Why did you choose this course?

You have a personal answer. But to tell it to others is something else, isn't it?

Yeah, I have ideals, I have dreams, I am motivated - but till I really make it, without disillusionment and without a new hunger for monetary rewards, I would not have a good answer.

When that day comes, I would have a genuine answer.

Till that day comes, my answer would be: Because I like it.

Fooji is very good friend of Ennie, the founder of Upside-Downs. He assumed he has the right to share in the pride of training to serve in healthcare and services for the needy, just like Ennie. Occasionally, he would guest-blog here some his thoughts regarding services, volunteerism, special needs and the elderly. God willing, :)

WHY ARE YOU IN THIS COURSE?

This is what my lecturer asked out of the blue before she started her lecture on stuttering. We were all taken aback.  I mean...we are already in our 3rd year of Speech Therapy. Isn't it 2 years late of asking us this question?

I tried to recall why I am in this course. It evoked a range of emotions within me. If I were to asked to answer, it would be "Because I think God wants me to be here." Fortunately or unfortunately I was not asked to answer. But a few of my coursemates did answer.

In my batch, only 2 person out this as 1st choice. One of them is yours truly. The other one is a mature student who was working in the physiotherapy department. What about the rest? Well, it seems like most of them were "thrown into" this course.

Till recently, speech therapy is a 2nd rate course. Nobody wants it because
1) Those who are interested in healthcare, wants to do medicine
2) What is speech therapy, by the way?

There's just not much exposure to this course or any other health science courses such as occupational therapy, optometry, dietetics and so on. Most people seem to think that medicine is the only healthcare related course.

Can't blame the students. If it weren't for New Horizons, I will be asking "What's speech therapy by the way?"

Fortunately or unfortunately, it seems that the prospect after graduating from this course attracts more and more applicants.  It's in demand and you can work in hospitals, with NGO's  or oepn your own clinic.  And the money's not bad.

Many were still unsure what they are really going to do when they were accepted. However, one observation that I have made. No matter what background we came from, what brings us into this course - whether by accident ot attraction, eventually most will end up enjoying doing this course.

I guess the most important thing is not the past, but the process and thereafter.

CLINIC

It's what we call our therapy session with our clients. Started my clinics last sem with one client. This new sem, I have 2 clients, which means 2 clinic sessions.

So, now with different supervisors for each client, also means having to adjust my some of my ways to suit their style and also to learn more new things. It's quite difficult in the beginning. I get so stressed working round the clock. I have clinic sessions on Monday and Wednesday. After Monday's session, I have to prepare for Wednesday's clinic - which includes preparing teaching materials. After Wednesday, I have to start working on my session plans for both days' clinic, to be handed on Friday. Then weekends are for preparing therapy materials for Monday clinic (I usually only get my Wed session plan on Mon). And this might involve shopping if I need extra toys or cardboard, etc. It's like a vicious cycle! And all these exclude initial assessment report and therapy goal report.

I've gone through 4 weeks of clinic. And things are getting better. I'm getting more adjusted to this schedule and most importantly, not getting myself unneccesary stressed! And also another important thing - I'm enjoying myself.

Both clients are challenging in different ways. A is with language and speech delay, very moody and only co-operate if she like the activities. D has hearing impairment, a very good and obedient boy but has difficulty in learning due to his poor listening skills. Both of them challenge me to be more creative and to think of how to help them to learn.  And I'm really learning a lot here. I am getting more confident with clinic sessions now, even with superivors' eyes noting my every move, speech, manner and goodness knows what else.

Exam's coming up in 2 weeks. I haven't studied yet! Well, really need to focus on my studies as well.

THANK YOU
 
Once again, I want to thank my very good friend, Fooji for helping me deal with the construction of this site. What would my blog site be without him? And he's been very kind to offer to contribute some stories on special children.
 
So, here I am to welcome a new writer to this blog.  Let me introduce him first. He's a former classmate of mine when we were in Form 6.  Together with 2 other friends, Szel and Kok Ming, we volunteered in New Horizons after STPM.  And what a memorable time we had there.
 
Fooji is a 4th year medical student in UM, currently in Klang. He once managed ikanbakar.blogspot.com but has closed down the site, for what reason, I forgot to ask. But he's concentrating on ipohtauges.blogspot.com, a site whose members consist of classamates from Form 6.
 
Fooji is one person whom I enjoy reading his writings very much. I find him to be a very sincere and witty writer. And with his contributions to this blog, I'm sure it will be much more interesting.
 
Thank you and welcome Fooji!