Hello everyone! I hope this new semester has been treating you well. Though it may feel like we’re in a lull right now at the beginning of the semester, this is a time to make sure to plan ahead.
A new semester means another semester of tuition to pay. Maybe you are paying through loans, or maybe a scholarship or two. Make sure to keep an eye on deadlines and payment plans that may be available! For instance, as a UMCP student, there is a Terp Payment Plan for students where you can make monthly payments for tuition. Currently I am working and taking classes at the same time, so a monthly payment plan has been a great help! It’s not late to still enroll in the plan, the deadline being February 20th. So if you are also a UMCP student, I definitely recommend taking a look at it and visiting the Center for Student Engagement & Financial Resources if you have any questions.
A college education is an investment for the future, a privilege we are able to have as students aiming for a goal, a dream. Though a college education can be extremely expensive, there are many scholarships, grants, loans, and other financial aid available. Please make sure to explore all your options, USG is here to help you succeed!
USG also has scholarships for the fall/spring, so make sure to always check the homepage during summer/winter breaks to not miss the priority deadlines. And outside of USG you can check your respective school’s website for scholarships as well as external websites such as Fastweb.
School can be expensive, but there are many ways to fund it! Best of luck, USG is here for you at every step.
Located in Arlington, Virginia, MMA & Sports Rehab has been serving the surrounding community for over five years. Originally from Nepal, Dr. Ujjwal Shakya, PT, DPT, DMT, SCS, is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, and the owner of the clinic. A practicing martial artist, he also is a Doctor of Manual Therapy and Board Certified Sports Specialist. Last year, the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) prominently featured MMA & Sports Rehab and their work with mixed martial artists. In the April 2018 edition of the professional magazine, PT In Motion, Dr. Ujjwal was highlighted in an article entitled Working With Combat Athletes.
Photo: Dr. Ujjwal of MMA & Sports Rehab
Blending Martial Arts and Physical Therapy
With an emphasis on treating sports injuries, chronic pain, and various facets of rehabilitation, MMA & Sports Rehab provides a variety of different treatment options for patients. While spending a day observing at the clinic, Dr. Ujjwal utilized specific techniques, including manual therapy, dry needling, IASTM (Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization) and myofascial release therapy. I was able to see how these techniques and accompanying assessments were implemented in a real-life setting during a day of observation. MMA & Sports Rehab encompasses a unique niche, including treating different populations, active individuals, and mixed martial artists.
Photo Courtesy of MMA & Sports Rehab
Observations and History
Throughout the day, I was able to see a variety of different upper and lower extremity injuries from all across the spectrum. Each week, many patients from various walks of life step through the doors, including younger athletes, older patients, active adults, and MMA fighters. In the early stage of his career, Dr. Ujjwal offered physical therapy services at a mobile clinic located two doors down, right inside the gym of Pentagon MMA. To date, Dr. Ujjwal continues to offer extensive treatment for mixed martial arts fighters and also sports rehabilitation for active individuals. In 2017, Dr. Ujjwal opened his own clinic, conveniently located steps away from Pentagon MMA, where he continues to provide exceptional physical therapy treatment.
Dr. Ujjwal Shakya of MMA & Sports Rehab
Balancing PT and Martial Arts
Working as a physical therapist leads to a busy lifestyle, and Dr. Ujjwal often trains at the gym during his lunch break. With a full schedule of weekly classes, including Muay Thai (Kickboxing/Thai Boxing), Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Judo, it’s clear that Pentagon MMA certainly means business. Having a martial arts background of my own, including growing up studying tae kwon do, and later Filipino Martial Arts, and capoeira, I was eager to learn more from Dr. Ujjwal regarding his diverse experience. While some may not be familiar with the movement patterns of various martial art forms, Dr. Ujjwal has practiced Muay Thai for many years. His understanding of Muay Thai and other martial art forms help to create a unique perspective for his method of treatment as both a Doctor in Physical Therapy and an martial artist. By actively training in martial arts, Dr. Ujjwal is better able to serve the surrounding community with his comprehensive ability to understand movement as a whole. Dr. Ujjwal also shared that he provides injury prevention seminars at Pentagon MMA several times a year, to help with prerehabilitation techniques for the fighters. These community outreach seminars help explain thorough prevention strategies and exercises for injuries related to combat athletes.
Photo Courtesy of MMA & Sports Rehab
Treating Mixed Martial Artists
Some of the most common injuries for mixed martial arts fighters involve the knee, hip, and shoulder joints. Dr. Ujjwal explained that many joint injuries can occur from overuse. For example, Dr. Ujjwal explained that many jiujitsu fighters and grapplers often experience neck, upper back, wrist and shoulder injuries due to the rolling motions that they perform. Over the years, he has also treated many varieties of fractures, herniations and labrum tears. For the knee injuries, in particular, Dr. Ujjwal frequently helps treat medical collateral ligament (MCL) and anterior collateral ligament injuries (ACL) related injuries.
MMA & Sports Rehab in Arlington, VA
Promoting A Healthy Lifestyle
Dr. Ujjwal has years of experience in the field of physical therapy, and his patients were always smiling upon arriving to the clinic. A true educator, Dr. Ujjwal generously shared his extensive knowledge about various treatment methods. Whether he was explaining dermatomes or the purpose of IATSM, he was always patient and willing to answer any questions. Throughout the course of the day, the patients who arrived all had such positive testimonials to say about Dr. Ujjwal and his team. The focus of MMA & Sports Rehab is to help educate patients about maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and to offer extensive physical therapy options. Patients left the clinic glowing from ear to ear, and shared many words of gratitude from their personal experiences at the clinic.
Cupping
During the day, I also learned from observing Jamie, a licensed PTA (Physical Therapist Assistant) on staff. She explained about some of the treatment options available, including cupping. I never experienced the treatment myself, and Jamie applied one to my forearm so I could try it out. Although it may look like it could cause some significant discomfort, it was actually not as bad as I expected. If I had to describe it, the feeling was sort of a pulling sensation, like someone grabbing a bit of your skin firmly, and then gently letting go.
Thank you, Dr. Ujjwal, Jamie, and MMA & Sports Rehab!
Looking Ahead
Overall, it was a very informative observational experience, and it made me eager to learn more as I continue on with my professional journey. I felt grateful for the opportunity, and it was a fascinating learning experience. I was also exposed to a lot of concepts related to physical therapy, such as dry needling, cupping and IATSM. I learned a lot regarding treatment options for mixed martial artists, in particular. After completing my previous coursework in Exercise Science and Health through Montgomery College and Salisbury University, and it was especially exciting to see the assessments and treatment options performed in a real-life setting.
I have such a strong passion for martial arts and to pursue my career in physical therapy. I am currently finishing up my last semester here at The Universities of Shady Grove, and I am thankful I was able to observe and learn from Dr. Ujjwal and his team. For more information about MMA & Sports Rehab, please visit their website and Facebook page.
Written by Jade Esmeralda
All photos were used with permission from Dr. Ujjwal and MMA & Sports Rehab.
February is known for being the
shortest month of the year. February is known to be the month of love. February
is known to celebrate all Presidents of the United States. February is also
known for Black History Month. I wanted to take the time to celebrate a few
brilliant African Americans that have made their mark in American History.
“Never
be limited by other people’s limited imaginations.” – Dr. Mae Jemison,
first African-American female astronaut
“Hold
fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot
fly.”
– Langston Hughes, poet
“Hold
on to your dreams of a better life and stay committed to striving to realize
it.” – Earl G. Graves, Sr., Entrepreneur
“If
you have no confidence in self, you are twice defeated in the race of life.” – Marcus
Garvey, Political Leader
“You can only become accomplished at
something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead pursue the things you
love doing and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off you.” – Maya
Angelou, author and poet
“If
you wake up deciding what you want to give versus what you’re going to get, you
become a more successful person. In other words, if you want to make money, you
have to help someone else make money.” – Russell Simmons, Entrepreneur
“In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings,
we pay ourselves the highest tribute.”
—Thurgood Marshall, first African
American U.S. Supreme Court member
Change
will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the
ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek. – Barack Obama, first African American
President
It isn’t where you came from; it’s where you’re
going that counts. – Ella Fitzgerald,
American singer & first African American Female Grammy Award winner
There are still many causes worth sacrificing for,
so much history yet to be made – Michelle
Obama, first African American First Lady
Happy Black History Month, everyone! As always, thanks for reading & ‘til next time! 🙂
The Universities at Shady Grove are having nursing walk-in hours for the University of Maryland. The event is for anyone interested in attending a walk-in appointment to speak with an admissions representative about certain nursing programs. The Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing that is offered by the University of Maryland, Baltimore is available after completing two years of undergraduate education at an accredited college or university. The University of Maryland School of Nursing is among the 10 best nursing schools in the country according to the U.S. News & World Report. What makes the University of Maryland Schools of Nursing one of the best in the nation are the leaders in the field that the school collaborates with. Scientists and expert clinicians that have decades of experience create relationships with the students that attend. The program will prepare students to take the NCLEX-RN licensure exam. These options are great for those who wish to be prepared to succeed in a wide range of health care environments. If those who apply for this program wish to pursue a graduate degree, they will have the qualifications they need to pursue graduate studies.
Another academic program that is offered is the Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing. This is beneficial for registered nurses who wish to pursue their career opportunities. If there are advanced practice nurses who are seeking to be primary health care providers for individuals of all ages and their families, the Family Nurse Practitioner program is the plan of study for them. This will help nurses who have a Bacherlor of Science in Nursing, have their master’s in nursing or a related field or are looking to change their specialty.
The nursing event will take place at the Universities at Shady Grove on Friday, February 8thfrom 10:00am to 3:00pm in building 1, room 314.
I am sure you have heard the question “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Recently, I have had a few friends and acquaintances who have experienced major life events that have tested their emotional and mental strength. Whether someone experiences a death, goes through a divorce or separation, or suffers a financial setback, the level of resilience a person has can help or hinder their recovery from a serious life event.
I am certainly not saying that one should not grieve a loss. Grieving is an important part of navigating through a major loss, but an article in Psychology Today notes that it’s resilience that seems to help a person regulate their emotions more effectively, therefore reducing the stress on the mind and body. That regulation can then allow the mind to tune in to cognitive resources that can help figure out what productive action can occur next. They also note that there are tell-tale signs whether a person is resilient including a positive attitude and optimism. Check out the full article here.
If you are having trouble sorting out a major life event and need some help, the Center for Counseling and Consultation can help. This service is free for USG students. I visited them last fall to sift through some issues I was having and they were quite helpful. They offer individual psychotherapy, career counseling, couples counseling as well as crisis management and emergency services. It is inevitable that we will all experience serious events that will require us to reach deep inside ourselves and find the tools to heal from our loss. It’s just nice to know that you don’t have to do it alone.
Since it is technically still the beginning of the year, I thought I would share something very useful that I learned in undergrad and graduate school: reflective thinking. For those who are not familiar with reflective thinking, this is when you are conscious about your own thinking and analyze them. Typically, you think through your past learning experiences then evaluate them and make decisions on how you want to change the way you respond to new experiences or situations; this is to help you with future planning or better decision making. The most important aspect of reflective thinking is being aware of your own biases, knowledge, and previous experiences. For instance, from my previous experience training as a school counselor, I learned that I was too concerned with obtaining high grades (performance-based learner). Therefore, in my current program, I made it my goal to have a mastery goal orientation (learning because I want to learn) and be able to apply my learned knowledge into my personal life. I wanted to internalize the information that I was learning so it will stay in my long-term memory and apply to daily situations. Through this experience, I learned that by following my curiosity about how to help students succeed better, I was able to identify other potential career paths where I can be an effective agent of age. Reflective thinking is easier said than done because of our hectic schedules. However, if you are able to incorporate this practice into your life, it could help you make informed decisions and appreciate the small things in life.
Why reflective thinking?
Taking the time to think and be more conscious of our actions helps us make better-informed decisions. I believe this is a great tool especially if you are trying to decide which road to take in life. This tool is also useful if you are considering or in the process of switching career fields because thinking about the skills and knowledge that you already possess could help you identify the new career that could meet your needs. For example, when I finished my first graduate program and could not find a school counseling position. I had to really think about what was important to me and what role I can play in my field to help me achieve my goal of helping students achieve their goals in life. I thought about the skills that I learned as a school counselor and a researcher. I also thought about skills that I already possess and my ultimate goal of making a difference in people’s lives (either direct service or contributing to the research field). I realized that where I am in higher education or working with K-12 students, I can use my skills to impact students’ lives. As a result, no matter where you are in life, stopping to think is extremely helpful not only in decision making but also helping you see the great things in life.
For those who are interested in adapting reflective thinking into your lives, below are a few strategies that I tried and loved.
Reflection Journal – I did this reflection journal in undergrad for a student organization that I was a member of. The goal was to reflect on my abilities and capabilities as a student leader in my campus. Ultimately, journaling every week helped me realize the type of leader I am and the skills that make me an effective leader in the community. I would suggest this for anyone because this acts as a diary and you can write entries however you want. Plus, you can practice your writing skills.
Passion Planner – I loved my passion planner because it was designed to help people identify their long-term and short-term goal and how to track them. At the end of each month, there is a reflection section where they ask you questions about how you felt you did during the past month. I have about six or more of these planners from undergrad and grad school. My favorite part of the planner is that they have a weekly section where they provide you by the hour breakdown. I like this feature because it helps visually see what my schedule looks will look like. This is a great planner for organization and reflective thinking. I highly recommend this especially if you have a busy schedule and prefer a physical planner.
Need some help with organization or time management? The Center for Academic Success (CAS) provides academic coaching (including time management and organization), writing consultation, and workshops to help students become successful during their time at USG. I used their services as a student. I definitely recommend using their services.
I hope you enjoyed your winter break! I enjoyed mine. At least I think I did.
Remember this?….My winter goals
Here is my to do list for this winter break.
NEED TO DO:
Study from 9AM-8PM every Wednesday to Saturday for the MCAT
Work
Shadow a physician
LIKE TO DO:
Have fun
Watch television (Catch up on The Good Doctor, GoT, etc)
Well, I am happy to tell you that I completed 4 out of 5 of them (Yes that’s right! I got something done over the winter.). I did not have time to have fun, but I completed the most important ones of all which were the other four. Besides, I hope to have a lot more time in the future where I can have unlimited fun.
Anyway, I hope everyone enjoyed the snow that fell 2 weeks ago. I certainly did not. I shoveled the snow around my car around Sunday morning. Then guess what, it snowed again! And I had to shovel again! Not only that, I shoveled 3 parking spots full of snow for me and my 2 sisters (my back was hurting). Then guess what? My neighbor had the audacity to park in the parking spot I had shoveled! I was upset (angry really, I had to shovel another parking spot), but I let it go (sorta).
Anyway…how was your winter?
Psssst… if you haven’t already outlined your goals for this semester, please do it. It can keep you on track. If you want you can come for 24-Hour time schedule from CAS located in the SAS suite. See ya!
I like to think of February as the time to really get the resolutions into gear and fine-tune them. For myself, I had some pretty lofty goals in mind for both work-life and academic-life. Spring semester doesn’t start until tomorrow and I’ve already realized that my goals and resolutions needed some fine tuning.
We have students work on New Year’s resolutions when we get back. It’s actually a part of the curriculum, and we grade them based on whether or not their resolutions are “SMART”–specific, measurable, action orient, relevant, and time-bound.
As adults, whether or not these resolutions are “achievable” is the big question. Yes, we want to believe the sky’s the limit and to push ourselves to our potentials. But, like myself, students at USG are often wearing more than one hat, juggling several responsibilities. It seems that the “achievable” requirement for adults should be “achievable without falling apart.”
There are some criteria I’ve recently gone by to determine if my goals were achievable to a reasonable extent–this kind of combines with the “realistic” component.
Will I be getting enough sleep? A recent article came out linking a lack of sleep to two proteins associated with Alzheimer’s. Reason #2359 to get your beauty rest in above all else. I know more recently, the culture of “grinding” and essentially overworking yourself has become almost an expectation, even glorified. It’s tempting to create a goal that would be achievable if you were a part of that culture but…trust me, it’s not worth it.
What happens to my work life balance? Ah, the work-life balance. There’s no equation or formula that fits everyone, but I think this article from the Harvard Business Review sheds light on how to make it happen, even if you’re a leader in your domain.
Is this something that will make me happy if I accomplish it?Too often, we set goals because peers are way too convincing or because some Instagram influencer has been pushing it since before the New Year started. Like a work-life balance, there’s no formula. What one person is doing as a resolution may not do anything for you. Imagine reaching that goal. Would it really feel good? Or is there simply an “OK, what’s next?” If the former, you’re way more likely to succeed in achieving it. If the latter, any bump in the road might be the end of the resolution path.
Hello everyone, and welcome back to USG! It’s the first day of the spring semester, and first days are always a chance to start anew. It’s a time where you can branch away from old habits, change your studying patterns and learn from your experiences last semester. New classes, new people to meet, and new experiences await you, and though it can be frightening, I hope you are looking forward to it.
Fall 2018 had been my first semester at USG, and it was amazing how quickly the campus can make you feel at ease. I had been incredibly nervous, wondering if I could really succeed transferring into my junior year with all these courses, but USG had been so welcoming to students, and for that I am forever grateful.
Because of my experiences last semester, I was able to learn more about what studying habits worked for me, and what didn’t. During the first few weeks of the fall semester, I tried to write a ridiculous amount of notes, notebooks full of writing I couldn’t make sense of later. But as the semester went on, I found highlighting the textbook and annotating worked best for me, a studying method I plan to utilize this time around. But even if you didn’t find a method that works for you just yet, don’t worry! It’s a constant learning process that shifts and grows with us, and the spring semester can be a great time to ease yourself into a method that will lead you to success.
Even if worries are plaguing you during this time, don’t forget USG is supporting you. The campus provides many places to study and relax for as long as you need, such as the Priddy Library with study rooms you can reserve, as well as the Center for Counseling and Consultation, free and all information confidential. I’ve spent so many hours in the Priddy Library studying and the environment is wonderful. You may see a classmate walking by, you can work together in groups to tackle difficult problems. Overall, USG is here for you, no matter your needs, and the first day is the best day to start exploring!
Seriously! where did all my holidays go? As much as I am looking forward to an exciting new semester, I can’t help but smile for my last winter holidays. I did’t take any winter classes and so I am joining back after a long gap. This last month was in every way the most emotional, happy and the best since, well …. many years. I had to do a trip to my home country, Pakistan. I grew up in the city of Karachi. Besides all of its faults and difficulties.. it is still my home town. This time I get to take my kids, who are now in their tweens, for my younger brother’s wedding. We had a family reunion and more. I get to visit my childhood home, visit all the aunts and uncles and visit their homes(which are huge part of my childhood) and show my kids, where I grew up. My kids had never been to Pakistan, so this was their first visit. I had visited before, and I always knew what I would be expecting. This time around, I saw things through my children’s eye. It was emotional in many ways. I was happy to see positive changes in my life as I saw my family and my extended family growing and doing much better. The best part of my trip was that I get to meet my school friends… what school friends you ask? Well, the one’s who’m I had been with from pre-school to 10th grade and some even till 12th grade. I met most of them after 21 years. It was amazing and exhilarating to see all of them. Its amazing to see, how we all started together and how we had all evolved, experienced different things in life. Life had changed them in different ways, but the smiles remind the same. The memories we recalled were and how they had evolved are truly a blessing.
I took my kids to my childhood home for few days. I entered my parent’s home.. and there it was. The same kitchen table, the kitchen, the stove with oven .. where I baked my first cake… burned my mom’s best frying pan while cooking, helped my mom made various delicacies. I went straight to my room and my bed. It was dusty, but I lied in it. Both my kids looked at me. I got up.. started opening my side table drawers, my armoire. Some of the stuff I left 15 years ago was still there. Some picture frames, that I had bought, that had pictures of me , by siblings and our childhood. My son, asked me why am I opening stuff, its not ours… and then I said to him, no its all mine, these are all my things”. It felt emotional, to see my parents home and it felt like a time capsule. It also reminded me the time of my struggles and reminded me how hard my parents worked for me to get me where I am now. My brother still lives there.
Visited my aunt’s home, among many other visits to my relatives. It was as huge as I remembered it, but all my aunt’s children had moved outside Pakistan. The oldest son is living there ready to sell the house. It was sad for me. He gave me and my family tour of the whole house from top to bottom. I remember my older cousins brother’s and sisters getting married in that home. The laughter, the smell of food, my aunti cooking in the kitchen. I use to stay there as a 10 year old and then as a teenager. I told everything to my mom, all me and my other kids secret hideouts and favorite sitting place. There use to be a mango tree at the back, which my cousin had to cut down. There were coconut trees, which were still there and a mulberry tree, ever green and ever tall. Here’s a thing, when you grow older, you don’t want to buy any of the stuff available in the beautiful bright markets, you wanna buy all the old homes you grew up in, with all the love.. if only I could!
Camel ride anyone! Yes we rode it, a must do on the beach
We did some sight seeing after the wedding and fell in love with the city again! The best part was that I came back, with more humbleness and love in my heart.
Sea-View Beach, Karachi,Pakistan
The trip made me understand, that no matter how you started, what matters is where you are in life at the moment. Growing up, I never in my wildest dreams imagined my life in United States. Not, just that but I would be attending classes in an American University, with major, that suites me, as a person. I can never be thankful enough for the opportunities I had been provided with and the the one’s that are yet to come.
I am certainly not saying that one should not grieve a loss. Grieving is an important part of navigating through a major loss, but an article in Psychology Today notes that it’s resilience that seems to help a person regulate their emotions more effectively, therefore reducing the stress on the mind and body. That regulation can then allow the mind to tune in to cognitive resources that can help figure out what productive action can occur next. They also note that there are tell-tale signs whether a person is resilient including a positive attitude and optimism. 
USG
The Universities at Shady Grove (USG) 