First Day and a Preferred Unit

What a day!! Today marked the beginning of my first day with Cedar Springs and it was incredible!!! I shadowed in the Child/Adolescent Acute Unit and loved it. There were a total of 16 patients on the unit and by the end of the shift, I had already established rapport with each and every one of them and can even recite their names from memory and a little about each one. The shift started off slowly but picked up rapidly. Beginning of shift report followed by environmental checks and right into patient check in. Patients self rated their emotions and gave indications of their mood, anger, and likelihood of misconduct. Believe it or not, they were very accurate as the evening progressed. Psych-education on coping strategies was presented by the senior MHT and I got a glimpse of what I’d eventually be doing. The patients were exceptionally responsive to me and I have a feeling it’s because I was the only male staff member on duty. I noticed the patients were much more compliant if I asked patients to stand down versus my female counterparts. Dinner and free time followed before visitation hours. No major problem except for one patient was set into a behavior and another one was observed trying to manipulate their parent/guardian. I intervened and prevented an uninformed parent from consenting to additional medication treatment. Patients were sent to bed following visitation hours and I got an inside scoop from some of the other staff members on what to really expect. Although I’ve already been assigned to the Adult Acute Unit, I think I’ll put in a request to stay on the night shift on the Child Acute Unit. There’s something about the kids that I really enjoy.

Already Drained

Whew! What an exhausting past three days. The first two days of orientation were boring but today I was in for a real treat. Today we learned about managements and restraints. Managements are a verbal de-escalation technique and restraints are physical contacts used to prevent individuals from harming themselves or others. While restraints are to be avoided for the obvious reasons, the most important is for the safety of myself!!! The likelihood of getting injured is almost guaranteed to happen if a restraint is used. I heard a horror story about a situation that happened last night and one of the kitchen staff got a nice chunk of skin bitten on her hand. Needless to say, I took the training very seriously and during one of the practices got taken down HARD by the instructor. I got a lovely head butt to the chin and it required 4 people to help me hold down one guy. Can’t wait to see how beat up I get tomorrow!

It’s getting late so I’m gonna wrap up here but wanted to mention that I had a great time tonight at dinner with Katie Bruce in Denver and that I find out tomorrow whether or not I advance on to the next stage of my Teach for America Application :-) Wish me luck!

Day 1

First day of work and I didn’t have any regrets or hesitations. In fact, I’m really looking forward to the new job and I think its gonna be a great opportunity to gain some valuable experience. Cedar Springs is a top notch Psychiatric Hospital with a For-Profit Mission. I know, surprising! This will be my first For-Profit organization I’m working for and it’s an interesting philosophy. The philosophy is geared more towards superior service and customer service. The overall mentality is that patient treatment starts at the door and doesn’t end until our clients have successfully moved on and reintegrated successfully back into society. I can’t wait to jump into my actual job position.

Work aside, I had the pleasure of having a coffee date with Rachel Proctor and it was so great to reconnect with a fellow Gonzaga Alum. We had a chance to talk about her trip to Korea and I updated her on the happenings of my life. I took a break from Yoga ever since the accident and I started up again tonight. My preferred Yoga instructor and I had an opportunity to talk before hand I started getting to know her beyond the studio. She just got back three months ago from teaching Yoga in Asia for the past two and a half years and now she’s trying to find her bearings back in the States. I don’t want to share too much of her personal information here because I don’t really think that would be too appropriate but I will share that I think we’re really connecting. She’s a little older than anyone I’ve ever been interested in but I think I’m willing to look beyond the number of years behind her. We have a lot in common and I’m really interested to see what develops.

On a final note, I'm booking my flight to Flordia for my January vacation and I'm so excited about it!! Turks and Caicos with my baby sister :-)

A World Off Balance

I feel compelled to write and record but my heart just isn’t into it. For those of you who don’t know, a friend of mine passed away on Thursday. He was riding his bike to work and was hit by a dump truck and killed. Collin and I went to school together and I got to know him through the school’s a capella group. The previous post is the perfect articulation of what the Big Bing Theory Family is so I won’t go into it. I just don’t see how any of it makes sense. I’ve heard from several people that it was the Lord’s Plan to take him or that it happened for a reason. I’m sorry but absolutely do not buy into that. I think it’s a load of crap. How is it the Lord’s Plan or what possible explanation is there for such a senseless loss of life? There isn’t. The world is off balance because the positive energy of Collin is lost.

When I received a text message from David, I sensed some urgency but figured it had to do with the plane tickets we were trying to coordinate for Chris and Michelle’s wedding. When he told me of the accident, I reacted in disbelief. I thanked him for passing the news on to me and immediately called Marie Gibbons and Claire McCloy to see how they were doing. I feel the news was still processing. After I got off the phone, I sat at my desk, still in disbelief. It wasn’t until later that evening when it finally got to me. Through my tears, my mother convinced me to reach out to my friends for support and I made the necessary calls I needed to make in order to regain my composure. For those of you who I connected with, I offer my eternal gratitude. I went to sleep last night with grief heavy on my heart.

Collin’s Vigil Service was held at Gonzaga this evening and the funeral service will be next week in Bozeman, MT. For those of you, who follow my postings; please offer a moment for my friend. Also, take the time to reach out to a few people in your life and let them know how important they are. They could be people you’ve lost touch with or people far away. Just let them know that they’re loved and appreciated.

A Tribute to Collin Keck

Dear BBT Family:It is with mixed emotions that I address you this evening. Joy and excitement for the new members to our family. Yet sorrow and a sense of loss at the news of one of our own, Collin Keck. As I attempt to gather my thoughts for a second time (I tried sending a typical "Brock" epic e-mail earlier but it crashed and I lost it), I'm brought back to the theme of family.

We are a family, those of you who are new have probably witnessed this fact already. We share our lives with each other, share our hopes, our dreams. We form relationships and commit to each other. We laugh, cry, eat (and eat), talk, travel, listen, stay up, sleep, fight, argue, run, walk, offend, and forgive (some of us offending more than others, sorry to all of you who suffered through my dictatorship!). We sing our hearts out, we support each other, we form relationships, we mess up relationships, we knock each other down and pick each other up. We know each other in ways that only a family member truly can. You are each a part of the family. It is our family, yours and mine, protect it, cherish it, love it, and spread that love to one another.

The group changes each year. Each of us brings something individual and unique. When one member leaves the group, they are never replaced, they can't be, but a new member comes in and the group transforms, the family grows. Nobody ever leaves this family and all of us, past BBT and present, are bound together in a way that can not be undone. Collin is a part of our family. I never was blessed with the opportunity to sing with Collin during his time in BBT. I graduated (with his brother) prior to his joining the group. Likewise, I never was able to spend much time with him. I was able to meet and talk with him on a couple of occasions. However, it didn't take long to see the type of young man that Collin was. He laughed, he loved, he lived. It took only a moment of watching those of you around him to see how he touched each of your lives. His memory will live on in each of us, in each of you, for we all shared in being a part of something greater than ourselves. Collin shared himself with us, we now must share Collin with the world.

Tragedy, especially unexptected tragedy, has a way of sticking with us. It is hard to come to grips with what happened, it may be even more difficult when contemplating why. While Collin is no longer physicaly present with us, his soul will live on, a soul that crossed our paths. The Lord works in mysterious ways and in Him we find peace. As a family we are here for each other. We can support each other and be open with each other. Sorrow and grief, sadness and lack of comprehension are all a part of the healing process. Our family, the BBT family, is here for each of you now, and will be here for each of us always. The memories made, the experiences shared, they are a part of us, they will be forever. Collin was a wonderful young man, and he is with us. In our thoughts, in our prayers, in our consolations to each other.

I don't want to end on too serious of a note, but I want to thank each and every one of you for being in the Family. You are BBT and I love each and every one of you. Should you need anything don't hesitate to ask. On that note, per David's e-mail the funeral will likely be in Bozeman. I just happen to live in Bozeman! Thus, should anybody need me to help them line up a place to stay or need a ride to/from the airport, let me know. its what family does for each other.

I ask that you each keep Collin, his parents, brother, friends and family in your prayers through this time. Know that you are all in mine.

God be with you and BBT love,

Brock Athman

BBT '00-'05Director '02-'05

Finally...Some Fresh Air

“I feel like you’ve made tons of life changing decisions in the past two weeks.” Thanks Raine for pointing that out =) It’s true, just when I was idling in stagnation, I managed to find myself in a complete freefall into the unknown! My last posting painted some broad strokes on my life’s canvass and within just a week or so; I’ve turned a rough outline into a picture with some major potential.

I’ve got a different job now! Not only is it NOT promoting materialism, it’s incorporating my psychology education by allowing me to share my gifts and energy with others. This past Monday, I accepted a position with Colorado Springs’ Psychiatric Hospital, Cedar Springs. I’m now a Mental Health Technician assigned to the evening adult acute care unit. I’ll be assisting in the direct care and management of adolescents and adults, as determined by the Treatment Plan, Program Structure, and presenting issues/behaviors of the patients, residents, and students. I’ll be providing continual supervision, safety, crisis management, and therapeutic interventions as well as assisting with implementing the program structure and the safe delivery of care to promote wellness of the individual clients.

In addition to the direction in the working realm of my life, my yoga practices are steadily advancing. Tonight, I was invited by one of my instructors to attend her advanced class. I’ve been going now for nearly 3 weeks and I’ve been increasing the number of classes I attend weekly. For those of you who don’t know, I’m the handyman for both Yoga studios in Colorado Springs. Instead of a paycheck, I’ve opted for free Yoga. It’s kind of a part time job but I work my own hours and I’m needed maybe once a week for very small tasks. I love it!!

Something New!

So I found a job…the only thing is I’m not too excited about it. It’s really not the type of job I’m interested in but I do realize that it’ll help pay the bills and keep me afloat for the moment. Please try not to laugh out loud. Say hello to the newest BP Woman’s Shoes Salesman for Nordstrom. Before you say anything, don’t even bother. I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve temporarily sold out and instead of resisting materialism; I’m now actively promoting it. Believe me, this isn’t something I’m overjoyed for. In my defense, I’ve applied to literally more jobs than anyone should have to apply for in a lifetime and it gets kind of discouraging. Eventually, you can’t be so picky as long as you know that it’s something necessary for the present moment. And while the present doesn’t look so great, I look to the future with blissful anticipation.

In October, I get the privilege of supporting two of my closest friends as they join together in marriage. I’m a groomsman for Chris Wheatley and Michelle Nilsen’s Wedding in Portland, OR. The following weekend, I’m celebrating as my cousin Susan, joins families with a great guy named Simon. November brings me to Georgia to attend a long time friend’s wedding reception. My friend recently got married in the Turks and Caicos in the Caribbean! The next trip is coincidentally destined to the Turks and Caicos followed by an immediate relocation to Illinois. 9 weeks of Naval Officer Training as I begin a number of years serving in the Naval Reserve.

After that, who knows what’s in store for me…

So About That…

If you’re reading this, you should know that I’m kinda a big deal. You might be wondering what has gotten into me to make such a blunt and almost cocky statement. Well, here’s the reason why…I’ve come to the realization that I’m human. Not only am I human, but more specifically, I’m Jeremy Boedigheimer, a young man who is engulfed in a passion not only to change the world but to be that change. As I strive to release compassion and love into the world, I discover the world transforming me. Self-reflection has revealed many impurities in me but also the treasures that reside within my soul.

Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in my life. I’ve earned one more year of life experience and I’m ready to face and accept the new challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. To accomplish this, I need a solid grasp of my foundation and the ability to balance what life throws my way. Incorporating Yoga into my life is really helping me do this. Instead of stressing where my next paycheck comes from or how I’m going to make ends meet, I’m learning to patiently relax. With that said, I would like to share with you some of the major life decisions I’ve been considering…

While traveling is one of the most important passions in my life, I’m going to divert my energy towards focusing on getting my feet off the ground. I need to hone in on my professional skills and begin to create a future for me. That is why I’ve decided to join the military service as a Reserve Officer. Committing up to six years of service will provide me with the technical skills to actively engage in the civilian world by providing a means to pursuing a graduate education as well as further developing my leadership potential. I’m also applying to Teach for America. I see quality education as the key towards making a positive impact on not only our American culture but on the rest of the world.