Lessons learned

As part of my final requirements for the OT program, I wrote a "final reflections" paper. We are to write three of four pages based on some questions posed by the professors. Though I probably shouldn't admit it, by this point in my graduate school experience, I'm quite good at using the right key words mixed in with some blah, blah to meet the minimum number of pages and make it sound like I know what I'm talking about. Regardless, there are a few things that I learned through these internships (besides how to be a better OT) that are worth sharing.

•  Don't believe the media. During both internships I came to understand that what was reported in the paper was not the whole story. While articles may be factual, they tend to leave out  important elements and/or not provide sufficient follow up or comparisons. I have come to assume that there is ALWAYS more to the story and, without that additional information, I should hold any judgments loosely. Here's one article that raises some good questions regarding the situation at the VA.
• It is far easier to see improvement when a person is dealing with a physical illness than a mental illness. Some of the patients I worked with in rehab considered their morning shower the most difficult workout of the day. Yet within a week to 10 days, it wasn't as taxing and they requested far less assistance. In contrast, I saw little change in the Veterans with mental illness I was privileged work with for three months. A few made some giant steps forward. Some cycled out of mania back to their baseline. A few dealt with worsening symptoms. But most, were pretty much the same the whole time I was there. The therapists I worked with assured me that for many of them there had been observable changes over the course of 6 months to a year.
• A good supervisor makes work much more enjoyable and can take a lot of pressure off. The absence of one person from a meeting can completely change the atmosphere in the room. I also found that the more I understood my co-workers' stories, the better I was able to put up with/appreciate their idiosyncrasies. 
• The most interesting thing about going to work is the patients/Veterans. The diagnoses and symptoms may be similar but each individual is unique, requiring individualized treatment and interactions. Some are challenging, some are endearing--often at the same time.