Had a Minor Meltdown

[Ava is Dank <3]

This week in class we had a practical exam on 6 of the muscles. I studied pretty hard and could recite all of the origins, insertions, actions, depths and fiber directions. When it was my turn I was able to say all that, but our instructor wanted more information on the full range of motion of these muscles. I was so frustrated because I felt like it looked like I hadn't absorbed the material but I felt like I knew a lot. I burst into tears and was a mess for the rest of the night. I was also upset because she announced my score (70%) but didn't do that for everyone.

It was our first practical so I know what to expect now, but I'm frustrated because I feel like I'm consistently getting low scores in this class while doing very well in the others. I'm not sure how to study differently to bring my scores up. I also feel like there is a disconnect on how I interpret her questions...a lot of times they're not how I would ask them and I get confused.

This is mostly just a vent, but if anyone has any advice I am all ears. Is this pretty common at week 6 of massage school? I'm worried because it's a pretty critical part of a MT's job to know the muscles and I don't want to have low scores throughout the program.

Thanks for listening!

 

[sdumpsinp]

Cascadia,

That's exactly how it was for me in school. I could have written that.

10 years later, I'll be honest and say I'm not one of those therapists that can recall every muscle name and it's origins and insertions, yet I know the feel of a muscle and what to do with it like the back of myhand. I also know sciatica, whiplash and carpal tunnel protocols and can get the job done, and done very well.

There were students in my class that did really, really well in those areas but did not have that "magic touch" as I call it, that special something that made them successful in this work.

I have also gotten work done by MT's that could rattle off the names, insertions etc etc of the muscles like a doctor, but whose massage left a lot more to be desired.

By week 6, the stress really kicks in, and stress can hinder retention.

Our work is so much more than the marks on your tests, so keep your chin up.

 

[Backwater Charlie]

Had a Minor Meltdown

I also feel like there is a disconnect on how I interpret her questions...a lot of times they're not how I would ask them and I get confused.

Try bringing this up with your instructor, and see if she has any suggestions.

 

[antivirus]

Cascadia,
The first test is ALWAYS the hardest, especially practicals. As you have found out, you can know all the material, but because of an individual instructor's way of testing, what you know isn't always reflected in your score. As you know, the next test will be easier, because you will know what to expect.

Now, quit beating yourself up! 70% sounds like you passed to me. What counts is that you learn the material. Do you feel like you are learning the material, and just blowing it a little on the tests? Or do you feel like you aren't getting the material? It is not uncommon to just not "click" with an instructor...............and perhaps your instructor didn't quite click with you. That happens.

Scores don't matter so much, if you know the material and you pass. Unless, maybe your school is giving a new car to the highest gpa at graduation???? :shock:

By the way, I have never had a single client ask me what kind of grades I got in massage school.

Noel

 

[na3oush]

It is not uncommon to just not "click" with an instructor...............and perhaps your instructor didn't quite click with you. That happens.

That's true, I just never clicked with my A&P teacher. I have to admit I was pretty convinced that the guy hated me as he'd disparage me whenever I tried to answer/participate in class. And tests were very difficult for me too.

By the way, I have never had a single client ask me what kind of grades I got in massage school.

Yeah, don't think I have ever had any ask me that either. IMO, clients care more about your hands on skills, and how you make them feel than what your grades are.

That being said, is it possible that you could get some "tutoring" perhaps? Maybe someone could help you brush up on stuff before testing?

 

[tiny]

i just wanted to add that you shouldn't worry too much. your test scores will not AT ALL reflect the kind of therapist you'll be! just do your best and know that school doesn't last forever! take what you can from it and know that the real education will come when you get out of school.

 

[jannsody]

Cascadia, I was a poor tester too. I could "ace" any written test set in front of me, even if I'd never looked at the material before, but give me that practical exam...

Part of the problem was that my mind would start racing with questions, possibilities, things I found on my test partner and wanted to know about. The other part was that I just wasn't comfortable with the practical exam format. In fact, I almost failed my State's licensing practical exam, but I scored "very high" on the written.

I do the same in weekend workshops. Turns out I'm a kinesthetic learner, but my brain needs time to translate the information before I'm ready to spit it back out. In a weekend workshop, I'm the one in the corner who just can't quite get it. Visit me in 3-4 weeks afterwards and I will have incorporated it into my treatments.

One thing to remember is that it is vocational school. All that matters is that you pass-- which is usually 70-75%. Get your hands on lots of bodies, the hands are usually smarter than the brain. Once you are in practice, it doesn't matter if you know the exact name of the exact location of the origin of the gluteus minimus. You'll know it's "there" and it does "this". There's plenty of time to get technical after your hands are educated, if you even decide that "technical" is the type of work you want to do.

Tutoring, practice sessions, group study, making your own flashcards, these things can all help you get that passing grade. After that, it's all good because like Noel said, nobody ever asks what your grades in massage school were.

Sometimes they ask where you got your schooling. I'm thinking about answering "Prison." : (A very special thanks to that article in Massage mag about humor!)

 

[proudmommy]

I do the same in weekend workshops. Turns out I'm a kinesthetic learner, but my brain needs time to translate the information before I'm ready to spit it back out. In a weekend workshop, I'm the one in the corner who just can't quite get it. Visit me in 3-4 weeks afterwards and I will have incorporated it into my treatments.

Same here!

 

[Strawberry Milk]

Yes PLEASE don't take it too seriously. I went thru the same thing. I actually scheduled a tutor session after my first failed practical. I also ended up booking a couple sessions with the school counsler/phys office to see why I was being so hard on myself about one test. You can find some of the details on here somewhere, in the oh so distant past. Also feel free to pm me or come here anytime for support. Not sure where you are going to school, but I can attest those Seattle area schools are tough business!! Like others have said, listen to your hands. Those grades mean squat in the end as long as YOU feel comfortable with what you are doing.

 

[Beeker]

Thanks to EVERYONE for your supportive comments and helpful hints. I have been lurking on the board since last summer and have seen all kinds of help and it's nice to experience it firsthand.

After a few days to evaluate it, I think you're all right when you say the first one is the hardest. As I start to study for the next one, I'm finding it not nearly as intimidating. That said, I think I will also chat with the Kin instructor on Wed, because my overall scores are not that great, both written and practical. (I know 70's are passing but I feel like I know MORE than 70% of the material) It's especially frustrating because our A&P material is very similar right now and I'm getting very good scores on those tests. I hadn't thought about tutoring but that's an excellent idea.

Thanks again for listening to me vent...I'm a Capricorn AND the oldest child...guess I'm adjusting to not always being the top scorer t001

Take care everyone...I'm sure I'll be back for more advice!

 

[Mr. Night]

I thought of this post last night when we had an oral mid-term and I AGAIN cried through the whole thing even though I did relatively well! (82%). I don't know what it is about this class . Mostly I think it's the stress of working full-time, school full-time, buying a house this month...let's see what else?

Anyway, thanks to everyone for their support, both to me and all the students and practitioners...this is a nice place to be!

Cascadia

 

[mixermatt2002]

Mostly I think it's the stress of working full-time, school full-time, buying a house this month...let's see what else?

That would pretty much do me in. : Even just working full time and going to school is enough to drive anyone to drink, so, all in all, I would have to say that an 82% ain't too shabby.

 

[Jaena]

Turns out I'm a kinesthetic learner, but my brain needs time to translate the information before I'm ready to spit it back out.

I took a class on Personal Thinking Patterns, which showed me that our dominant learning style is only a small part of the big picture. The above sentence is a big clue...

Quick PTP overview: the theory (which seems to be backed up by brain scan research) says that we process the different senses (kinesthetic, auditory, visual) with different brainwaves (beta, alpha, theta)... and that our brain links each sense to only one brainwave rate, and that it's different in different people.

The "dominant learning style" tends to be a person's beta trigger. Beta waves are the fastest, the most facile, where we're most clear, where we "know" the answer. It's where we "come to clarity". So a kinesthetic beta has a really difficult time "coming to clarity", really "getting" the material if s/he can't touch & do the material. (Not a problem in massage school generally, except for some A&P stuff.)

But beta is NOT where we store long term memories. That's theta. So if, as "a kinesthetic learner", you use a kinesthetic-beta pattern, then you actually STORE things in your long term memory either visually or auditorily.

Theta is the slowest. If you have an auditory-theta placement then words may come slower to you than other people, especially in certain situations.

To complicate things further, the brain doesn't go between the beta and theta functions without intermediary alpha waves--this is called a "bridge out". Let's say you use a KVA pattern: then talking about anything can be slower for you, especially on the spot there with the teacher, but in particular talking about kinesthetic stuff is going to require visual bridging.

So, two suggestions:

1) Start paying attention to how your brain thinks. Do you have to visualize muscles in order to get the words? Do you have to move your body to get the words? Do you need words, like the name of the muscle, to get a picture, to get the feeling? Etc.

2) Ask for what you need. Are you able to touch & move your body or another body in order to explore for the answer? If you need time to answer, many teachers understand if you ask. Auditory-thetas need time and space to answer. It's not that they're "dumb" or "slow" (their visual and kinesthetic thinking moves quite fast, thankyouverymuch) but that they need to be in a certain brainwave pattern to get their words out of memory storage.

And that pattern is quite the opposite of a testing condition. Test = "be alert" = beta waves. You have to descend down the thinking pattern in order to get to the theta state.

So, depending on your pattern you may need to to close your eyes (turn off visual) or stop moving (turn off kinesthetic) or have silence (turn off auditory) to get out of beta...

And then make pictures, talk yourself through it, or move/feel the options & possibilities to get yourself in alpha down to theta...

And then find the fuzzy picture, or inspired words, or vague feelings (theta is the broadest, fuzziest state, intuitive, the opposite of crystal clear beta) that is the answer.

I'm not an auditory theta, so "inspired words" is the best I could guess. I don't know what it feels like when they get words. Heh, "feels" like... I'm a kinesthetic theta.

Which made massage school even MORE difficult let me tell you. But the stuff I did learn went in deep. Most massage school students are kinesthetic betas or alphas and generally did less well in regular schools, since most schools are so audio-visually focused. As a user of the VAK pattern, I did great in traditional schools. Massage school gave me a lot of empathy and understanding for the students who struggled more in school as I was growing up.

Taking this Personal Thinking Patterns class illuminated the entire set of experiences. If you want to learn more, check out Dawna Markova's books and work. The Open Mind is the book to get.

 

[Bad Apple]

Cascadia....

Hang in there - don't beat yourself up too much. In my course, we were expected to keep a 80% or above...and there was a girl who was a phenomenal at massage but also struggled on tests (not so much oral ones but the written ones)...and today I would pay her for a massage because she knew intuitively how to treat the human body. Don't worry about one test - this will help you in the long run...not that agree with a teacher singling out one student out. One phrase that helped me from one of the members here on the boards ...I believe it was AnastasiaB...My mind is a computer - it knows everything I need to pass state boards. I'm in a state that we have to take a state board....you may have to take the Nationals. As long as you pass your course, and then pass your licensing test --- don't sweat the small stuff! You know more than you don't know - celebrate that - you didn't know one thing...from your post you knew a lot about those six different muscles. It was just one thing you didn't know. Now you know I need to focus on that one thing because you know just about everything else - maybe you answered so quickly your teacher wanted to throw a stumper your way. In life, we won't know everything. Your teacher is trying to prepare you for the shock questions ... the ones that could cause you brain freeze in your licensing exam. Chalk it up to experience and let it make you stronger. I know you can do it!!!! Hang in there - and come back here to ask questions - get support - and keep heading towards your dream!