Observing an actual OT treatment session is like putting myself one step closer to being an intern. It’s nerve wracking because I can already feel the pressure of having to not just pass my subjects but also to feel and savor what it is like to be a real occupational therapist. While I was visualizing myself conducting an actual treatment session, I can’t help but wonder what frames of reference and intervention strategies will use? Will I be able to extract from my memory the appropriate intervention technique to be used?

The first group was a bunch of girls. They were seven in the group and I was assigned to assist two of them on their selling and money management task. They were able to sell their crafts as well as ‘endorsed’ their products by using the script that the interns provided them. Although sad to say, some of them were having a hard time maintaining eye contact while speaking. The good thing was they were able to finish selling all the items although some customers complained that the notebooks were not that cost – effective, or in short expensive. The second group was composed of five boys. Almost the same task with the first group except that what they were tasked to sell were cards made from specialty papers, which were actually dried leaves entrapped within a tissue paper. This time I find it a little bit difficult when being confronted with the aggressive patients. In general, aside from the fact that they were all high functioning, I have observed that they were having difficulties such as initiating spontaneous conversations, maintaining gaze when speaking to other people, sustaining speech in completing sentences, expressing appropriate affect, sharing self with others through speech, and responding appropriately to other people’s reaction whenever a peculiar behavior is exhibited.

Based on what I’ve observed, I’ve learned that there’s no such thing as an “absolute” technique for a specific case. A lot of treatment procedures can be applied depending on how confident one is on the effectiveness of his/her chosen intervention. This is where clinical reasoning comes in. In order to be effective, one should have at least a combination of the following: a rich supply of knowledge about the condition and the intervention to be applied + exuding confidence. While observing, I’m already putting myself in the shoes of the OT who is carrying out the treatment session. I’m having an imaginary “epistaxis”. I find it difficult to handle the patient at first because I think that I wasn’t that confident to handle things on my own. But I did make good use of the time allotted for me to observe and assist. Factors such as being prepared and having an ample amount of knowledge about the condition could have affected my interaction with the client/caregiver and the performance/application of the treatment intervention. I’d prepare myself for the next fieldwork by reviewing and internalizing my MRL and OT notes.

When I was in high school, I fell so deeply inlove with a “mystique” guy. I used to call him Cutie RJ. Cutie because he’s just 2 – 3 inches taller than me (I guess) and mystique because he captivated me in a lot of ways. At first I thought it was just a power tripping so I went with the flow. But as days go by, I became fascinated with him – his eyes, his cute dimples, his voice, his smell, and above all, his attitude and sense of humor.

          We first met at a common friend’s birthday celeb – a swimming party. We were teased because I was clumsy way back then (I’m always being caught red – handed, by him of course, on a “fish catch” game). We’ve undergone this “sabay” stuff and all. Almost everyday, he waits on the front gate of our school. He complains that mosquitoes are having a feast on him, but still he waits for me until our so called extension class ends. When I hear his jokes, all my frustrations and tiredness fade away. He was indeed my super shock absorber. I can’t enumerate all the happy moments that we spent together maybe because the thought of them only makes me regret and also because I can’t retrieve all of them from the specific Brodmann’s area where all my memories reside.

          This may sound a little bit corny but I’m proud to say that he’s worth all the heartaches (nociception, palpitations, and all the -tions that I know,hehe!). Now I believe that you will only realize someone’s worth when he’s not yours anymore, or worse when he’s already with someone else. It’s all my fault, I pushed him away…Anyway, here’s the top ten memories that I’ll always cherish, until the clock stops ticking (excluding technicalities such as battery empty of course).

Thank you for:

1. Helping me passed my song analysis. If I only knew that you sacrificed a lot in exchange of my grade. I feel so guilty!

2. Introducing me to your family as your first girlfriend (*blush!*).

3. Dedicating a song for me when your band played during one of the school programs.

4. Attending weekday masses with me before the flag ceremony starts in the morning (though the mass is almost done).

5. Sending me heartfelt - written cards, cuddly teddy bears, perfumes, and chocolates.

6. Inspiring me to keep fighting academically (thanks sa support dude, I made it!).

7. Touring me around Camiguin Island. It was my first and last time actually.

8. Teaching me how to play soccer and guitar.

9. Visiting me at home on boring weekends.

10. Making me feel special (always!) and making my high school life close to perfect.

• Go to mass with me every Sundays • Deliver food and medicine when I get sick • Surprise me with a Holland Tulip™ flower with matching chocolates • Go on a dinner date with me (all – expense paid by you of course,hehe!) • Take pictures of us together • Go videoke tripping and sing like drunkards • Flood your inbox with nonsense messages from me • Flood your gallery with our pictures • Hold my hand like a kid…+++ • Wear pink even if you super dislike the color • Above all, understand me…my shortcomings… and accept me as ME… But I don’t own you…a part of you still belongs to someone else…so before I get emotionally attached to you, I think its best to let you go…I did love you…I still do…