I have mentioned this before, I need a project.
And I have finally decided on one.
An informative blog. I've been tortured so badly as a university student, that after I left, the torment left me with scars and the need to continue working and thinking like a student - to research and write.
Right now, I don't see myself giving up on this blog, in fact I'd like to write more.
It is an avenue for me to voice out things as a matter of opinion or just about life in general.
However, I came across a website that allows me to create hubs on specific topics, and I'd like to try that out.
I have already started posting on it, so do check it out http://hubpages.com/t/1f5041
It is of course, a Psychology based hub.
Haven't you realize? Psychology is just about everywhere these days!
I am still developing it, and pretty much just trying out the website.
In the meantime, be patient with me.
Xx.
Showing posts with label Psych-Me-Up. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Psych-Me-Up. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Intellectual Disabilities
For the sake of people who are bombarding the people closest to me with questions about what I am doing here in Australia..
I volunteer at a disability centre. Intellectual disability centre. I have been doing this twice a week for several months now, and I am happy doing it. It is something I look forward to most days, and apart from having to wake up at a ridiculous hours of the morning on the days that I go to the centre, I actually don’t mind waking up. On the rare occasions that I dread having made this commitment, I regret feeling so the moment I walk into the centre and see the smile on their faces.
You see, I’ve become accustomed to them. I have to admit that right at the beginning I was a little bit apprehensive about this decision, having to work with people who not only have the mental age of about 2-5 years old, (some of them even have the emotional control of a 2 year old), but these people look a little bit different. I’m not saying like, Down Syndrome different. We’re talking about 50+ year old kids who can’t control their saliva and take care of their hygiene, heck, some have problems eating like the way we do. What worried me most was, communication. Some cannot even understand simple words, and some of them cannot speak properly. I was worried I might not be able to cope with their indifference.
Fortunately, they welcomed me into their group unceremoniously, but warmly. Over the months, I’ve seen their attitudes change from ‘not preferring me’ to ‘shouting my name from over the other room so that I help them out with something’. For example, one of the girls, who previously did not like me touching her things at all was calling for me when she saw me pass by the room she was in, and even though she knew I was not scheduled to assist in that class that morning, she insisted to wish me good morning before turning back to her own work. Awww. She remembered my name, and I didn’t even know when she had started learning it.
And this is why, I fell in love with going to the centre. The boyf’s getting sick of the fact that I cannot stop talking about it, and the people whom I work with, and the people whom I help with. Twice a week, I am reminded why I am taking this difficult road.. Most of my peers have started on their postgraduate pursue, and I am still stuck with no proper plans for the future until a university accepts me into their Clinical Psychology program.
I know that I’m saying might give you the impression that I’m really doing good, that I am indeed helping those who needs it, who needs me (a girl who’s got nothing but a better mental functioning), but really, it’s the other way around. I am not ashamed to admit that I am doing this for selfish reason. Because in truth, it is I who need them. Every time I walk into the centre, I feel the innocent love that only they are able to produce and I am once again reminded why I want to do this. I am passionate about helping them because the radiation of their innocence give me the satisfaction that no other job could possibly provide me with.
I want to be able to help them, and the likes of them. And I want to be able to assist those whose kids are for whatever reason, like that. I want to be able to help those who are not able to help themselves. And I believe that, especially those with higher mental functioning, there is a way to bring them back into society. But there is no way I can do this without having that damn degree.
Every career pathway is about education these days, and unfortunately, I picked the road less taken.
All I ask from you, are prayers and hope. I know that someday I will get accepted into a university here in Melbourne, because I am a very good student. I just have a lesser background because I am not locally educated. So, keep me in your prayers if you’re religious and if you’re not, keep me in your hopes and dreams.. And in return, I promise to make it my mission to continue serving and helping the intellectually disabled. I feel that calling and I know it is my vocation. So, help me God.
(I have heaps for photos of them, but for their privacy’s sake and the centre’s policy, I cannot post them here.
But I’ll be happy to show them to family and friends).
Xx.
I volunteer at a disability centre. Intellectual disability centre. I have been doing this twice a week for several months now, and I am happy doing it. It is something I look forward to most days, and apart from having to wake up at a ridiculous hours of the morning on the days that I go to the centre, I actually don’t mind waking up. On the rare occasions that I dread having made this commitment, I regret feeling so the moment I walk into the centre and see the smile on their faces.
You see, I’ve become accustomed to them. I have to admit that right at the beginning I was a little bit apprehensive about this decision, having to work with people who not only have the mental age of about 2-5 years old, (some of them even have the emotional control of a 2 year old), but these people look a little bit different. I’m not saying like, Down Syndrome different. We’re talking about 50+ year old kids who can’t control their saliva and take care of their hygiene, heck, some have problems eating like the way we do. What worried me most was, communication. Some cannot even understand simple words, and some of them cannot speak properly. I was worried I might not be able to cope with their indifference.
Fortunately, they welcomed me into their group unceremoniously, but warmly. Over the months, I’ve seen their attitudes change from ‘not preferring me’ to ‘shouting my name from over the other room so that I help them out with something’. For example, one of the girls, who previously did not like me touching her things at all was calling for me when she saw me pass by the room she was in, and even though she knew I was not scheduled to assist in that class that morning, she insisted to wish me good morning before turning back to her own work. Awww. She remembered my name, and I didn’t even know when she had started learning it.
And this is why, I fell in love with going to the centre. The boyf’s getting sick of the fact that I cannot stop talking about it, and the people whom I work with, and the people whom I help with. Twice a week, I am reminded why I am taking this difficult road.. Most of my peers have started on their postgraduate pursue, and I am still stuck with no proper plans for the future until a university accepts me into their Clinical Psychology program.
I know that I’m saying might give you the impression that I’m really doing good, that I am indeed helping those who needs it, who needs me (a girl who’s got nothing but a better mental functioning), but really, it’s the other way around. I am not ashamed to admit that I am doing this for selfish reason. Because in truth, it is I who need them. Every time I walk into the centre, I feel the innocent love that only they are able to produce and I am once again reminded why I want to do this. I am passionate about helping them because the radiation of their innocence give me the satisfaction that no other job could possibly provide me with.
I want to be able to help them, and the likes of them. And I want to be able to assist those whose kids are for whatever reason, like that. I want to be able to help those who are not able to help themselves. And I believe that, especially those with higher mental functioning, there is a way to bring them back into society. But there is no way I can do this without having that damn degree.
Every career pathway is about education these days, and unfortunately, I picked the road less taken.
All I ask from you, are prayers and hope. I know that someday I will get accepted into a university here in Melbourne, because I am a very good student. I just have a lesser background because I am not locally educated. So, keep me in your prayers if you’re religious and if you’re not, keep me in your hopes and dreams.. And in return, I promise to make it my mission to continue serving and helping the intellectually disabled. I feel that calling and I know it is my vocation. So, help me God.
(I have heaps for photos of them, but for their privacy’s sake and the centre’s policy, I cannot post them here.
But I’ll be happy to show them to family and friends).
Xx.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Smarter Than Your Brain!
So. There’s so much to gather of a person from her blog. What have you gotten so far about me? Girl. Crazy, sexy, beautiful. Aww.. Cute, sometimes. Intelligent, checked. Smart, checked. Full of herself, checked. Grin. But I have prove! I am not only “above average” on several Intelligent Quotient scales, I am, in fact, superbly awesome. I surprise myself sometimes. Lol. Anyway.. Psychology student and graduate. Your very own psychologist, if you may.
But anyway, here’s a little more in depth information about me and what I’d like to do more, or rather, specialize in the future.
I studied Psychology. And I dare say the first thing 9 out of 10 of you are thinking the exact thing right now.
“So, can you read my mind?”.
NO, I absolutely cannot read your mind. As a matter of fact, no one can. And if anyone tell you otherwise, then rest assured that they’re lying to scare you out of your wits. But, we are, capable of assessing behavior. Part of what we inevitably get into a habit of doing is to understand behavior and why people act the way they do. We, or at least most of peers and I are always trying to understand the way one talks, choice of words and tone, facial expressions and body language are the first few clues we get into understanding a person’s behavior and personality. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like I look into your eyes every time we talk and try to read your whole life story. In a way, it is my way of justifying one’s behavior and actions. Of course, I do not speak for everyone who specializes under the umbrella of professional psychology.
But to justify the name of my blog, where the “smarter than your brain” is concern- here’s why. I am, for one, an enthusiast in learning and understanding the functions of the brain. So, I am literally interested in your brain. (someday I’m gonna find a way to squeeze it out of your northern-region orifices to scrupulously study your brain, muahaha! I’m kidding, of course). I am working towards understanding better and specializing in this area, especially in the near future.
Why, you ask?
Because the brain is the single most impressive organ, and the very fact that with the bazillions research and studies done on the brain, we have only discovered a small portion of its functioning. We still do not understand the brain as a whole, how it works, and most especially, from a psychological point of view, how we can improve our current understanding of the brain in order to assist those with learning/intellectual disabilities. Hopefully, in the near future we might even be able to prevent or minimize these existing disabilities.. Plus, it might even assist us in understanding things like, attention and memory span of those us in the ‘normal population’ which might be helpful for some of us, especially when we’re learning and studying for exams. Yep, I can totally relate to that..
So, yeap. This is me. And I can only thank my Biopsychology (Brain & Behavior) lecturer for exposing me to this part of psychology. I mean, he had to anyway, it was part of the course requirements, but if he hadn’t presented it interestingly, I would have tossed that knowledge out the window after my exam anyway. Toughest subject yet, and it was one of the best things I’ve learned throughout my 3 years in university. Thank you..
But anyway, here’s a little more in depth information about me and what I’d like to do more, or rather, specialize in the future.
I studied Psychology. And I dare say the first thing 9 out of 10 of you are thinking the exact thing right now.
“So, can you read my mind?”.
NO, I absolutely cannot read your mind. As a matter of fact, no one can. And if anyone tell you otherwise, then rest assured that they’re lying to scare you out of your wits. But, we are, capable of assessing behavior. Part of what we inevitably get into a habit of doing is to understand behavior and why people act the way they do. We, or at least most of peers and I are always trying to understand the way one talks, choice of words and tone, facial expressions and body language are the first few clues we get into understanding a person’s behavior and personality. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like I look into your eyes every time we talk and try to read your whole life story. In a way, it is my way of justifying one’s behavior and actions. Of course, I do not speak for everyone who specializes under the umbrella of professional psychology.
But to justify the name of my blog, where the “smarter than your brain” is concern- here’s why. I am, for one, an enthusiast in learning and understanding the functions of the brain. So, I am literally interested in your brain. (someday I’m gonna find a way to squeeze it out of your northern-region orifices to scrupulously study your brain, muahaha! I’m kidding, of course). I am working towards understanding better and specializing in this area, especially in the near future.
Why, you ask?
Because the brain is the single most impressive organ, and the very fact that with the bazillions research and studies done on the brain, we have only discovered a small portion of its functioning. We still do not understand the brain as a whole, how it works, and most especially, from a psychological point of view, how we can improve our current understanding of the brain in order to assist those with learning/intellectual disabilities. Hopefully, in the near future we might even be able to prevent or minimize these existing disabilities.. Plus, it might even assist us in understanding things like, attention and memory span of those us in the ‘normal population’ which might be helpful for some of us, especially when we’re learning and studying for exams. Yep, I can totally relate to that..
So, yeap. This is me. And I can only thank my Biopsychology (Brain & Behavior) lecturer for exposing me to this part of psychology. I mean, he had to anyway, it was part of the course requirements, but if he hadn’t presented it interestingly, I would have tossed that knowledge out the window after my exam anyway. Toughest subject yet, and it was one of the best things I’ve learned throughout my 3 years in university. Thank you..
I miss studying. I miss being a student. And I absolutely miss opening a text book with many bright colours highlighting the different parts of the brain. Pinel, J., best textbook ever.
Imma regret missing the life of a student soon =p
Xx.
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