartford Connecticut in their children and adolescents unit. They always tell you that college goes by fast but they never tell you how fast college goes by. It feels like yesterday I was moving into my freshman year dorm. So much has changed for me throughout these last four years, between finding myself, figuring out who really has my back and who my real friends are. But also, I had so many new experiences that I never thought I would get. I traveled to 3 different countries, had countless volunteer opportunities, and even got to facilitate my own programs. I would have not have gotten all of these amazing experiences if it weren't for my time here at Springfield College.
Filling out my degree application was so weird though. Going into freshman year I was only going to have a concentration in TR because TR was not even a major back then.Originally, my degree would have said I was a Recreation Management Major with a minor in Psychology and a concentration in Therapeutic Recreation. Now, I am one of the first graduates ever at Springfield College with a major in TR which is HUGE and such a giant step in the field. Another huge change for me was that I thought I was also supposed to get a concentration in Child Life as well. Going into school, they told me it was going to be a challenge because I would be the only undergraduate in the program. I took one class my sophomore year that was specifically Child Life and I struggled in it so much. It was one of the hardest classes I took here at Springfield College. I realized that it was not the path I wanted to take and that I wanted to focus more on recreation therapy.
If you are a student reading this and you're debating on what you want to do with your life and you're thinking about TR. Keep reading. I want to give you some advice that I wish someone gave to me when I was in your shoes.
Nothing is going to be easy: Everything is going to have a challenge. It depends on the level of difficulty you want to challenge yourself in and what to succeed. College is supposed to test you for the real world so get ready. Prioritize your assignments. Time management is vitally important to a successful college experience.
Be vulnerable: It is important to ask those questions if you are confused about a certain assignment or task. Your professors are getting paid to help you and to become the professionals that you want to be. Use them as a resource it will help you in the long run,
Take advantage of opportunities: If a professor has a signup sheet to volunteer. Sign up. If there is an optional field trip to tour a facility. Go on the field trip. Not only will it boost your resume, it will also give you a lot of real world experiences and potential networking opportunities as well. I have gone to different conferences around New England just from professors mentioning it in class and encouraging students to sign up. It is so beneficial in the long run!
Give time to yourself: it is important to give at least 30 mins to yourself everyday. There will be times during your college career where you feel so overwhelmed and that you will not be able to get all your work done. I can promise you that you will get it done. It is crucial to take mental breaks and take some time for yourself away from schoolwork and maybe even technology in general. For example, my favorite thing to do is to walk outside and listen to music or a podcast to clear my head.
Be your authentic self: Professors and other students love seeing you as you. Being someone that you are not just for the attention of a professor will get you nowhere in college. For me, I am very outgoing and it shows in my work and how I interact with my peers. Go with your gut and stay true to yourself because that is what everyone wants to see. If you are a leader, lead with a good attitude. If you are more introverted, try to find the balance between staying introverted and going out of your comfort zone.
Advice from Joci:
It is crazy that the past 4 weeks we have been preparing for the next step into our future and it comes to an end in May. There are so many things that have gotten us to this point in our careers, but we would not have been able to do it without the help of our professors and other faculty members. Our professors have guided us through every step of the way and soon it will be time for us to take our own leap into a new start.
It is important to get close to the people that are willing to guide you to an important part of your life. Many show that they are willing to help and want the best for you in your career. I have experienced many opportunities that I would not have received if I did not make a connection with my professors and others around campus. Most importantly, they should use the significance of networking and to get to know professionals in the occupation. With Therapeutic Recreation, the profession is still growing, meaning there are professionals that are still learning as they work and are willing to share their incite on their experiences. Some are willing to take and teach college students the way of the profession through hands-on experiences. This could be in a practicum, volunteer opportunities, and internships.
Professor Keyworth played a huge role in the endless opportunities. She provided various volunteer opportunities and experiences that are unforgettable. She has given me and my classmates opportunities, from volunteering with Special Olympics and Massachusetts Commission for the Blind, to helping to get an amazing practicum with a supervisor that guided me in the setting of adaptive sports and adaptive fitness. Keyworth networked for me to the supervisor, and was a person that she has worked closely with in the past and wished to grow some of his experiences into some of our class. Now that I got the experience to work 180 hours with this supervisor, I was able to get my foot in the door and now I believe we can be able to keep in touch with each other down the road.
There is one more professor that has provided real-time guidance since sophomore year, Professor Accorsi. Professor Accorsi’s main goal as a professor is to prepare us for the future in the sports and recreation industry. He has years of experience in not only sports management, but also TR too. He has pushed us to get out of our comfort zones and use our defining moments to push us to our goals. Without Professor Accorsi, I would not be introduced to an amazing internship opportunity. I was low about getting an internship and the limited sites due to COVID-19. I was continuously updating him on how my interviews went and if I got an offer. After being denied at a few places and not getting the best feelings with organizations through the interview, Professor Accorsi reached out to one of his friends from graduate school who is a CTRS in Georgia. Because Professor Accorsi had a long list of connections, he was able to network for me and pass down the contact information. I cannot thank Professor Accorsi enough for his actions and attention to his students for helping me and my classmates get the best experiences out in the real world.
These are a few of my experiences, but the list of professors that provided networking experience and opportunities is endless. I hope by reading this, you realize the importance of finding those connections because once you do, those people are willing to assist in anything you introduce to them. Your professors are there to help you, not tear you down and just hand you a grade. If your professor tells you about an event that is occurring on a Sunday morning, but you usually like to sleep in, change your habit. Go to the event because that is an opportunity for you to meet professionals and build a relationship with them. You never know, they may like what they see and offer you a summer volunteer experience or part-time job. It is your choice to make connections with others, why not take the opportunities that are right in front of you.
Advice from Saniya
WOW! I am really a senior in college… just like that almost 4 years flew by. It feels like just yesterday that I found my love for therapeutic recreation. I was a sophomore exploring a new class called introduction to therapeutic recreation, it was only supposed to be a gen ed requirement and after a few weeks of that class I knew this was my career choice. The first piece of advice I would give is try new things and keep an open mind. The world is filled with so many opportunities you might miss being closed minded. I debated taking that class as a gen ed and I said why not let’s give it a try, what is the worst that can happen and if I did not take that chance I truly do not know where I would be in my college career. That one simple class has changed my life. I found my passion, I found an amazing advisor and role model, I got to work with many amazing peers and participants organizing programs or just trying to make it through our classes. It was a light in my life that I am truly grateful for.
My second piece of advice I would give is it is okay to ask for help or tell your professors, peers, co-workers, or boss what is going on with your well-being. There have been many instances in my life throughout these last four years that have almost knocked me down without a way of getting back up. I tried to get through all of them alone because I was afraid of judgment or pity, but they started to reflect my character. Me not having the motivation or strength to get up for class looked like I did not care to go because no one knew what I was going through. Until one day my professor Rachel Keyworth saw right through me and asked me if I was okay. I had a choice to make, to lie because I was afraid of pity, or to tell the truth and clear the air. Choosing to tell my professor everything was one of the best decisions I have made. In that moment I realized professors are human too, they understand, sympathize, and help you even if it is something as small as a homework extension it can go a long way. I fought and continue to fight everyday for strength to keep going but acknowledging what you feel to people who are in your life or you work with is a first step. My own struggle and the guidance Rachel has given me has made me want to go into the mental health field. Knowing that something so small such as a “are you okay?” can make a difference in someone's life gives me the drive to bring more to people. I am not perfect and have my own flaws, but I have learned techniques to help manage, and who better to relate to participants than someone who has dealt with hardships themselves. So, speak up and speak out! It gets better!
Advice from Dani:
It is unbelievable how quickly four years of college will go by. I feel like it was just yesterday I was a shy, quiet freshman, with an undeclared major and no idea what I wanted to do with my life. Wow, has that changed! Now, as I am about to leave for internship, it’s important for me to look back on the last four years and think about what has changed and what I have learned. One of the biggest things I will take away from this experience, is to never be afraid to venture out of your comfort zone and try new things.
My journey to discovering the field of therapeutic recreation is the first story I have that began to teach me this valuable lesson. Not knowing what therapeutic recreation was before I started college, diving into this major was a big step for me (someone who usually likes to have everything planned out ahead of time!). Once I heard about this major from my academic advisor and a close friend, I began to realize that this field is something I was passionate about and could see myself practicing in the future. Allowing myself to be vulnerable and join this major when it was something so new to me, and then realizing that I love everything about this field, showed me that it’s okay to try new things and step outside of your comfort zone- it could even be life changing.
Another story of this lesson appearing during my time in college, is the discovery of my biggest interest in the field of therapeutic recreation. All throughout my time in the major, I was set in the idea that I wanted to work with kids or younger adults, and I wanted to be in the rehabilitation setting. I had no interest whatsoever in working with an elderly population, or in a long term care facility. However, when the opportunity presented itself, I decided to step out of my comfort zone again and complete my Practicum hours working with elderly patients in a long term and end of life care hospital. I didn’t expect to find it that interesting- but I was quickly proven wrong. I fell in love with the population and the setting. I now know that when I graduate, I would love working in that type of facility with elderly patients. If I didn’t step out of my comfort zone by taking that Practicum position, I never would’ve discovered that I had this type of passion.
Overall, if I could give future therapeutic recreation students one piece of advice, it would be to always try new things, never be afraid of new experiences, and don’t close the door to one path before you have really given it a chance. Even if it’s not something that you think you’ll have an interest in- it could surprise you, and honestly, it could change your life!
Advice from Micayla:
Looking back on the past few years so much has happened. If you had told me four years ago that I would have ended out where I am right now, I would never have believed you. All around college has been one of the most difficult periods of my life. When I started my freshman year, I was a bright eyed and bushy tailed seventeen-year-old who had everything planned out, and I thought I knew exactly who I was. I was wrong. I quickly figured out that I knew nothing about myself and that for as long as I could remember I had been working my butt off to be who I thought everyone else wanted me to be. After a couple of semesters, I also came to find that the major I was in was not the one for me.
At this time the only way I could describe how I was feeling was confused and lost, as I not only had no idea who I was but no idea what direction I wanted to go in life. Eventually, after a long period of confusion and frustration I would have a meeting with a professor that resulted in them recommending that I look into Therapeutic Recreation, and as soon as I did I knew it was for me. Joining the TR program has really allowed me to grow and learn more about myself than I ever thought possible. I have gotten to explore so many different topics and ideas that I had never previously had the chance to. I have also learned so much about the importance and benefits of being open-minded to trying new things in order to push the boundaries of my comfort zone. Looking back, I wouldn’t change anything as I truly do enjoy where I have ended up. That being said, there are a few things that I wish my younger self had known.
1. Plans are just plans; nothing more and nothing less. Some may work out perfectly and others may fall apart but that is just how it works.
2. It is okay not to have all the answers. Yes, we may all want to know everything but, you are in school to learn; it is okay to be unsure and to admit when you don’t know. Your professors are there to help you learn.
3. Put yourself out there! Join clubs, try new things, and take up as many different opportunities as possible. You can’t know if you like something or not if you don’t give it a shot and it allows you to meet so many new and interesting people.
4. Make the best of it! The time will fly by so make sure you make the best of that time. Use the resources available to you, they are there to make things better and easier for you.
Advice from G:
Well, here we are, we made it. Senior year, final semester. Final weeks of classes, and the last few final assignments I’ll have to submit before I start my next journey at my internship. These last 4 have been some of the greatest, the hardest, the most challenging and extremely impactful memories and times I’ve ever had. Between living away from home for the first time, late nights in the library, dinners in the dining hall and everything else, it was incredible. I can honestly sit here and write an entire essay about my experiences at Springfield and how it’s changed me, but today I am going to tell you about how taking risks can change your life.
During my sophomore year at Springfield, I was still in the Communications and Sciences Disorders program on the path to becoming a Speech Pathologist, but I started to lose my drive and motivation and knew this program wasn’t for me. When I approached my advisor at the time and started to express my feelings about transferring into another program, she looked me in the face and told me that it was for the better because I probably wouldn’t survive any longer. Wow. What a way to make me feel so crappy about myself. To think that I loved something so much and then in one second, it was all being thrown away. Well, even though it was the ending on my Speech Pathology path, it was just the beginning for another journey.
I will never forget the day I signed the paper to transfer into the Therapeutic Recreation major and how good I felt. It was like a huge weight being lifted off of my shoulders. I found a new passion and love for something that I’ve never even heard of, but I think that’s what motivated me even more. I wasn’t afraid, but instead excited to see where this new journey was going to take me and boy let me tell you, I was not disappointed.
Through the next two years, I discovered who I was as a person and what I needed to be successful in life. I accomplished things that I never could have imagined, including packing up my life and moving to Florida and interning at Walt Disney World as well as stepping up into many leadership roles on campus. TR has taught me to never be afraid and to take those risks, even if you fail. Before, failure was something I would grieve about, but now I have a completely different perspective on it. Let failure motivate you. Use what you lost and build from it, but never do it alone. Use others around you, even if it seems scary to ask. Every professor in this department has drilled in my head to speak up and ask, because how will they ever know you needed help if you didn’t ask.
Today, I leave you with this. Go out and do something that scares you; step out of those comfort zones. I guarantee something will happen to you that never would have before if you didn’t take the risk. When you get to your Senior year and are applying for internships, apply for one working with a population that you’ve never worked with before. Life's a climb everyone, but I promise the view is great when you get to the top. Stay hungry and always push yourself forward, even when times get tough. Remember, you are not alone, even when you feel it. To all my professors that will read this, Thank you. Thank you for shaping me into the woman I am today and showing me that things will never just be handed to you; you need to go out and fight for it.
Now go out there and do something magical! :)
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