From toddlers to acupuncture – a change in direction during unprecedented times….
First year Acupuncture student Sarah Simpson reflects on her life changes during the pandemic and what she’s looking forward to in 2021….
Hi, I’m Sarah and I start this blog with anticipation as to what this year will bring us… for many it will probably involve the words ‘wanting some sense of normal’. I start this year full of excitement, expectations and goals. This is a large part due to me starting my studies at the NCA back in October – what a journey it has been in a few short months!
Going further back my first interactions with the Northern College of Acupuncture started back in January last year – having recently finished a five-year franchise agreement running toddler gym classes I decided I needed a new direction in life. I have been fortunate to receive some outstanding care from my own acupuncturist who has helped me through varying health issues, aches and pains.
I started to ask more questions and realised that this was fascinating to me. I did some research and after doing a fair bit of reading I wanted to explore the options of becoming an acupuncturist – the NCA was not only the logistical choice (I live in Scarborough and they are based in York!) but also has a great reputation and was highly recommended by my acupuncturist. I emailed requesting details and ended up booking on for one of the introduction days – I was impressed at the clarity and inclusion of the whole event.
I am a mum of two, I work as a personal assistant to a young adult with additional needs and also volunteer at my youngest daughter’s school.
The idea of studying now was a worrying one, I wasn’t sure how it would fit into my day-to-day life. Having been to the introduction day and discussed it with my family I realised that this was something for me, something to better myself and also what a great way to show my two girls that you can always achieve things and learning continues into your adult life!
I got booked in for the interview, which was very reassuring and put me completely at ease – I was not expecting that! I got myself signed up and sorted for student finance – big thanks to Denise for all the help and support on the build-up to the start of studying!
Day one was an exciting but also nervous one – Walking up to the big red door on Micklegate I was fortunate to find another first-year student heading in – welcoming and with a nervous smile we joined the rest of the group… all at a social distance we started our journey together.
To start a course in these current times felt like it could be a risk – would we get ‘proper’ lessons? would the support be there? how will we be able to form a supportive cohort with so many Covid restrictions in place? I am both relieved and surprised at how great it has all gone so far. We have taken to Microsoft teams lessons and still get the occasional practical lesson in the college (all with full Covid protection!) The lessons have been very informative and the support from all the tutors has been so fantastic – I have to remind myself that this is still not the normal way the college would be teaching us.
I do look forward to when we can get into college more but have also enjoyed each of the online lessons with each tutor bringing their own different styles. Our cohort has already become a lovely support network, we are all there for each other and message as a group regularly.
I wouldn’t be being honest if I didn’t say there have been challenges – having not done any formal studying in many years, of course, this has taken some getting used to.
I wouldn’t say that I haven’t had a headache or two along the route, but the help section online is brilliant and when the tutors say e-mail or contact them if you have any issues, they mean it and are very supportive. It makes those moments when you start questioning your abilities disappear so quickly – you are not alone and that in itself is a massive relief!
I have to remind myself we only started in October and we have already submitted an assignment, learnt many acupuncture point locations, removed needles and started to build a foundation of knowledge!
It’s amazing what you can achieve with the right people around you!
The year 2020 will always be remembered for the pandemic… but for me, it will also be marked for the start of my journey with the NCA – which is pretty special – my highlight has to be when we did our formative points location assessment and for some of them, I got marked an ‘A’, I don’t think I have ever received an ‘A’ before in my life!
So, it’s official I cannot wait to see what the rest of 2021 brings…
Thanks Sarah, we wish you all the best for your continued studies with us and see you at the big red door soon!