Written by Rebekah Tringali
Are you currently on placement or about to be? Yes? Then this is perfect for you. Placement can be scary, especially when you’re in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people. So, how do you make the most of it?
1. Be open to accepting new opportunities, even if they make you feel scared.
When you’re on placement, it can be very overwhelming. Make sure you’re kind to yourself and give yourself time to grow. One of the best ways of growing is by accepting new opportunities. For example, you may be asked to join the staffing team outside of placement hours. Take that opportunity! It allows you to get to know the people you’re working with better and improve your networking skills. You may get asked to run a class by yourself. Times like these will teach you specific skills that are best gained through real-life practice. By accepting these opportunities, you are enabling yourself to become a more educated and confident individual.
2. Make time for yourself.
During placement, you may feel the weight of the world on your shoulders. You may have logbooks due, homework a supervisor has tasked you with, or chores that are piling up. Make sure you take some time to do things that make you feel happy and that you enjoy. This could include going for a morning walk before your day starts.
It may be an afternoon yoga class. Perhaps it’s reading a book for an hour or so. If you enjoy baking, cook up a storm and bring some of your delicious creations to your placement (my personal favourite). It’s important that you remember to find time for yourself; otherwise, placement can take a physical and emotional toll on your wellbeing.
3. Reach out to people.
While some people thrive on spending time alone, placement can still be a very isolating and socially disconnected environment. If you’re away from family and friends, make sure you reach out frequently. This could include a quick 10-minute FaceTime or a call during your walk home. If you’re lucky like me, you may get paired up with another student. Take the time to get to know them. If you enjoy their company, why not ask them if they’d like to grab a coffee on the weekend? There’s a good chance they’re also looking forward to some social connection outside of placement.
4. Explore the area.
If you’ve got some time in the mornings, afternoons or weekends, why not take a look around?
You may be in your local area; that’s fine too. You can go to that cafe you love or take a stroll on your favourite beach. However, if you’re in an unfamiliar place, one of the most exciting things you can do is explore what the area has to offer. Maybe there’s a cool op-shop down the road or perhaps a concert you want to go see. Maybe one of the nicest beaches is right around the corner from your apartment.
While placement can be an extremely scary period of time for students, it’s also one of the most valuable learning opportunities. Placement has the ability to teach us many important skills and helps us grow as students and as individuals. It’s time to make the most of your placement!
Charlie blog is a SSAF initiative.
