Christine Clark-Trotter

Hey gang! My name is Chris and I am currently in the last month of my EMT basic class. I love what I'm learning and am very excited to hopefully pass this class and go on to do the same with my boards. However, even though I am doing well in my exams and quizzes and currently have a solid 88% in the class, I am struggling with the hands on assesments. When I get called up in front of the class to do different scenarios I get that deer in the head lights look and all I know disappears from my brain. It makes me feel stupid and incompetent and has me worrying if I am indeed cut out for this line of work. I used to be an EMT and a good one at that, 15 years ago and then had a severe head injury from a fall off a 30 ft. roof that once I woke up from a coma in the ICU on a vent was told by the docs I may not get my memory back at all. Luckily, I did in time get my memory back but in taking this class I have come to realize my memory and recall are definitely not where they used to be. Taking this class is like taking it for the first time. My self-confidence is in the toliet. I don't want to give up. Infact, I'm willing to go to the station every weekday (when the kids are at school) and just run assessments and practice all my hands on skills until they become second nature to me. My lead instructor called me a chicken in front of the class last week as well as pointed out a stupid question I missed on an exam to everyone. I wanted to shrink into a corner. I've contacted my instructors in hopes to meet with them and get their feedback. But would love to hear any of yours as well. Thanks.