This week was an exciting week for AOM students. For the first
time since the AOM program began, acupuncture and oriental medicine
students were given a pinning ceremony.
From my perception, the pinning ceremony is much like a rite of
passage acknowledging the students' advancement into the NUHS
clinic. To me, it signified the authenticity of our medicine and
the honor we must hold in it while administering it to our
patients. I felt very fortunate to be a part of this ceremony.
My dad came to watch the ceremony, which meant a great deal to
me. As I mentioned in previous blogs, I am very close with my
family and having my dad there was very special. My mom was at a
conference in Hawaii so she was enjoying sun and sandy beaches
instead.
I think it is beneficial when NUHS holds these types of events.
These ceremonies allow us to include our family in the development
of our education, which helps bridge understanding in what we are
learning and accomplishing.
The ceremony was very nice. There were three speakers, James
Winterstein, DC, president of the university, Frank Yurasek, PhD
(China), assistant dean of AOM, and Bruce Hodges, DC, associate
professor of clinical sciences. Hyundo Kim, PhD, the chief AOM
clinician, and several professors including Hui Yan Cai, MD
(China), PhD (China), and Jia Xu, MSOM, LAc, were also at the
ceremony. It was a privilege having these faculty members at the
ceremony on behalf of us and our program.
I felt very motivated when I received my pin, shook the
president's hand, and then wore the pin on my lab coat for my dad
to see. I felt motivated to continue to study hard, honor my
patients and their well being, apply myself to AOM, and apply AOM
to my patients in the best possible way. I am not sure how to
explain how a pin can help enhance these feelings, but somehow, the
pin is filled with inspiration.