Hey, Campus Rec Bloggers!

Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes of a campus recreational center?

Well here, let me just fill you in on the basic foundation of our campus rec center.

At Tarleton Rec, our first priority is to ensure the safety of fellow patrons. We have professional staff meetings biweekly, and we discuss all of the ideas everyone has to improve the rec center. We have recently started to implement a scenario scene for our front desk and intramural staff called “red bandana”. We format an emergency situation, and the staff has to react to it. These scenarios  help refresh their CPR and First Aid skills. By doing this, we are sharpening our staff to ensure they know the correct way to help and serve our students in a safe and timely manner. We offer CPR & First Aid training to all of our staff; it’s a requirement. We want to make sure that all of our staff is highly trained in this department. We also go above and beyond when it comes to our first aid supplies. Each department in our rec center has their very own kit full of supplies ranging from band-aids to gauze, and this kit is NOT small. We check our kit monthly to make sure we never run low on supplies, and we always want to be prepared.

Our second priority behind the scenes is to set goals for our staff and for our rec center. Here at the Tarleton Rec Center, our mission is “To provide opportunities to engage in activities, programs and special events that promote healthy and active lifestyles, leadership development, social interaction and educational opportunities. These opportunities exist through programs, services, and facilities that reflect the diverse needs of  the Tarleton State University family.” We take this mission very seriously and do all that we can to provide for the students and student workers here. We want our staff and student workers to excel in everything they do at work, but especially in school.

A few goals that we as a campus recreational center have set are:

• Higher student participation
• Optimal cleanliness of weight room safety
• Emergency preparedness
• Enhancing social media platforms
• Creating an environment focused around inclusivity

Setting goals and taking measures to reach them are vital in any workplace, especially in a university workplace. Our patrons are our number one concern, and we want anyone who comes into our facility to fall in love with the atmosphere and wants to come back EVERY DAY. As said very well by Human Kinetics, “Campus recreation’s primary goal is to serve students; thus, a great deal of the activities and programming revolves around student interests. Students, faculty, and staff participate in campus recreation activates to have fun, maintain healthy lifestyles, and socialize.”1

We also have meetings with our staff about what could be improved via their eyes. We always strive to improve in the gray areas and are always taking constructive ideas. We want to make sure our staff loves working for us, and try to accommodate them in any way possible. As a professional, I want to open up my communication with my staff to make sure they are comfortable with telling me about any issues they have with our facility or with our program. Constructive criticism in all areas is greatly encouraged, because like I said before, we want to ensure that our students and faculty are happy! All in all, everyone who works at a recreational center should just think about what we can do as a whole to make our facility better. In the words of Emily Harbourne, “We’re here to serve everyone and help them pursue active, healthy lifestyles no matter their age, gender, race, ethnicity, interest or ability — what could be better?”2

1Dimensions of Leisure for Life, (2010). Human Kinetics. Retrieved from http://www.humankinetics.com/excerpts/excerpts/discover-opportunities--components-of-campus-recreation

2Why Did You Get Involved In The Industry?, (2017). Emily Harbourne from Campus Rec Magazine. Retrieved from http://campusrecmag.com/get-involved-industry/

So since I am new to the whole Campus Recreation world, I’ve had to do a lot of research on certifications and qualifications you need to become a director of a campus recreational center. Also, I’ve been looking at the stepping stone jobs to becoming a director, and this is the research that I have found thus far..

http://www.opsisarch.com/blog/project/unm-student-recreation-center-2/

Hey Campus Rec Bloggers!

One of the stepping stone jobs to becoming a director is the position of Competitive Sports Coordinator. This individual has to be CPR/AED certified and have a certification in some kind of group exercise. This candidate must also have a Master’s degree in some kind of recreation or sports management. This position basically runs the university’s intramural program and their club sports program. They play an important role in training and supervising the student participants and employees. They have to possess great leadership qualities and take on many responsibilities. This position has to be filled by someone who doesn’t mind working weekends or nights. I feel like this job description describes what I do now at the Tarleton Rec Center, and I believe this will be my next stepping stone to becoming a director.

Another stepping stone job to becoming a director is the Assistant Director. There are many things that come with this job position. They are responsible for overseeing and managing all parts of the rec center. This individual provides insight as well as make decisions for duties that fall into  the fitness department. It has the same requirements as the Competitive Sports Coordinator, but you have to have more experience in all areas of the recreational center to fit this position. That includes outdoor pursuits, marketing, front desk, memberships, and etc.

It is actually very hard to find campus recreation jobs. A very popular website to research job openings in the Recreation field is Blue Fish Jobs. NIRSA is a recreational association that runs the website, and they show job and internship openings all across the United States.

If I receive one of these positions, my main goal will be to market our recreational center in a way that attracts the students. In the Recreational Sports Journal, results showed that participation in campus rec had influenced their decision to attend the university or not. Some students take one look at a recreational center, and fall in love. I want that to be my recreational center one day, and I want it to be well known and respected on campus. So every day I’m working my graduate assistantship for Competitive Sports at Tarleton, I know that I’m one step closer to the next stepping stone.

References:

Picture- http://www.opsisarch.com/blog/project/unm-student-recreation-center-2/

Recreational Sports Journal, Official Journal of the NIRSA Foundation, (2013). The Perceived Benefits of Participating in Campus Recreation Programs and Facilities: A Comparison Between Undergraduate and Graduate Students.

http://careercenter.bluefishjobs.com/

Changing Your Final Destination

Photo credit: iemoji.com

So this whole time I have been laying out the steps to figuring out YOUR final destination. I have given you tons of information on how to prepare yourself to become a successful occupational therapy student, while I have tried to accomplish them myself. So I really have been taking my own advice and passing it along to you, my readers.

While on this journey, I have really been soul searching. I am in my first semester of graduate school and I’m supposed to have everything together, or at least have somewhat of an idea, right? Well, in my Leadership class the professor really makes us dig deep and find our true potential. She gives us the tools to really pinpoint our skills, figure out what we want to do with our life, and how to overcome obstacles. While taking this class and writing assignments about occupational therapy, I have realized a variety of things. One thing I have realized is that the more I research and the more I learn about occupational therapy, the more I realize that this isn’t what I want to do with my life, which is heartbreaking. I’ve wanted to help others my whole life; how could I not want to do this anymore and be so quick to change my mind? I have convinced myself for over a year that I belong in the occupational therapy field, and for all of the wrong reasons. Another thing I have realized is that where I am now is definitely where I want to be.. For those who don’t know, I am a graduate assistant at a recreational center at Tarleton State University for competitive sports. I LOVE IT. I adore the people I work with, I love the atmosphere, and I feel SO accomplished at the end of every work day. So all in all, as long as I’m happy, that’s what counts right?

At first, I thought that maybe I was afraid of being uncomfortable. There were just things that come with being an occupational therapist, and I couldn’t bring myself to do them. I am very comfortable with where I am now, and didn’t want to possibly believe that I was making this life changing decision because I was a coward. Of course after much thought, I decided that this is what’s best for me. Being in the campus recreation profession is where I belong and I am certain that I won’t turn back. I feel such a sense of relief that I have come to this decision and know that this will make me the happiest in the long run.

So, for all of my occupational therapy readers, find yourself a great OT blog! There are many out there that are remarkable. OT Potential has great blogs that will help you develop and grow as an occupational therapy student. Also, keep reading OT journals. My favorite OT journal that I’ve been using countless times since starting my occupational therapy journey is AOTA (American Occupational Therapy Association). Read the journals, you won’t regret it!

Photo credit: storychick.com

With all of this being said, know that it is perfectly fine to change your final destination. You’re allowed to change your mind and I’m very glad that I changed mine to Campus Recreation. Be confident in yourself and follow your heart. Whichever destination you choose, make sure it is something you enjoy doing every day. I have changed my destination, and that is Campus Recreation.

References:

Lyon, Sarah, (2015). OT Potential.

https://otpotential.com

The American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc., (1917). AOTA Journal.

http://www.aota.org

Next Stop: Certifications/Exams/Licensure

If you didn’t already know this, becoming an occupational therapist (OT) is hard work. Not only do you have to choose a school, but you also have to make sure you have the right certifications and tests/exams. Creating a list of these certifications and scheduling these tests are a couple of important steps towards becoming a successful OT.

    The AOTA (American Occupational Therapy Association) suggests that these are the nine certification areas that will help you stand out from other OTs in the field and will help your career development.

The following four are board certification areas:

• Gerontology (BCG)
• Mental Health (BCMH)
• Pediatrics (BCP)
• Physical Rehabilitation (BCPR)

The following five are specialty certification areas:

• School Systems (SCSS or SCSS-A)
• Low Vision (SCLV or SCLV-A)
• Feeding, Eating, and Swallowing (SCFES or SCFES-A)
• Environmental Modification (SCEM or SCEM-A)
• Driving and Community Mobility (SCDCM or SCDCM-A)

The basic certifications that you’ll need while going through your desired OT program will be CPR & Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS). So, let me break this down for you. CPR and BCLS are certifications that you need while BECOMING an occupational therapist. The nine certification areas I listed above are what you should obtain AFTER you become an OT, but you need to make sure you do your research on them, because it will help you so much more in the long run. Since this field is so competitive, anything you can take or obtain to set you apart from the others is a MUST!

    Now let’s talk about choosing the appropriate OT program. Now days, any OT program is a master’s degree. So while you are working on your master’s degree, or even before, it would be smart to prepare yourself for all of these certifications once you become a licensed occupational therapist. Not all OT programs are the same, as I discussed on my previous blog post. The length of an OT program varies from 2 to 3 years depending on the school. Most programs are 5 semesters that include plenty of clinical experiences and labs. Just in case you need help searching for credible schools and programs, this website provides many great occupational therapy schools from all around to choose from and do some digging.  

    Once you have graduated with your master’s degree in occupational therapy, passing the NBCOT exam is required to become a licensed occupational therapist. If you fail the exam, you have to wait forty-five days to retake the exam. But don’t worry, you should be fully prepared to take this exam! That is the whole point of spending all of that money on your degree. The paper application is $540 and the online application is $500.

    Your last step in this process is to find the requirements to  becoming a licensed occupational therapist in your state. There are different requirements for every state, so you’ll have to do the research for whatever state you are in. Most require a background check, your transcripts, and your NBCOT exam results. Since I am in Texas and don’t plan on living anywhere else, I’m going to provide a chart of the requirements for the state of Texas. This chart not only gives the Texas requirements, but also other states as well. Just in case some of you aren’t all Texas girls like me!