Meet Cristina Tustin | Program Coordinator and Certified Child Life Specialist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cristina Tustin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cristina, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Taking risks can be scary, however taking risks has led me to where I am today. When I think about taking risks, I think about a challenge, new opportunities, new lessons, and adventure. When I was 21 years old, I took a risk and moved to Oregon from California to finish my Bachelor’s Degree. I remember after moving, I sat in my apartment thinking “Why am I doing this, I was perfectly happy at home”. This transition was difficult for me, but that was the beginning of shaping me into the person I am today.

I am so thankful for taking that risk because it led me to my career path as a Certified Child Life Specialist. From there, I took the risk to intern in Washington, D.C. After interning, I took another huge risk to move to Albuquerque, New Mexico, and work as a Certified Child Life Specialist with Pediatric Cancer patients. I had never been to the state and knew not one person there, however I knew taking this risk could lead to new opportunities and help me continue to grow. When I moved, I had that same feeling and pit in my stomach. I remember being so upset thinking again, “I was content and happy at home”. Putting myself in this position and moving for this job, pushed me in even more ways than I ever knew I needed. I met and helped so many families through their child’s cancer journey’s, and it truly was something I will never regret.

Now, looking back at all the risks I took in order to better myself and my career, I am so thankful I took that initial first risk of moving to Oregon. If I hadn’t, I have no idea where I would have headed, and I certainly would not be in the current position I am in, working as a Program Coordinator at Lollipop Theater Network, bringing entertainment to pediatric patients Nationwide.

I think the important thing to remember though, is that risks can go either way, however regardless of which way they go, there will ALWAYS be lessons learned, and important things you can take away from those experiences to continue to better yourself and your career moving forward.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am currently a Program Coordinator at a Non-Profit Organization called Lollipop Theater Network, where we bring current movies and entertainment to children in hospitals nationwide. It is an extremely unique and rewarding position that I am very thankful for.

Before this job, I was working as an active Certified Child Life Specialist. Many people do not know what this title is, or what the career itself actually entails, so I would love to explain it. A Certified Child Life Specialist is a clinically trained professional who helps infants, children, youth and families cope with the stress and uncertainty of acute and chronic illness, injury, trauma, disability, loss and bereavement. As stated on the Associate of Child Life Professionals website, they provide evidence-based, developmentally and psychologically appropriate interventions including therapeutic play, preparation for procedures, and education to reduce fear, anxiety, and pain. This is a career near and dear to my heart because when my sister was 16 years old, she was hospitalized, and her Child Life Specialist really helped my family and I through a very difficult time. This job requires a lot not only physically, but emotionally. Many people think we have the “fun jobs” or call us the “toys ladies”, which listen, in some cases this is true. Child Life Specialists bring toys and play with patients to make them feel better, however there is a lot we do that typically goes unseen. Many child life specialists help explain to a child that they have cancer, in a way the child can understand, others have to deliver difficult news to children that their parent or sibling is dying, others have to create hand and footprints out of clay or paint from a dying patient so the family has something to keep in memory of them. These are just a few things of many that child life specialists do, and the worst part about it is, they are not appreciated and extremely underpaid.

I knew when pursuing the career that the pay was low, however I was not aware that I would be required to volunteer many hours, intern full time without pay, get my master’s degree, all to make $20 an hour. When initially starting in the field I justified it. “I love my job. I am helping so many families”, however in the midst of covid, I realized I couldn’t continue justifying the pay. I was new to the field, moved to another state for the position, and already emotionally exhausted because my work was not seen for what it was, and I could work at a Target to make more money. I am very passionate about this because I love the field of Child Life, and witnessed all the amazing reasons why it is essential to pediatric patients. I had to really come to terms with the fact that it just was not something I could move forward with as a career because I could not afford to live with the stress of paying my bills month to month while also paying back my student loans I had accumulated for a job that wasn’t ever going to help me pay them back.

I have been out of the field now for a couple years, however I still work directly with Child Life Specialists all over the country in my new position. I feel for them. They are extremely understaffed because many Child Life Specialists are choosing to leave a field that is so needed and that they love, because it is not a job they feel supported in. I do believe it is important to speak about this career, and the issues that are currently arising in it. It is a career that helps patients and families immensely, not only because they support the child and family throughout the entire hospitalization, but because they teach children tools to take home with them in order to help better their coping skills and pain management, which will ultimately help their overall mental health and trauma experienced.

As a sibling of a hospitalized patient who was extremely thankful for the Child Life Specialist that stood by her sister and her family through one of the scariest times of their lives, I hope this story sheds some light on the amazing things Child Life Specialists do, and I hope that if anything, someone in need of these services reads this, and becomes aware that this is typically a service they can request for their child in many children’s hospitals today. I promise it will change the hospitalization experience for you and your child.

Throughout my journey becoming a Child Life Specialist, to leaving the field behind, I learned something that I believe everyone should remember. No matter how much you love a job, know your worth. In the amazing words of the brilliant Taylor Swift, “Sometimes giving up is the strong thing
Sometimes to run is the brave thing, Sometimes walking out is the one thing, That will find you the right thing”.

I am not sure what this passionate rant may do regarding this amazing field, however I felt it was important to talk about. Because when I think about my story I do think about being a Child Life Specialist, and although I am not currently working as one, I would hope the field changes enough that I can return to it one day without struggling financially.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
When it comes to Los Angeles, or should I say Southern California in general, going to the beach is a must! First, I would take my friend to one of my favorite Mexican restaurants on the beach in Laguna Beach, called Carmelitas. Some chips and salsa with a margarita while watching the waves is truly incredible. I would also take them to Milk Bar, because I know some people are not into sweets, but when it comes to the Funfetti cake at Milk Bar, nothing beats it.

We all know Disneyland is a must! I would also choose a sports games depending on the season. No matter what time of year, there is a professional team in season, and nothing is better than getting some snacks, a drink, and cheering on our home team!

When it comes to night life, there truly are too many options. You can go to bars in Orange County, San Diego, or many in Los Angeles. I am not sure I can really pick just one, there are endless options!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My sister, Juliana. Without her experiences she had, and me standing by her through those tough moments, I would have never went down the career path that I have. She inspired me to want to help children and families in the hospital setting get through one of the most difficult times, and help support them through those times while providing a safe and fun environment.

I also think about my fiance, Brett. He encouraged me to take the risks I had, and always supported me while I moved around in order to help further my career and land my dream job. He truly pulled me out of my comfort zone in the best way possible.

Of course, having a supportive family was extremely important to my story. Moving around so much would have been much more difficult if I had not have had the support system that I had. It is important to find and know who your people are, and keep them close. Those people will be pertinent in helping guide you to your success, and be there to help you through the difficult times as well.

Website: https://www.yimengc.org/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yimeng-chen-931504214/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/moechen_

Image Credits
Juliana Tustin