First day of work!

I’m going to LOVE this! That’s what keeps going through my head. Monday was my first day at my new job at Tri-County Special Education Association as a Physical Therapist’s Assistant. It was awesome.

One reason it’s awesome is just the sense of being a professional, a real adult professional. I can’t believe I’m no longer a student and knowing that I worked hard for  this degree, set goals, and reached them feels wonderful.

Other than that, I love the people I’m working with. The Physical Therapist I’ll be working under is so sweet and a really good mentor. The other PTA’s, one in particular, are the kind motherly types. One of them is always smiling. I’m convinced she couldn’t say a mean thing about anyone if her life depended on it. The other is more serious, but in a fun, dry humor type of way. That’s the PT department, but the rest of the people there, the Occupational therapists, Speech Pathologists, Psychologist, secretaries etc. are also all very nice people. That’s what gives the office a great atmosphere.

It’s also very professional at TCSEA. Things are done efficiently and ethically (it helps that the director is a strong Christian).

Anyway, Monday was only an office day. We had two really long meetings and did a lot of paperwork, arranging the office, sifting through equipment, and, for me, getting to know the computer system and meeting people. And, for the rest of this week, it’s up to us whether we want to come in or not. I’m going today to join Dorene, the PT in a training for one of the kids I’ll be working with, and I’ll probably go tomorrow to look up charts and get organized. Next week is when we’ll really start seeing kids.

I’m not nervous. I’m going to be under the supervision of one of the PTA’s (the smiley one, Jennifer) and Dorene for the first 5-6 weeks (or however long is needed, I don’t think I’ll need more than 3 weeks to get into the swing of things) so, really there’s not much pressure on me. They know I’m a new graduate and, although I’m more familiar with the school setting than most, there is a lot they don’t teach you in school about pediatrics.

What I’m most excited for is to meet the kids I’ll be working with. I’ve seen Mom and other therapists in schools develop this bond with their students that is quite amazing. I’ve even experienced it myself when I had a clinical rotation at the school Schramm in Pekin. It was so hard to leave those kids; they taught me so much every day. They are not blessed with good bodies and good minds like we are. Some are deformed, too weak to perform like normal kids, some cannot speak, some cannot move but are aware of their differences, but they go on and learn to enjoy life. I’ll never forget the way one of the children lit up every time his therapist would walk in the door. He loved her and that love gave him joy. These kids are amazing and I just can’t wait to begin working with them and growing relationships with them. I really do feel passionate about this job, something I never dreamed would happen.