graduates: how prepared did you feel?

[mrcarrotsayshi]

i just graduated last friday, the 15th ;Dnow, i am in limbo.  my state requires licensure, and my test is june 14th.  now, i am not yet a therapist, but no longer attend school.  i have to study, study, study, and somehow, keep up the rhythm & motivation that my classes provided before.all of a sudden, i feel like i don't really know anything.i graduated with an excellent average, but i am starting to wonder how much of that is the fact that i have always tested well.  (which should comfort me for my upcoming exams, but it doesn't).I have a few clients, but the sessions are biweekly, and some weeks i have nothing scheduled.  sometimes i feel like graduation was a joke, and that i didn't really learn anything at all this year, and that i must be absolutely crazy for thinking i am going to pull this off. and then i have a session, and i feel better  less nervous, more grounded.  (the income doesn't hurt, either LOL).  having feedback helps a lot.but really, i am wondering how i am going to feel when i start looking for work.  i feel like a poser an old martial arts instructor used to say "fake it til you make it".  maybe that applies here.  my program was a year long.   i felt confident and assured while in school.  i was absorbing a lot of information, had ready answers to all of my oddball questions, and had clinics or in class work every week.i feel somewhat adrift without it.has anyone else experienced this?

 

[sassy k]

I think it is normal to feel unsettled when we are undergoing change and transformation. Leaving behind the structure of school is also a change.  Are there others who graduated when you did who might want to get together during the times you used to go to school?  You could use that time to study together for the NCE.  And if you don't need the help, then you could tutor your classmates since you can learn even more teaching it to someone else.The angels are already gathering your clients for you, so no need to worry about that.  When you are ready, they will come in an increasing stream until you have enough.I haven't graduated yet, but I am working one day a week at an existing healing center.  I am lucky to see two clients per day.  When I am not studying, I am working on my marketing and brochures.As much as I want to be done with school, it is hard to imagine how it will feel when it is over.Be gentle with yourself and go slowly.  This will all work out the way it is supposed to.Take Care,LaLoba

 

[sceron]

Congrats on your graduation!Don't worry.  Sounds to me like you are just panicking.  Keep up the studying and keep working on people.  Once you get your license and can really get to work, you will feel better.  We do a lot of learning in school, but the learning continues with each and every client that we work on.  There is something to be learned from each and every client.  I'm sure you got a good education and will be able to confidently and adequatly put it to use.  

 

[EDIMOMO]

I went to a school that required 750 hours (Florida), but one my teachers was--shall we say---less than spectacular when it came to TCM.  As a result, we felt totally unprepared for the TCM portions of the national exam and had to go outside to get that portion of the training.  Other than that, I think my training was prettystrong.  I will say that I wish I had studied the basics again all along---the basic anatomy and physiology--even while we went onto concentrate on clinical massage.  That would have helped me to not have to go back and study quite so much, I think...good luck!

 

[paulcrsm]

thanks everyone.  your words mean a lot to me.i think i *am* panicking, and that i need to remember to just breathe.  i should probably work on my family & friends more, too, just to keep in shape & keep learning.i feel pretty prepared for A&P.  here is ohio, we have our own test, and some of it comes from an ancient book my dr. johh harvey kellogg... that's the part that has me a bit worried.  we don't need any TCM, although once i get my state boards out of the way, i am going to try & learn what i need to know to pass the nationals too.i know that i have learned a ton in school  we had a 607 hour program, and great teachers, and i have come a long way in a year. i still feel green, though.  i bet that won't change until i am licensed & working & have been doing it for a while thanks again for the support.peacejen