I have always known that I am passionate about children, and passionate about helping children who struggle with disabilities, life challenges and serious illnesses. Today I reaffirmed those passions.
During the summer of 2010 when I worked at camp, I discovered the child life profession. Many of my co-workers were studying to become child life specialists, and I grew more and more interested. I've always relied on my own research and what other people have told me, and from there decided that child life would be a perfect career for me. I've never experienced child life first hand, therefore there was some doubt in my mind that I could potentially hate the field. My shadowing experience today did just the opposite.
It is hard to put into words how amazing today was, but I'll try. I arrived at the hospital around 1:45 today. I felt more confident arriving at the hospital today. I checked into the volunteer office, where I ran into the other volunteer I met yesterday. We walked to the child life department on the 6th floor of the hospital together. I was able to meet some new child life specialists that work at the hospital today. I even met the supervisor of the department! The other volunteer (we'll call her Alice) and I took a set of keys and went to the playrooms on the 5th and 6th floor to explore the cabinets. It is important for us to know where all the crafts, games, toys, etc. are located. Next, we met up with another child life volunteer, who has been volunteering for several months (we'll call her Peggy). Peggy was assigned to be mine and Alice's mentor for the day. We took a clipboard with all the room assignments and then made our rounds. Child life specialists have so many different jobs in the hospital. They rely on their volunteers to check on the patients every couple of hours and provide the play therapy, while they focus more on the psychological therapy (and other therapies). Peggy showed us when and how to enter rooms and introduce ourselves to the patient and their family. We also learned what notes we were supposed to write on the clipboard about each patient. We made rounds on the 6th floor (which typically holds the older patients, but not always) and the 5th floor (which typically holds the younger patients, but not always). We then were able to make rounds in the oncology and hematology unit. I was able to spend 30-45 minutes with a toddler. I played with her and had "cuddle time". Often times volunteers will hold or rock young children to give their parents a break. Around 5:30 my shift was over and I signed out of the volunteer office and headed back to Wofford.
On my way back to Wofford (which took about an hour with traffic!), I reflected on my experience today. I realized that today only reaffirmed my passions and confirmed that I should be a child life specialist some day. I absolutely LOVE the hospital environment. I haven't been in the hospital environment since high school, and today reminded me of how much I love walking the halls and seeing patients. I found so much personal joy when I was able to bring a smile or make a child laugh today. I interacted with a young boy by providing him with a video game. His face lit up and he continued to play the video game for over an hour. It made me so happy to know that for at least an hour of his hospital experience, I was able to take his mind off of whatever illness or ailment brought him there.
I learned so much today, and I am jumping out of my seat to go back. I'll have several days before I start actually volunteering that I will use to work on my resource book. I'm thinking about including the volunteer process in the book as well. I know other students interested in child life would love to learn how to become a volunteer with the child life department as well! This interim is definitely going to be more than just an 'interim project'. It is going to be something I talk about forever (just like camp)!
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