Brittany's Blurb

As I get ready to start my senior year I really feel like the entire world is open to me. While that makes numerous opportunities available and excites me about exploring what it is I want to do, it is a bit overwhelming. Do I want to go to grad school? Where? What should I study? Do I want to get a job? Where? So many questions! Though I still have the rest of the year (or at least until Christmas to apply to grad programs), it takes a conscious effort to enjoy where I am and know that when its time for me to make a decision I’ll know what one to make. The good thing is that there are a lot of things that I know I don’t want to do, so I can rule those out!

For the past two weeks I had an internship at an orthapaedic center. It was a wonderful experience! I was able to spend a lot of time with the physical therapists which really solidified what I learned in my rehabilitation class as well as gave me knew views on many of the rehab protocols that we follow. The very first day I was there a patient who was 2 weeks out of an ACL reconstruction came in walking fine with no brace or crutches. That may not strike you as that impressive, but it was! Everything that I have learned says that at that point they should still be walking with crutches and wearing a knee brace. I think it is so beneficial to see different ways of doing things. It really helps you reason why you do things the way you do and whether or not there is a better way to do them. While I was there I also got to watch 4 shoulder surgeries and 5 knee surgeries. I have heard what goes on during an ACL reconstruction, but seeing it actually happen and seeing what goes on during rotator cuff repair really helped me understand why rehab is so painful and why it is so important to give the body time to heal.

After being in the clinic setting I don’t think that is what I want to pursue, but I would never have known that for sure without having had the internship. Not to mention all that I learned really made the time valuable. I guess the more you are able to experience different things, the more you can decipher what you enjoy and what you do not enjoy. During my senior year of high school I remember feeling so much pressure to have my life figured out. Deciding on a school and major was a pretty tough decision. I had no idea that it would be so much more difficult when graduating from college! But, even though I am in the midst of making these decisions and it is a challenge, it is also really exciting. I know that I am on the brink of the rest of my life and the end of this part of my life. This year is going to fly by. The world is waiting.

Have a great day!

Posted in: on Friday, August 22, 2008 at at 5:57 PM 0 comments  

I feel that my future as a model has officially commenced! Yesterday Aly and I had our first photo shoot as UNC Bloggers. Granted, it is a little different than a model shoot, but it’s a baby step in the right direction (or it would be if I actually wanted to be a model…). We had a blast! Flowers, benches, trees, dogs, bees, we used all of them in our pictures and, well, all I can say is watch out, Tyra, watch out!

But seriously, it was so much fun! Aly is hilarious to start out with and the photographer was great! He even let us take pictures of each other (so if the modeling thing doesn’t work out, I’ve got the whole photography experience to fall back on!). After taking the pictures we went back to his office and he showed us how he touches up people’s eyes to make them jump out at you. It is amazing what huge differences little details can make! It was so fascinating. There are so many things out there in the world that I wish I could do! For all of you artistic people, man, I’m jealous! Its just so cool how everyone has different gifts and abilities. Having the opportunity to see the photographer do what he does so well was a treat, similar to seeing an excellent musician perform or an athlete break records. Seeing people in their element always wows me.

It was wonderful to be outside on campus and take in all the beauty, but I was also amazed at how wonderful the staff here at UNC are. Of course, this was not my first realization of how wonderful they are, but it just really hit me. The people working for creative services, the photographer, even my own overseers are fabulous! I feel proud to go to a school where people care. It’s a good feeling. Gorgeous campus flowers, great photographer, and fabulous people, what more could I ask for? It was a good afternoon.

Have a great day!

Posted in: on Monday, August 4, 2008 at at 9:38 AM 1 comments