The new semester has begun. My new group of second year physical therapy students looks great. We have started off really well. Yesterday, we met for the first time. I really look forward to that first day of school every year. It is almost like Christmas for me...I have trouble sleeping the night before because I am so excited to go and "see what I got." It looks like I "got" a lot of great students. That first day everyone is on their best behavior and trying to see what they are in for. Yesterday we did some ice-breakers so that I could get to know the students a little better. It is always fun and enjoyable. I heard a lot about how hard working and helpful just about everyone is...I hope it continues through my time with them. I even heard about something to do with eating cat poop. I didn't really delve into this, I just left well enough alone. While I feel like I am a pretty curious and inquisitive person, there are certain things that I really don't want to know.
I gave my yearly discourse on respect and the responsibility of being a doctoral student. I think that students should live up to the title of being a Doctor of Physical Therapy. Many students went through similar schooling and did not receive the same title, so I like to remind the students of this with the hopes of pushing them to go a little farther, stand a little taller, study a little longer, try a little harder, and comport themselves a little better. I have great confidence that they will make me proud.
Today in lab we spent time getting to know the spine. We talked about surface landmarks and identified every spinous process with pen and marker on everyone's backs. It was great to see all the marked up students with ink from the top of their spines to the bottom. I really need to take a picture of all the markings (some had more than others).
Tomorrow I am in the clinic. It is nice to go from teaching about physical therapy to practicing physical therapy and back again. I love that about my situation. I am a better teacher because of my time in the clinic and I am a better clinician because of my time in the classroom.
