Holly Clarke (Grad 2011)

Appreciate Life's Delays

There is always a reason for the events that take place in life. Sometimes, that’s a really hard pill for us to swallow as humans stuck in a world of instant gratification. The one thing that we all must realize is that our time here on this planet is never truly wasted. There's always a reason for the delays we face.

When I graduated from chiropractic school, I was unable to get licensed immediately because of a board exam that I missed by 10 points. Initially, this was a very hard pill for me to swallow. I had everything planned out in a very time-specific outline, and this minor setback was really messing up my plans. Of course, I was elated to be graduating but absolutely down in the dumps about the fact that I would have to take 1/6 of Part 2 again before licensure. I felt as if I were going through some form of mental torture, most of which I was inflicting upon myself. I had gotten through clinic requirements early and was so ready to hit the ground running as soon as switched my tassel from left to right. I just didn’t understand why this was happening to me.

Two weeks after graduation, I moved back home with my parents in order to save money. Looking back on things, I now realize that this was the best thing that could have happened to me. I was present when my dad suffered a major medical emergency & had to be hospitalized because my toggle recoil wasn't going to fix his problem! I was the only person at home when this happened and I don’t want to think about what could have happened if I had not been there.

Also, I had a great summer vacation! Yes, I’ve been working towards opening my own clinic in the very near future, but I have had time to get some actual rest and relaxation. Rest and relaxation were definitely what I needed, whether I knew it or not. I have been busy most of my life. I think I was born with a planner in my left hand and a white chocolate mocha in the right. I am definitely better at getting things accomplished when I have several things that need to be done. On the other hand, I am NOT good at doing all that when I am tired…not at all.

After being in school for almost 8 years straight with only a six month break in between undergrad and chiropractic school, I was exhausted both mentally & physically. Here's the thing...I didn't realize I was tired. My exhaustion was manifesting itself as occasional grumpiness, unwarranted bouts of crying and mild road rage. I was so ready to get up and go do it all over again, but I really needed a break.

After a few months of what I would consider off-time, I feel as if I can see things more clearly. My never-ending passion for chiropractic and helping every person I meet has only been intensified over the last few months. I know that I was prepared to practice immediately after graduation, but I honestly do not think that I was as passionate about getting out there as I am now. All in all, I can honestly say that I am eternally grateful for life’s delay this time.

Twitter - Should I?

Social Media...I love it!  I participate in several internet communities (Facebook, LinkedIn, etc), but there is one special site that I have yet to join...Twitter!  The funny thing is, I'm not even sure why I haven't joined yet!  Well, that's not completely true.  First, I'm not exactly sure that I would even be a good candidate for Twitter.  I don't now all the ins and outs of the site, but from what I have gathered from other people, it's basically a place where you gather friends that "follow" you and are subjected to whatever you are doing at the moment.  In all honesty, my life just isn't that exciting right now...haha!  For example, this has been my morning so far:

• 9:28 - Woke up to the sound of annoying infomercials because I fell asleep with my television on last night
• 9:31 - Unplugged my Blackberry from the charger and checked Facebook notes & emails - Oooh coupons!
• 9:45 - Got in the shower.  I love Apple bodywash!
• 10:20 - Made "instant" coffee because I'm not going to navigate through the counters in my mom's kitchen just to get to the coffeemaker, which is behind the crockpot, which is behind the dishrack (why does she have so many kitchen accessories?!!)
• 10:31 - Turned on the desktop computer (because my laptop powercord died and I refuse to buy another one because that is the fourth one that I've bought and I'm just bitter about it right now) so I could get some business work done 
• 10:38 - Decided I'm going to blog about Twitter and see what the rest of the world thinks

So here I am! See...basic stuff! 

Next, I do not really know the correct grammar usage for Twitter.  For example, if I send someone a message, am I Twittering, Tweeting, Twitting or what?!  I don't know the proper subject-verb agreement for Twitter and this really bothers me because I am what some people might call a "Grammar Gremlin."  I prefer to speak, type and text correctly, according to the English language.

Lastly, I almost feel as if I am being coerced into becoming a Twitter-er.  Nearly all of the other doctors in my professional group are doing it and I feel as if I am missing out on something!  It is somewhat like a high school thing where you hear everybody saying "Come on...everybody's doing it."  Haha! 

Now that I've shared my thoughts about it, I think I'm really going to do it!  The more I talk about it, the more it makes me curious.  Well...I will let you guys know how it turns out!

Yes...I'm still alive!

First, I would like to apologize to my loyal readers that have been reading since my very first entry on May 29, 2008.  I am back for a brief moment to give you an update on me and where I'm going! 

Well, I am working on my resume to use as a part of my business plan and I realized that I can't remember anything!  Luckily, I kept a public record of my life on the Sherman website...haha!  So I started looking at all of my past entries and I realized something.  I had a blast in chiropractic college!  Going to Sherman was like getting 2 for 1, and we all know how much I love a good sale.  I met so many amazing people and learned a life changing art all at the same time!  As a graduate, I have had time to reflect, refocus, and now I am so ready to get going! 

So....I graduated on June 18, 2011, and it was the best day of my life so far!  Well, that might be slightly exaggerated, but still...it was awesome!  The last six months before graduation were super boring, yet super busy all at the same time.  Blogging was pretty much nonexistent because my life was boring!  I would go to campus, see patients, study for Part 4 board exam, go to bed, wake up and do it all over again!  Now that I have graduated, life is still kind of uneventful (seriously...it is), but there are so many things that are going to happen in the coming months!  I am so excited about opening my own office and seeing as many patients as possible!

Things I noticed while at home with my parents for Christmas break

I moved out of my parents house three years ago when I started chiropractic school, secretly hoping to never return again.  They're great parents, but I don't want to be 20-something and still living with my parents.  Since I am teh youngest child, and the last to leave the nest, things are quite different for my empty-nest parents.  During Christmas break,I realized that I might have to move back in for a little while until my office gets going strong and that's ok...I guess.  I also noticed some interesting things that have changed since I've been gone.   

• My dog Mannie - whom my parents have adopted until I finish school - despises the garbage pickup guys, the mailman, and pretty much any service person in general. Its kinda weird to see him bark and get so irritated because I know him as my sweet, innocent 85-pound lap dog lol...kinda cute really!
• Blogging - It is so much easier to blog here at my parents' house! My thoughts have been flowing so much more freely. I'm not sure if its the freedom of vacation, or absolute lack of responsibility I have here, but my six months worth of writer's block is GONE!
• The News - My mom watches every episode of the news that comes on! Okay, this drives me nuts! I don't EVER watch the news. This is probably the one area of my life where I feel that ignorance is bliss. I don't live in fear of higher gas prices, muggings, or carjackings because in my world of la-la contentment, these things don't exist! La-la la la!
• Cooking - I am really beginning to thingk that my mom taught me how to cook so that I can slowly take over the holiday dinners. I have 3 older sisters, but I'm always the one who does most of the cooking and table-setting with my mom. I do really love to cook though lol!
• My dogs - My dad refers to my dogs as my children. As I stated above, my parents sort of "adopted" both of my dogs during my time at Sherman and I am sure they are ready to give them back to me. One day while I was there, Mannie the Lab tore open an entire bag of trash in the garage and then sat there in the pile, looking cute & innocent. My dad opened the door to the garage and then looked at me and said, "Come look at your child.". It was funny!
• Addiction - Am I addicted to media, namely social medial, namely Facebook? I saw a public service announcement type of commercial from my parents' cable provider that shows this kid listening to music while doing homework (on the computer by the way), playing video games all day, and various other things that I do multiple times per day. Yep! I'm addicted.
• Reality - I have to move back into this house in 6 months. Whoa. I'm going to have to move back during the time between graduation and getting my practice going, which is bittersweet. The sweet part - no more rent/utilities, barely any cleaning, mom does my laundry, dad does my car - it's a sweet deal! Bitter - leaving behind my boyfriend, who can't move yet due to his job, feeling bad about not getting out of bed before 2pm when everybody else is up, no longer living on my own & being truly FREE. Not really sure how this is going to turn out. We'll see!

Location, Location, Location!

Well, the hardest part about opening an office so far has been finding the right location!  I'm sure that I will have much harder things to get through as the months go on, but as of right now this is it!  I'm still looking.  It feels as if I have been all over the entire states of both Georgia and South Carolina and I'm still looking. Choosing the best place to open a chiropractic office is a lot more involved than I ever imagined it would be. Location means everything.

During Christmas break, I visited several places and did lots of online research, both of which were very helpful.  At this point, I am on the verge of making a decision, which is so very exciting, yet so very frightening all at the same time!  What if I don't choose the right location?  What if I don't do enough research? What if?!

Ok...I'm calm again.  I know that everything is going to work out well.  I have faith that I will choose the best location that will allow me to serve the most people that are in need of chiropractic.  And I am so excited!  I feel as if my mind is moving faster than the speed of light all the time because I have so much to get accomplished in the next year.  As Spongebob would say, "I'm Ready!"   

Breaks...They're GRRRRRREAT!!

Thank God for breaks..for they are the only thing that keep me sane!  I love being in school and interacting with my patients daily, but sometimes I just need to pause from the day to day stuff and take a few days for myself.  There are so many things that make break worthwhile, besides the fact that I don't have to be stuck to a schedule all day long.   I get to veg out in front of the television all day, take afternoon naps, and party it up without thinking, " I have to study for tests" or "I have paperwork to do."

After every ten weeks, I long for a getaway, but there's only one problem....I CAN'T SIT STILL! Don't get me wrong. I spend several days doing all the things I described above, but after awhile, I have to get busy. Its almost as if my brain has spent so much time doing more than one thing at a time and now can't function unless I'm doing two or more things at once. For example, I'm vegged out in bed watching television as I write this blog, updating my Blackberry, looking for new shoes online, and trying to schedule my next hair appointment! Ahh!  Has multitasking taken over my life?!

Well, one thing is for sure.  Being a chiropractic student has forced me to conform to mentally juggling several things at once, but it still has not converted me into a morning person.  Haha...That day will never come!

I'm Back!

So, I know it has been a very long time since I posted a blog, but no worries...I'm back!! Let's catch up!

Well, I have been seeing patients, taking boards, helping plan CSG stuff, planning my life after Sherman and a whole list of other things!

First, I am loving my class schedule right now! The very best thing about it right now is the fact that I only have 1 class per day! Unfortunately, that class is at 10am instead of 12pm (like last quarter), but I will survive!

My term as CSG Secretary is slowly coming to an end. Honestly, I cannot say that I'm super sad about it because it has taken a lot of work and extra time. It has been a fun job, but I'm ready to pass on the reins to my replacement!

Over the next several months, I will be visiting other doctor's offices and making plans for my own, which is kind of scary! I am so ready to get out into the world and spread the news about chiropractic and all of its wonders, but the idea of starting my own office is still a bit frightening to me. Although I have found a great source of guidance in AMC, I am still a little apprehensive, which is to be expected for someone who is starting a business from scratch for the first time!

So, I know that was quite a bit of random information, but I am back to posting regularly and will be giving more updates!

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Working summer break and AMC!!

Summer break is finally here!  For me...it's been a working break so far!  Well, that's kind of not true because I have been mixing a lot of working into my playing, but I have still been working.  This is the first time since I have been a student at Sherman College that I have had to spend most of the break in Spartanburg.  Being a full-time intern has been a lot of work and that work does not stop simply because I don't have to go to class.  I still have patients to see, which is just fine because I have to fulfill all these clinic requirements! 

In addition to clinic stuff, I have also been learning new information and listening to audio speeches from the newest addition to my life.  I recently decided to join AMC, Affordable Management and Consulting, which is a chiropractic management and marketing company specifically designed to help chiropractors be successful.  When I began the journey of choosing a management company, I had so many questions.  Which one was the best?  Who was most successful?  How much was it going to cost?  Why do I even need a management company?  Well, as I delve deeper into several different ones, all of my questions were answered and I ended up choosing AMC. 

For most people, the idea of having a management company almost seems unnecessary, right?  I went to school and I know chiropractic so the rest should fall into place.  This definitely was not my mentality from the very beginning.  I knew from day one that I would need someone to guide me through the process of opening my own office.  I have had a "real" job before, but never in a chiropractic office and I had no idea as to how I would transition from student to everyday doctor.  After researching several companies and speaking with several people on campus, namely Dr. Justin Snider, I decided to take a closer look at AMC.  I spent several weeks looking at infomation on their website and eventually got in contact with Dr, Rebecca Brubaker, who is now my official AMC Coach.  From my initial conversation with her, I felt that I was making the right decision with this company because our conversation never felt like a business call.  I never felt as if i was just another opportunity to her, or to anyone that I spoke to at AMC.  I was always a fellow colleague in need of help. 

I attended a weekend bootcamp in June, and decided to make my choice official!  Every since I became a member, I have been speaking with my coach every two weeks and we are putting a plan of action into place for me!  I am no longer afraid to graduate!  There are a lot of frightening things standing between me and that day (such as boards, clinic patient requirements, and the process of trying to start my own practice) but I am so ready!

During the bootcamp, I had the opportunity to meet so many amazing chiropractors that are making incredible strides in our profession, especially the founder of AMC, Dr. Tom Owen.  I am not sure how many companies that invite new members to sit and have pizza with the founder of the organization and just talk about everyday life. but that has been my experience with AMC so far.  As we were reminded throughout the weekend, AMC Bootcamps are not a "ra-ra" type of weekend meeting.  We go through the AMC protocal, role play, and learn how to better our skills as doctors.  I am at an amazing advantage because I have a year to master the protocol, as well as use the information to enhance my clinic practice while in school.  I definitely feel that I have made the right choice for my future and I am so excited about all of the great things to come!  If you would like to learn more about AMC and see how they can help you achieve your goals, visit www.amcfamily.com for more information!

Working summer break and AMC!!

Summer break is finally here!  For me...it's been a working break so far!  Well, that's kind of not true because I have been mixing a lot of working into my playing, but I have still been working.  This is the first time since I have been a student at Sherman College that I have had to spend most of the break in Spartanburg.  Being a full-time intern has been a lot of work and that work does not stop simply because I don't have to go to class.  I still have patients to see, which is just fine because I have to fulfill all these clinic requirements! 

In addition to clinic stuff, I have also been learning new information and listening to audio speeches from the newest addition to my life.  I recently decided to join AMC, Affordable Management and Consulting, which is a chiropractic management and marketing company specifically designed to help chiropractors be successful.  When I began the journey of choosing a management company, I had so many questions.  Which one was the best?  Who was most successful?  How much was it going to cost?  Why do I even need a management company?  Well, as I delve deeper into several different ones, all of my questions were answered and I ended up choosing AMC. 

For most people, the idea of having a management company almost seems unnecessary, right?  I went to school and I know chiropractic so the rest should fall into place.  This definitely was not my mentality from the very beginning.  I knew from day one that I would need someone to guide me through the process of opening my own office.  I have had a "real" job before, but never in a chiropractic office and I had no idea as to how I would transition from student to everyday doctor.  After researching several companies and speaking with several people on campus, namely Dr. Justin Snider, I decided to take a closer look at AMC.  I spent several weeks looking at infomation on their website and eventually got in contact with Dr, Rebecca Brubaker, who is now my official AMC Coach.  From my initial conversation with her, I felt that I was making the right decision with this company because our conversation never felt like a business call.  I never felt as if i was just another opportunity to her, or to anyone that I spoke to at AMC.  I was always a fellow colleague in need of help. 

I attended a weekend bootcamp in June, and decided to make my choice official!  Every since I became a member, I have been speaking with my coach every two weeks and we are putting a plan of action into place for me!  I am no longer afraid to graduate!  There are a lot of frightening things standing between me and that day (such as boards, clinic patient requirements, and the process of trying to start my own practice) but I am so ready!

During the bootcamp, I had the opportunity to meet so many amazing chiropractors that are making incredible strides in our profession, especially the founder of AMC, Dr. Tom Owen.  I am not sure how many companies that invite new members to sit and have pizza with the founder of the organization and just talk about everyday life. but that has been my experience with AMC so far.  As we were reminded throughout the weekend, AMC Bootcamps are not a "ra-ra" type of weekend meeting.  We go through the AMC protocal, role play, and learn how to better our skills as doctors.  I am at an amazing advantage because I have a year to master the protocol, as well as use the information to enhance my clinic practice while in school.  I definitely feel that I have made the right choice for my future and I am so excited about all of the great things to come!  If you would like to learn more about AMC and see how they can help you achieve your goals, visit www.amcfamily.com for more information!

There is always a wild animal at Lyceum!

Every time that I have been involved in Lyceum activities, there has been some sort of animal sighting on or around our campus, some trained and some truly wild!  The first wild animal sighting is not as well know as the most recent one from this year, but I was there for both of them.  I was the registration team leader for Lyceum 2008 and 2010. In early 2008, it was decided that Sherman needed to change the school mascot.  Voting took place in early spring and the new mascot was to be revealed during Lyceum that year.  The unicorn had been the school’s mascot from the beginning, so change was definitely needed.  After quite a few ideas were presented from the students, there were several mascot options  to choose from, mainly the Lion (Pride), the whistle pig, and the bear.  Thank goodness the whistle pig was shot down. 

On the morning after the night the mascot was revealed, I was arriving and getting ready to start the day.  For some reason, I did not go to the unveiling of the new mascot, but I can’t remember why right now.  As John Morrow was unlocking the doors, he told us to be careful when walking around campus because a bear had been spotted walking around on the grounds.  Well, at this point, I say, “Oh wow!  So the bear is our new mascot!”  I'm the queen of mixing relevant information into conversation, so I assumed that he meant our new mascot was the bear. Well, I was totally wrong!  Haha!  There really was a bear that had been walking around on campus during the evening after everyone left for the day!  He would show up and eat out of the trash cans at night, which is kind of cute, but a little frightening too!  Eventually, our runaway bear was caught and returned to the mountains.

Well, this year the real mascot, the lion, paid a visit to our campus and he was great!  I am not sure what our new friend’s name is, but I was told that Simba from the Lion King was modeled after his image when he was a lion cub.  Not only did we have a lion on campus, but a celebrity lion!  Loved it!  He seems so sweet and calm, except for the occasional roar…he didn’t like for his cage to be moved backwards!

Of course, I took lots of pictures of our new friend!  I knew that the one person who would get the biggest kick out of seeing this lion was my Dad.  I immediately sent him a picture on my cell phone and guess what his response was…”Don’t bring him home.”  Haha!  How funny!  Some people just never forget some things.  Ok…so yes, my parents are raising both of my dogs right now, one of which I adopted after I moved out and had to end of leaving with my parents because he needs more room than I can offer right now.  How was I supposed to know that this cute little 20-pound Labrador puppy would turn into a 75-pound monster that likes to chew water bottles?  Maybe that’s why Daddy said that!