As the title of this post suggests, a considerable amount of time has passed since I've last updated you all. My apologies. Life happened.
It is fairly safe to say that most of you expect me to talk about how crazy-busy my last semester was. Well, you're in luck. No surprises here today. So what is so special about the past six months or so? Everything.
Returning from Omaha was strange and humbling. Having only one year left of classes, a new roommate, and my brother still living in Colorado, I felt more than ever that it was the beginning of the end of my time here. Perpetuating these feelings, I began the search for a 4th year placement and ended up spending nearly half of my time during the past six months traveling.
For those of you who do not know, the AuD program consists of three years of academic coursework and short-term clinical internship followed by a full-year clinical externship during the 4th year of the program. This "4th year" can be spent anywhere offering externship training.
Because I have chosen to specialize in pediatric audiology, I began to look into children's hospitals across the country who have strong audiology programs. Traveling to and interviewing with hospitals in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, North Carolina, and Washington DC, I have decided to accept the position at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. I am thoroughly excited about this opportunity, as Cincinnati Children's is the #1 Pediatric Audiology facility in the nation. Come the end of May, I will be packing up and moving to Cincinnati, OH for at least one year. Don't you worry, my mom gave me a winter coat for Christmas :)
As if that wasn't exciting enough to go through during the busiest semester yet, I have been extremely busy with my position on the Board of Directors for the Student Academy of Audiology (SAA). I've had the chance to work closely with the founder of the Special Olympics Healthy Hearing initiative brainstorming ways in which we can boost audiology students' involvement in volunteering for Special Olympics events.
Taking the chance to co-author an article appearing in a publication of the American Academy of Audiology and creating events at the Academy's annual convention in Chicago, IL this April, I have been working hard to increase awareness of the relationship between SAA and Special Olympics and encourage involvement of both students and professionals. This experience has certainly been beneficial to me as a future professional, but more importantly, it has been inspiring on a more personal level, as I have been able to combine two of my greatest passions, service and people with special needs, with my profession.
Other noteworthy happenings since last July include an audiologic mission trip to Guaymas, Mexico with the Rotary Club. In two days, we served over 385 patients, fitting 150 hearing aids on children and adults with hearing loss. I also attended one of the most fantastic pediatric audiology conferences of all time in Chicago where I had the chance to present some of my research from this summer and rub shoulders with some truly incredible ear-loving people.
Of course, all work and no play sounds rather boring...so I had to make sure to throw in a little fun as well! In September, I visited Sara in Seattle and celebrated my mom's 50th birthday with the girls in Laughlin in October. As soon as the semester was over and my decisions about next year had been made, I spent some time in Missouri and Arkansas relaxing before the craziness of Christmas began.
I know what you're thinking. And yes, it was just as exhausting as it sounds. As the winter break is long gone and this next semester is getting ready to explode into full-force...I find comfort in knowing that this is it. This is the last semester. Three more months and I will be finishing up finals and packing up my life for the next adventure.
But stay tuned, the next three months are sure to bring some excitement, I'm sure.
Until next time....
It is fairly safe to say that most of you expect me to talk about how crazy-busy my last semester was. Well, you're in luck. No surprises here today. So what is so special about the past six months or so? Everything.Returning from Omaha was strange and humbling. Having only one year left of classes, a new roommate, and my brother still living in Colorado, I felt more than ever that it was the beginning of the end of my time here. Perpetuating these feelings, I began the search for a 4th year placement and ended up spending nearly half of my time during the past six months traveling.
For those of you who do not know, the AuD program consists of three years of academic coursework and short-term clinical internship followed by a full-year clinical externship during the 4th year of the program. This "4th year" can be spent anywhere offering externship training.Because I have chosen to specialize in pediatric audiology, I began to look into children's hospitals across the country who have strong audiology programs. Traveling to and interviewing with hospitals in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, North Carolina, and Washington DC, I have decided to accept the position at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. I am thoroughly excited about this opportunity, as Cincinnati Children's is the #1 Pediatric Audiology facility in the nation. Come the end of May, I will be packing up and moving to Cincinnati, OH for at least one year. Don't you worry, my mom gave me a winter coat for Christmas :)
As if that wasn't exciting enough to go through during the busiest semester yet, I have been extremely busy with my position on the Board of Directors for the Student Academy of Audiology (SAA). I've had the chance to work closely with the founder of the Special Olympics Healthy Hearing initiative brainstorming ways in which we can boost audiology students' involvement in volunteering for Special Olympics events.
Taking the chance to co-author an article appearing in a publication of the American Academy of Audiology and creating events at the Academy's annual convention in Chicago, IL this April, I have been working hard to increase awareness of the relationship between SAA and Special Olympics and encourage involvement of both students and professionals. This experience has certainly been beneficial to me as a future professional, but more importantly, it has been inspiring on a more personal level, as I have been able to combine two of my greatest passions, service and people with special needs, with my profession.
Other noteworthy happenings since last July include an audiologic mission trip to Guaymas, Mexico with the Rotary Club. In two days, we served over 385 patients, fitting 150 hearing aids on children and adults with hearing loss. I also attended one of the most fantastic pediatric audiology conferences of all time in Chicago where I had the chance to present some of my research from this summer and rub shoulders with some truly incredible ear-loving people.
Of course, all work and no play sounds rather boring...so I had to make sure to throw in a little fun as well! In September, I visited Sara in Seattle and celebrated my mom's 50th birthday with the girls in Laughlin in October. As soon as the semester was over and my decisions about next year had been made, I spent some time in Missouri and Arkansas relaxing before the craziness of Christmas began. I know what you're thinking. And yes, it was just as exhausting as it sounds. As the winter break is long gone and this next semester is getting ready to explode into full-force...I find comfort in knowing that this is it. This is the last semester. Three more months and I will be finishing up finals and packing up my life for the next adventure.
Until next time....
