The beginning of it all

Today was the first official day of the 2012 interim. My plan for interim is to volunteer directly with the child life department at Greenville Memorial Hospital University Medical Center. Child life specialist’s posses the tools required to help individuals with serious illnesses; life challenges and disabilities overcome challenges and difficult situations in their lives. I believe that child life specialists are individuals who not only support children during challenging life events, but also the families of those children. In addition, child life specialists provide information and guidance during the difficult times and not so difficult times to children and their families. I believe it is also the child life specialist’s responsibility to educate the hospital staff, doctors and nurses on stress and its impact not only children, but also the family as a whole. Child life specialists use their knowledge of child development to create coping strategies that will benefit each specific child. It is also the child life specialist’s responsibility to put the child’s needs first and foremost. Serving as a child life specialist is not just a profession, but also a way of life. I believe that an effective child life specialist must be passionate about working with people, especially children, as well as working with individuals who face different and unique life challenges. Child life specialists not only provide many therapies and education, they also provide support and encouragement for children and their families. Child life specialists also serve as advocates for their patient’s wellbeing. Child life specialists work with many different professions to educate individuals about the stress and difficulties a child and his or her family experience during a hospital experience. 

Although I started my volunteer application with the hospital during September, it is still not complete. Unfortunately, the hospital misplaced my background check. After several emails and phone calls throughout the month of December they were just returned this week. My background check is supposed to go out again tomorrow, and from there the volunteer office will contact the child life department to see what hours will be best for me to volunteer. I was somewhat frustrated because I was organized and prepared from the beginning, however I am learning you can not always rely on other people. While the volunteer process is being completed, I will focus my efforts on putting together my book of resources for future students interested in child life. I'm looking forward to sharing my entire interim experience with all my readers. I know once I am volunteering I will learn so much about child life and all the effective techniques used in the child life profession.