Today I enrolled in a MOOC with Edinburgh University. The MOOC (also known as Massive Open Online Course) is called: the clinical psychology of children and young people.
My reasoning for starting the MOOC is that I have been so inspired by my voluntary work with children that I wanted a way to expand on these experiences, and learn more about clinical psychology along the way.
The course will end on the 5th July and involves completing weekly quizzes online, that are related to the videos and extra reading done on each particular topic for that week.
The course certainly looks fascinating, and I am intrigued and excited to learn more about clinical psychology, and in general expand on my own knowledge and independent learning skills.
Thursday, 28 May 2015
Saturday, 16 May 2015
Volunteer diary 2 - the air hockey champion
Yesterday evening I once again went ice skating for my volunteer work, and this week I was asked to look after a new boy who had just joined the programme. He was extremely nervous to begin with as he said that he was not very good at ice skating, but after a few minutes of talking I convinced him to try to skate. It turned out that he was a natural, and it was clear that after about 15 minutes of skating he was having a great time. Throughout the session I continued to help him become more confident skating and introduced him to the other members and volunteers. After about an hour of skating though we decided to have a break and we headed to the arcade where a tournament of air hockey commenced,
Thursday, 14 May 2015
Volunteer diary 1 - Gone off alcohol
As well as my reviews I am now going to start including my experiences when completing my voluntary work. I have previously volunteered for my local Marie Curie hospice, but I want to experience a wide range of areas and work with as many different people as possible. Therefore more recently I have started volunteering for a local charity who work with disabled children.
I now spend my Friday evenings taking a group of children, most with mild disabilities, though some are severe, with the help of 8 other volunteers ice skating. I can honestly say that it has to be the most rewarding thing I have ever done, because after merely a few hours with these children you leave with a huge sense of accomplishment, knowing you have improved their day.
Obviously due to privacy for the children who I volunteer with I will not mention either there names or delve into too much detail of the conditions, as frankly I think it unnecessary. I will however include on my blog moments that have inspired me, and have taught me something new.
I find it very hard to believe that the children I volunteer with have disabilities, some as extreme as severe autism, because they are the most polite, kind and entertaining children I have ever met, who coincidentally are a thousand times better at ice skating than myself. One of the biggest lessons I have learnt from them so far is that as teenagers we have a tendency to 'sweat about the small stuff' - I believe that is the correct phrase - because these children despite their disabilities always have a smile on their face. To me they are truly inspirational and never fail to make me laugh.
I now spend my Friday evenings taking a group of children, most with mild disabilities, though some are severe, with the help of 8 other volunteers ice skating. I can honestly say that it has to be the most rewarding thing I have ever done, because after merely a few hours with these children you leave with a huge sense of accomplishment, knowing you have improved their day.
Obviously due to privacy for the children who I volunteer with I will not mention either there names or delve into too much detail of the conditions, as frankly I think it unnecessary. I will however include on my blog moments that have inspired me, and have taught me something new.
I find it very hard to believe that the children I volunteer with have disabilities, some as extreme as severe autism, because they are the most polite, kind and entertaining children I have ever met, who coincidentally are a thousand times better at ice skating than myself. One of the biggest lessons I have learnt from them so far is that as teenagers we have a tendency to 'sweat about the small stuff' - I believe that is the correct phrase - because these children despite their disabilities always have a smile on their face. To me they are truly inspirational and never fail to make me laugh.
Wednesday, 6 May 2015
TED Talks
The internet for me is one of the greatest sources for information and inspiration. Every day I am constantly fascinated and informed by new facts and ideas I find on the internet.
In my opinion the greatest website for daily inspiration and for ideas to change your outlook on the world is TED talks. https://www.ted.com/talks
I will not go into too much detail about the website as honestly it is already extremely well known, but for those who are unfamiliar with the site, it in short consists of different videos on fascinating topics ranging from that of quantum physics to political stories, with a personal favourite being I am the son of a terrorist by Zak Ebrahim. https://www.ted.com/talks/zak_ebrahim_i_am_the_son_of_a_terrorist_here_s_how_i_chose_peace
I will not go into a review of all of my favourite TED talks because unfortunately I haven't the time at the moment, I think it may be a possible summer holiday project?
However, before I leave to continue yet even more revision for AS levels, I will say if you are to watch any TED talks then it they should be the one linked above by Zak Ebrahim, but also the one I shall leave linked below called One more reason to get a good night's sleep by Jeff Iliff. This was the TED talks that originally sparked one of my interests in neurology, and inspired and has left me fascinated into the reason to why we actually sleep.
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