The celebration of Child Life Month continues, here is a guest post from Amanda Porter on how she discovered the field of child life.
I first found out about Child Life while my mom was working on the Pediatric Oncology Unit in Las Vegas, Nevada. I would often times come to work with my mom and work on homework in the family room, so I got to observe many of the employees at work, one of them being a CCLS. I originally thought I was going to be a Pediatric Oncologist, but that route wasn’t for me. So, I thought I would follow around a Child Life Specialist and see exactly what they did. I fell in love. It was then that I knew that was what God was calling me to. I have volunteered at camps for children who have terminal illnesses, volunteered at multiple hospitals, done a practicum, and an internship and I am now in my masters program for Child Life and every step of the way I have fallen more in the with this field. I love that I get to be an advocate for a patient and change their view of the hospital through various ways.
One of the best parts thus far, was during my practicum. I was saying goodbye to one of our long term patients that was getting to go home…As I entered the room she said to her mom, “No mom, I don’t want to go, I don’t want to leave Manda the Pink Lady”… to think that this little girl wanted to stay at place that was once so scary for her and it was all because the Child Life Department exists. This field is powerful and growing and I am beyond thankful that I get to be a part of it.
To learn more about Amanda Porter, you can follow her blog at Love What Is True
If you have a story that you would like to share about your experience with a child life specialist, finding the field or how you are celebrating, please click here.
