Today is my last day of O&P school.  I took my final final this morning and will graduate in a few short hours this afternoon from the Prosthetics program.  I can’t believe how fast this year has gone and how much I’ve learned…and how much I still need to learn.  Looking back, so much has happened these past eleven months.  By my best guess, we’ve sat through 3000+ PowerPoint slides, seen approximately 40 patient models, used 2000+ pounds of plaster, and countless sheets of polypro, LDPE, vivak, surlyn, and lamination supplies.  On the student side, to make it through the year, numerous $1 tacos, free hotdogs, 2-for-1 burgers and $2 beers were consumed. 

Murphy’s Law never applied to us during Orthotics or Prosthetic project fittings…until critique started.  That was when mysterious “rocks” appeared in AFOs, or a forearm section of a myoelectric prosthesis just “fell off.” Our teachers were always supportive and great, even on the days when they basically told us that we had produced an “epic failure.”  However, it was not a failure unless we didn’t learn anything from our mistakes or misfortunes. Critique even showered us with miracles somedays, too, but those didn’t come as often.

I’ve also met some of the greatest people in the world.  I am proud to call my fellow classmates my friends and future colleagues.  We stood by each other on the days filled with laughter, stress, boredom and enlightenment.  We ate lunch in the grass, followed by handstands, cartwheels and Frisbee dodgeball.  We enjoyed beach bonfires, movie nights, game nights, and ladies night out. All these memories bring a smile to my face.

So what happens now after graduation?  My residency.  The future is looking good…I can’t wait! 

Fall 2009 Orthotics Graduating Class

Spring 2010 Prosthetics Graduating Class