Life of an MSOT student

Studying, studying, and studying some more!!!! Using my notes, powerpoints, books, note-cards, and internet for studying!

- Michelle

Checking Vital Signs!

Checking vital signs with my classmate Laura! Love how OT school is hands on!

- Michelle

Why Stockton?

As an incoming freshmen, I knew I wanted to be an occupational therapist. However, at that point I wasn't sure where I wanted to go for graduate school. I became an active member of the OT Club and was treasurer for all my undergraduate years. It allowed me to learn much more about the program and get to know some of the MSOT students. For years all I heard were positive comments about the program, the profession, the professors, and the students. Still, I wanted to learn more about other programs and applied to a couple other schools. When I received acceptance letters from those schools, it was not difficult for me to decline. I knew Stockton was the school for me. The day I received my acceptance letter from Stockton was one of the greatest days and I am still so thankful to be in such an amazing program!

I absolutely love the program. I am learning so much information every single day! Each semester you take 18 credits which is A LOT of work! We have class 4 days a week, which will soon turn into 5 days a week with field work.You will be studying every single day and you will be overwhelmed at times.  It's a very intense program but when you finish the program you will come out with so much useful knowledge clinically and academically. 

One of the things I love most is that every week we have guest speakers with different conditions that we are learning about such as bipolar, anxiety, and schizophrenia. The speakers help us understand their conditions better which I believe will be beneficial when I am a practicing occupational therapist. We work on a lot of projects, case studies, and papers in groups which is great because we all come from different backgrounds and can bounce ideas around. Not only do we work among each other we work on projects with the PT students! It helps us understand their profession better while working on interpersonal communication. All of our exams will benefit us in the long run because the professors take questions from the NBCOT exam. Once you finish the MSOT program you have to take the NBCOT exam to get your licences. I think it's so awesome that our professors are already preparing us! This is probably why our pass rate is so high in comparison to other programs. Additionally, the professors are so incredibly awesome. They are not only highly intelligent but they are very outgoing and personable. 

I feel that I am an advocate for the MSOT program at Stockton. I am President of the OT Club at Stockton. Anytime anyone asks me questions about the school or program I get so excited to tell them why it's the best decision I ever made! It's an amazing profession and Stockton is the best school! I would recommend it to everyone!

- Michelle

Group Project OVERLOAD

I have NEVER been a fan of group projects.  Starting in elementary school up to undergraduate studies, I have always dreaded the time when my teacher or professor said "Okay, for this assignment, we are going to work in groups."  I could feel my stomach turning and my hands getting sweaty as I hoped and prayed for hard-working, focused students.  

I am the first one to admit I am a Type A student, organized, high-strung, focused on the task at hand while taking control and making sure everything is perfectly completed days before the due date.  I like to be the leader of the group, checking everyone's work, and making sure it matches and exceeds the expectation of the rubric.  

Graduate School group projects prove to be much different.  Each and every one of my peers worked extremely hard to get into this program, they are focused, determined, conscientious students who prepare in advance for work.  For almost all of our CMDS assignments, we are placed into groups either organized by the students or pre-chosen by the professor.  

From Treatment & Therapy Plans, to ASHA Overview Presentations, Case Study Papers to raising a child together on "Virtual Child", we are asked to work together, communicate and understand one another to create mindful, insightful presentations, papers, and reports.  Working with these students has proved to be rewarding.  I am learning from my peers and they are learning from me.  We all come from different backgrounds, with the same passion for our field of study.  I am looking forward to learning from my peers, bouncing ideas off of them and for the first time in my student career, I can actually say I do not mind working in groups!

- Kaitlyn

A Day in the Life of a student in the Communication Disorders Master Program

After graduating from Richard Stockton College of New Jersey In May 2013, I decided to return to Stockton College to pursue my Masters Degree in Communication Disorders to further my Speech-Language Pathology knowledge and eventually become a Speech-Language Pathologist.

When I began this program, I didn't know what to expect.  I knew it would be harder than undergraduate studies, but I wasn't aware of what the work would be like; the professors were new, the information was new, my classmates were new.  I tried not to worry about the difficulty and amount of work until I was actually in the swing of things, relaxing all summer and working as a waitress to save up some money for this semester.

I was obviously very nervous starting the program, but my fear was alleviated once I started my classes, met my professors, peers, and started the work.  This is where it all would start, two and a half years of graduate studies and on my way to a Speech-Language Pathology career.

This semester, I am taking a total of 9 credits, three classes that each meet once a week on either Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday.  So three classes, only at night, only once a week, sounds like a piece of cake, right?  Wrong.  Pretty much every day I am reading at least two chapters for my upcoming classes, answering homework questions, or writing papers and reports.  When I am not reading or writing for my classes, I spend time reviewing my notes incase we have pop-quizzes, making note-cards to prepare for questions in class and trying to re-read my chapters incase I get randomly chosen in class to answer a question on the spot.  It is so important to read for each class because our professors want to be 100% confident that you understand the information and internalize it enough to explain it to the class and professor, and you WILL be put on the spot to do this in front of the entire class.

Don't get me wrong, I still make time for socializing; seeing my friends, going home to see my family, but I just have to budget my time and even my money more as the semester goes on.  Staying organized and planning my time helps me stay focused and one-step ahead in my classes.  It is important to not get too stressed, take a deep breath, take a step away from the work and enjoy yourself every now and then.  Going for walks, taking time to watch a little TV or listen to music has helped me relax a little between my workload.  Balance in your life is important for success.

(On a walk at Lake Fred, I am on the left :) )

Below, there is a picture of my planner for the month of October.  Each week day (different class) is organized by color-coordinated highlights for assignments due and and non-highlighted notes for readings due.  It is a little overwhelming, but with the help of organization, the support of my friends & family and a lot of coffee, I will do just fine!

- Kaitlyn

Stressed.. Here are a few tips to help

The workload & pressure in graduate school can lead us to feeling more stressed than ever.; especially after a nice relaxing summer.  Cortisol is our stree hormer and many of us have an increase in cortisol due to our levels of stress.  Luckily, there are natural ways to relieve your stress! 

1.  Prevention: The best way to deal with stress is to prevent it.  Allow yourself enough time to keep your stress levels low.  Try reading a book, listening to music, taking a bath, going for a walk, or anything that you personally enjoy.

2.  Eliminate caffeine intake: If you are dealing with 2. Eliminate caffeine intake. If you are dealing with stress or anxiety, try drinking decaf instead. Caffeine can increase levels of cortisol.

3.  Exercise:  This is my biggest stress relief!  When exercising you have hormones released that make you feel good such as endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin.  Easy as that!

4.  Supplements: Vitamin C is very good for stress responses because it decreases the amount of coritsol released.  Additionally, it is beneficial to our immune system so we are able to better combat illnesses!

5.  Eat a well-balanced diet: People who are stressed out typically crave food high in fat, sugar, and salt.  How many times did you come home from a long stressful day and turn to ice cream?  Some foods one should eat in roder to help reduce stress include avocados, bananas, carrots, blueberries, almonds, fatty fish, and yogurt.  

6.  Spend time outdoors: This is another great way to lower cortisol levels!

- Michelle

People's First Language

Alot of us are going into career fields where we are going to be working with a variety of different people.  It is important to be conscious and aware of how we say things and to make sure we are politically correct.  We need to set examples for those who are not knowledgeable on the person's first language.  You can start by tossing out words like "disabled" or "retarded" from your vocabulary.  Phrases like "wheelchair-bound" are also not politically correct.  We should say a person who uses a wheelchair.  By making a conscious effort to use person-first language and encouraging others to do the same, it can quickly change our mindset about disabilities.  Put the person first, NOT the disability!

- Michelle

I NEED COFFEE. Coffee, for me and probably hundreds and hundreds of you out there, has been a NECESSITY for every single morning. I started drinking coffee during high school every few days, then almost every day in the first few years of my undergraduate studies, to every single morning and throughout the day in the last year of undergraduate and the beginning of graduate studies. For me, it is absolutely essential to begin my mornings and get me through the day. But what really are the good and possibly bad effects of coffee? It is something we really need?

The Good:

1. The caffeine in the coffee provides the drinker with the morning or mid-afternoon pick up they might be looking for. Now, although caffeine may have a bad reputation for being addicting, it is also proven to help protect against Parkinson’s Disease and even depression.

2. Coffee contains soluable cellulose fibers that absorb more nutrients and keep cholestrol in check.

3. Two or more cups of coffee can prevent gout, skin cancer, and some researchers even believe that coffee can also help protect against breast cancer.

4. If you are a gym-goer, drinking coffee can help ease your gym pain. Drinking a cup of coffee an hour before working out can cut pain in about half. Drinking coffee AFTER going to the gym can also ease pain.

5. Coffee has proven to keep the drinker alert and focused.

The Bad & The Somewhat Ugly:

1. Unforuntately, most of also know the laxative effect of coffee. I think that may be all I need to address for that point.

2. The caffeine in coffee can negatively effect sleeping patterns, especially when consumed before regular sleep times.

3. When combined with acetaminophen (a pain killer), coffee can harm your liver.

4. TECHNICALLY coffee can KILL! Caution: don’t overdo it with coffee, because like any other drug,

caffeine can kill you when consumed in overload. So, all in all, coffee is harmless when consumed in moderation. I still plan on drinking at least two cups a day, maybe more. I can openly say, I am addicted to coffee.

- Kaitlyn

Things to Remember

1. Balance is the most important thing. Find it. 2. Your program didn’t make a mistake with admissions. You deserve to be where you are, don’t get discouraged. 3. Be realistic about what you can achieve in 24 hours. Some assignments will take longer than you think. Give yourself enough time to complete it. Don’t procrastinate. 4. Fuel your body and eat properly. 5. You are fortunate. You are among the lucky few that got into the program. 6. The simplest pleasures may be the most heartening. 7. Find the joy!

- Michelle

Lessons to Learn in Graduate School

Time Management is essential in graduate school! As an undergraduate student, we all should have had some sort of time management skills or we wouldn't have made it to where we are. As an undergraduate student I was able to take 21 credits, have an officer position in the OT club and Equestrian club, all while finding time for fun! When I got to grad school, it was a whole new lesson I had to learn all over again. You have to find time for when you are going to do homework, readings, papers, meet with classmates for group projects, meet with professors, do field work hours, and somewhere in between have time for friends and family. It may seem like a lot but you can do it! It will just take some time to adjust to. Everything will get done. With careful planning and less procrastination, everything will get done. It might mean some late nights or early mornings. It might mean working ahead. It might mean doing homework on a Friday night. It will get done and it will be worth it. Everything will turn out alright. I cannot tell you how many times I said, “I’m going to fail this ___” to my family and friends. In the end, I ended up doing great! You will pass your classes and move onto the next semester and year. You just might need some reminders that it will all be okay. Take time to learn and observe. You can only learn so much from graduate school. When you’re out in the field, carefully observe others and take notes. Additionally, attend conferences and lectures if possible because research is constantly evolving and changing! You don’t have to be perfect. No one expects you to be perfect. Being perfect is an unrealistic expectation. You will make mistakes and you will learn from them. You will love what you’re doing. Just look at the number of different classes you will have to take and how different they are from each other. Take as much as you can in. Personally, I love what I’m learning and doing in graduate school. It makes me so excited for what the futures holds for me. Find that spark and passion and you will soar!

- Michelle

This is the Beginning of a Beautiful Blog

The Stockton College Graduate blog will bring insight to the lives of two graduate students, Kaitlyn & Michelle.  Kaitlyn will be studying Communication Disorders at the Masters level and Michelle will be studying Occupational Therapy at the Masters level, as well.  We are both excited to show you what life as a graduate studies student at the Richard Stockton College of NJ is really like! 

Stick around for some great blogs!

- Kaitlyn & Michelle