About me, daily routine, current / future goals -
I am actually a huge introvert, I love to read and listen to podcasts. I’m 25 years old, I’m vegan, and currently in my masters program at Capella. I have been a RBT for a year and studied secondary English education in my undergrad at FIU. I’ve been working with children from pre-k to 12th grade across all different settings since I was 18. My daily routine is basically accounted for by every hour of the day, haha. I wake up at 7am and work out, listen to a podcast, and catch up on some data or updates from the day before that I need to perfect before going to work. I have a morning client from 10am-2pm Mon-Fri and then an afternoon client that starts at 3:30pm and ends at 6pm on Monday and Thursday, 5:30pm on Wednesdays and 6:30pm on Tuesdays. I use my time after my clients during the week & on the weekend to do unrestricted hours/study and of course get my homework done!
This schedule was set up that way to best accommodate his other therapy services as well as his after school/camp activities and family time! I have so many goals I want to achieve! My current and main goal is completing my supervision hours and my Masters. My bigger goals are becoming a BCBA, creating my own business as a parenting coach for parents struggling with adolescence and teenagers, and possibly competing a second Masters degree in Human Development, but we will see about that one! Haha
How I came across Puzzle Me Academy -
I found Puzzle Me Academy on IG! I believe their page was suggested to me because of the content I create and the hashtags I use. I followed right away and have loved the content ever since!!
What made me want to join the field -
I met someone at a job I was at while in my undergrad who was a RBT. She got to telling me everything about the field and what she would do as a RBT and I fell in love with it immediately. It just made sense to me and it was everything I wanted to be doing with kids and teenagers my entire career but never learned about studying to be a teacher! I decided right there that I’d become a RBT and I did!
How my journey was joining the field -
So I have had nothing but an amazing experiencing coming into the field of ABA. I work for an amazing company who has been by my side every step of the way from the beginning 40 hour training to preparing for my RBT competency exam! Even now being a full time RBT, I have had the most amazing experience with my supervisors who truly guide me and teach me so much!
How long I’ve been working -
1 year! I just actually had to do my RBT renewal process.
My experience from the beginning -
So like I said earlier, my experience with training and supervision has been amazing! But I want to shed light on the struggles. This job is hard. I’ve left work crying, I’ve cried at work to be honest! I have thought this wasn’t for me and I couldn’t handle it anymore. I have been burnt out to the point of wanting to drop out and quit. I feel that this isn’t uncommon and it doesn’t mean you suck at your job or you should quit. I say NO WAY to that. My advice would be to become organized and manage your time, open up to your supervisors about what you’re feeling and why, and above all make sure you have quality supervision so if and when this happens you are not alone.
Major keys to supervision and training -
Number one and I can’t stress this enough, make sure you are receiving the BACB’a required supervision. Never settle for a supervisor who makes you feel beneath them or like you are a waste of time. Don’t ever stop trying to learn. If you have questions, and you will, make sure you ask them and make sure you feel comfortable to do so and that you have a supervisor who is willing to teach you.
I would just love to add that if you ever have any questions you can always reach out to me directly, even just to vent! 😊