I'm home from day 2 of school and thought I'd do a lil updating. Yesterday was a long day but a really good one! We had a shortened orientation in the morning since the all-day one was cancelled on Friday due to the hurricane! It was alot of information but just made me more excited about the program....there are so many different areas of research going on by different faculty members-which is why I think it's a huge benefit to be in a big program...our program is pretty big for PsyD students but there are only 20 total other PhD students...by mid Sept. all Phd students have to sign on board with a professor for our first research practicum..only one credit hour-it's basically to get us right involved on some study.....There are a few that I'm pondering-I'm going to use my day off tomorrow to look over them more, look at our clinic's site and see if I can find out more, and then meet with the different professors of my top choices on Thursday before I decide.....I also have to decide soon whether I want to apply for a concentration..I definitely am already enrolled in a TRACK which is child/adolescent specialization but I can also select my electives and apply for a concentration--you have to be accepted into it and I'd find out by mid November.....The two that I'm considering are neuropsych and health psychology..the weird thing about both is that I'm quite pumped about some areas of the branch but can't see myself practicing in other areas....like for neuropsych, I'm interested in the newer link between mind/body..the different brain wirings for introverts/extroverts....the connection between frontal lobe development and juvenile delinquents.....different therapies that work to counteract abnormal brain development...BUT I'm not really interested in endless assessment or extensive work with severe traumatic brain injuries. Then with health psych which I'm leaning more toward...I'm extremely interested in the connection between rehabilitation, disability, and mental health...but a lil wary on the focus on addiction...But the more I think about it-there is a huge connection...substance abuse is a huge often untreated problem among many people with disabilities and addiction is also present in the lives of many kids in juvenile justice programs--both populations I can see myself working with SO as of now, I'll probably apply for the health concentration..I just have to look into what sort of practicum placements I do under that concentration...Then there are a ton of student groups within the grad psychology dept..which we are in our own huge building so it's a neat lil community....The one I'm most pumped about it the student advocacy group which deals with legislation and advocacy on mental health issues...They work with the community to destigmatize mental illness and seeking therapy...They also work on political issues that face our profession--like the new psychopharmacology priveleges....Our dean said that it is looking VERY likely that by the time we graduate most states will allow psychologists to write prescriptions for psychotropic drugs...which is really good for $$ in the field but is pretty much pushing psychiatrists out of business...Managed care has realized the trend that they often see patients for only a few minutes and then bill insurance BIG $$ for their diagnosis and prescription..managed care is seeing the research and realizing from a business end that they can pay less $ per hour and get both treatment and prescription from one central person.....Florida and California are expected to sign this into law anytime...four other states already have.
There are also student organizations within APA (American Psychological Assn) that are really active at Nova. They just had over 30 other grad students (2nd years and ups) get back from the annual conference in DC. I saw a friend that I made at interview day, Allison-a fellow wheeler and a second year in the program-and she asked if I'd like to join her researching and maybe making a presentation on issues facing people with disabilities.........I was QUITE pumped about that! and can't wait to talk to her more about it....So it's a pretty exciting time. I'm just trying to stay really organized and figure out what I want to get involved with the most...There's already a TON of reading but so far everything has been interesting--even ethics this morning which was an amazing feat! So...I'm already VERY happy as a Nova Knight!
Things are moving along with NYLN too.(the national youth leadership network)....I'm on two committees-vice chairing the public information committee where our main project for the past few months has been getting a newsletter together written by and for the youth in our network (young leaders with disabilities)..It has taken FOREVER and been a total learning experience....but after all he ups and downs.It'll be out in the next couple weeks! YEAH! Just in time for us to start working on the fall issue....I'm actually writing the letter seeking submissions tonight. This one will go better though I think-I've got new tricks in mind!:-)
So that's a lil recap of the life o Kara..Tomorrow is my day off and I'm going to try and get some reading done and look into applying for a few leadership grants I've heard about lately...Then Thursday I have class all morning and all afternoon..one of these days I gotta find the disability services office too. Ya know-have a wheeler reunion. Everything on the campus is so nice-I'm just trying to learn it in pieces so I have some idea where I am!
OH before I go..I forgot about the terrrrrible news on our backyard..yesterday Adam was home and heard a bunch of commotion-only to find people DROP KICKING our fence down..turns out so many of the fences in our apt. complex were damaged by the storm that they are knocking THEM ALL down to put up new ones...what makes me a lil fiesty is that I don't know why we were the first ones! This happened Monday and most people still have their fences.....Meanwhile..poor poor Bailey and Obie are QUITE distraught about their yard. They have to go out on a leash everytime...who knows what crazed dogs are roaming about ready to gulp my Bunk down! So hopefully we'll have a fence soon...not too hopeful though!
That's it for now!
Kara
