Leadership in Action

Week 2- Highs and Lows

This week I experienced highs and lows after starting a new placement working across 2 hospitals in the mental health units alongside working with children at Becky’s home.
Go to the profile of Lily Grace Else
Lily Grace Else
Student , University of Leeds
Week 2- Highs and Lows
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I won’t lie I settled in and found my first week in Ghana surprisingly easy, I got along with everyone and felt comfortable in my placement. But this week I started a new placement which has provided highs and lows.

Low

This placement differs due to its duality, in the mornings we work in clinical hospitals shadowing and in the evenings we work with the children at Becky’s home (which is an orphanage). On my first day I was excited to learn more and see what this new placement had to offer but left with disappointment. I was nothing but polite and ready to learn but was actually disrespected by the doctor at this new hospital. His rude attitude didn’t sit well with me alongside the misinformation he was providing us regarding symptoms and diagnosis. And so I questioned it, I was curious and pressed because he soon realised I knew he was wrong. Of course these discussions consisted of him backtracking and patronising remarks towards me. Although I tried to have a debate and learn, fake smiles and biting my tongue was what I resorted to soon after realising he is not someone that can be reasoned with. Also with no clients coming in that day or throughout the week I didn’t gain valuable experience instead it felt like a test of my patience.

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High

The saving grace of this placement is the children of the orphanage, so kind and welcoming. I found it immensely rewarding working with these children during counselling, providing educational talks and even just engaging and playing lots of games. I found myself working longer hours and spending what should have been my free time with them. Getting to know each child as individuals and what their goals and aspirations are and what I can do to help them achieve that. One moment that stands out is when I arranged a big sports day for them consisting of football, volleyball ball, rounders and various obstacle and jumping courses. I believe this put the leadership skills I have learnt into practice as I organised this independently and ensured everything was fair and ran smoothly. I facilitated team work and opportunities for different children to take leadership roles in different games and also develop some of the skills I have learnt during the Laidlaw programme. It was a huge success and everyone was rewarded with some well deserved squashies (my favourite sweets).