Megan Fairchild, MS, CCLS

I am very pleased to announce that my long road to become a child life specialist was worth it. All of it was worth it. The days as a child life assistant, the tears over not getting an internship, actually getting an internship that turned out to be bleh, the friends, the coworkers, the laughs, the kids, all of the reading, the late nights and early mornings, the Master's degree, the education credits, and maybe (not sure about this one) but maybe even having to ride the train during my internship was worth it. On November 4th, I went in to take my certification exam. I was so nervous. It has been almost a year since I finished my degree and internship, and I have not practiced child life since then. I had been studying for a month, but they don't give you a list of things to study. You are on your own. But, thankfully I wasn't actually on my own. I had the nicest CCLS from my internship answering my questions, and she mailed me a packet of study materials. I have a worthy priesthood holder in my home who was nice enough to give me a blessing the night before my test and watch my pups during it. I had friends and family and coworkers and volunteers rooting and praying for me. I got in there and finished my four hour test in an hour. I only didn't know five questions out of 150, and I only missed three questions overall! I am thankful that my prayers were heard and my hard work paid off! One of my coworkers had to take the test today. She passed it, but she said it was SO HARD. I could not believe it. She practiced child life for 10 years before becoming a volunteer coordinator. I left that test and was excited and relieved that it was over but almost disappointed because it seemed too easy. Once again, I am thankful that prayers are answered! I am now Megan Fairchild, MS, CCLS. I ordered business cards at work (I may have waited for my test to be over), and gave my first one out today!! My road to child life is not over, but this is a great step!