Battle scars

So I got my first battle scars on Tuesday. It was fun actually although it's interesting to note how others don't have the exact point of view regarding them that I do. I was doing circle time with my class when one of the students for reasons known only to he, if that (they are autistic with developmental disabilities) lashed out at the student next to him. Instinct took over and I stood between the two until the staff was able to move him away and calm him. It was completely unexpected but I took it in stride. After all we had been warned about potential injury and all my life I had been taught that unless you are dying then you suck it up and continue with the task at hand.

Anyways as they calmed him I continued with the exercise and noticed the bruising and scratching on my arm so I let the staff know. They told me to go get the nurse to look at it and to file a report. As I walked there I saw my instructor and notified them about what happened. She was concerned and asked me multiple times if I was okay. I was. But she still made me lay down on the little bed thing they have in the nurse's office and then afterward sent me to the College health center to get cleared and I did so. She also said that I could call it a day if I wanted to but I told her it was not necessary and after lunch I went back to the clinical site and finished my day.

In a way I'm relived that it happened because it shows me, and I suppose everyone else, how I would react to a situation such as that. It happened so fast that there was no time to think, it was all instinct and my instinct was to protect the students. I wuld estimate it took all of 5 seconds if that but it felt like a much longer period of time. Either way I got my battle scars and brownie points so it's all good.