I'm Back and I Have Done It!

Well, it is finally official. I can now call myself an occupational therapy second year student.......which means I have finished my first, entire year. Can I just say it feels absolutely amazing! When July 1 hit, a huge wave a relief hit me and I do not think I had been so grateful to be done with anything, as I was with this school year......in all my life. In addition, I do not think I have ever been forced to learn so much material in such a short time frame, like I had been expected to do since last September until July. This seriously was the hardest school year of my life. Lets just say gross anatomy and neuroanatomy were both two, HUGE, humbling experiences for me. Though, I conquered and dominated....and yes, I feel pretty cool!

Sadly, not much happened during the last two semesters of school. School literally dominated my life. Besides my church calling (Relief Society Counselor at the time) that was all I was able to focus on. Though, I was still able to embark on some crazy, random adventures with classmates, friends, and family..........such as getaway from school trips to Park City, chanting "hare krishna" at the Festival of Colors, taking my gnome man out for some pranks, sleepovers with Katelyn and Allison,......JIMMER........., dancing, trips to home in Idaho, and much more!

LOVE it

Earlier this week, one of my new professors, Dr. Costa, provided my class with one of the best descriptions of the difference between physical therapy and occupational therapy. Really, there are many ways you could explain the difference between the two professions, though, I REALLY liked hers which was:


"The difference is, physical therapist teach people how to walk.......occupational therapist teach how to dance."

This quote, obviously, is a metaphor (really, OTs don't do dance lessons), BUT it is an excellent way of describing how both professions can compliment each other. Also that OTs can help an individual, with a disability or condition, advance and expand a daily skill into something elegant and to view it as such. I think from now on when someone asks me what occupational therapy is or how do they differ from physical therapists, this will be my new answer! I LOVE dancing, I LOVE the fact that one day I will be an occupational therapist, and I LOVE this answer! :)

New Year's: Look Not behind Thee

Here's to a new year, a new year filled with new joys, new friends, new dreams, new hopes, new laughs, new jokes, new clothes and shoes (ha), new trials, new opportunities, new chapters in our lives, new challenges, new experiences, new classes (school wise), new ADVENTURES, and new memories!

May we all have faith, strength, a positive outlook, and endurance to press forward and look to the new year and not behind us (that's funny I say that cause my last blog post was a 2010 reflection...haha) but anyways................HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2010.....You Were Pretty Awesome

Here's to you, 2010! You were a fabulous year and so much happened........here are some of my favorite moments, memories, and events! My top 10 of 2010!

1-Talent Performance Director: Spring semester I had the privledge to be a director in the BYU-I activities program. I worked with Sister Powell, Shanae Lewis, and Vince Haley who are all so great, so fun, and taught me so much! I also had an amazing board filled with helpful coordinators, talented managers, awesome committee members, and a fabulous assistant (Miss Katleyn Ericson). Thanks all of you for being so wonderful!

2-Getting Voted For and Performing in the BYU-I 'Best Of Show': A bunch of dancing friends and myself performed an awesome 80's medly dance in the "We've Got the 80's Show" and were voted to perform in the "Best Of Show" for the end of the semester. ALSO, Katelyn, Allison, Matt, and I made a stop motion video for the BYU-I Film Festival, which too was voted into the 'Best Of Show'! SO FUN! What a great semester show to end on, especially due to the fact the we had so many other friends who made it in!

Here's our little video that won the BYU-I Film Festival!

3-Graduating from Brigham Young University- Idaho: I loved every minute there!

4-Traveling Europe with BYU-Idaho Humanities Department- One of the BEST things I have ever done. We visited England, France, Italy, Austria, and Spain. Absolutely amazing!

5-Moose HUNTS (A.K.A. Saturday Adventures with Michelle): That's right, I am from Idaho and still have yet to have an awesome moose sighting! Some of our favorite places to visit and to be on the look out for our moose are Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Jackson Hole, and Park City and I must say that Michelle is one of the BEST adventure buddies anyone could have!

6-Visiting Old Roommates and Friends in Good Ol' Rexburg: Oh I miss you all, our prank wars, blasting and dancing to "Here in Your Arms" in my car with all the windows rolled down with the gals, random chats at 2:30 am (which most made the quote board), our awesome quote board, eating otter pops on the curb, Nesquick parties, banana pancake parties, making toilet bombs with Brother Kerbs, and all our other extravaganzas! GOOD TIMES!

7-Trip to Zion National Park: My brother took me for my first time canyoneering and it was so awesome. After, my body felt like jello and going down stairs was a trial, but it was worth it.

8-Moving to Salt Lake City, UTAH for School: So far, it's been a blast

9-Attending General Conference....LIVE....For My First TIME!: Caitlin and I were lucky to get into the Saturday morning session of the October General Conference and it was fabulous!

10-Completing my FIRST Semester of Graduate School: But hey, at least I am one semester closer to being an occupational therapist!