Diversity Personal Statement

From the time I began my education in elementary school, I was given the opportunity to help others. After explaining the concept of diversity to my elementary cohort, my teachers introduced Jeremy; a boy with Down Syndrome, who needed assistance throughout the day with everyday tasks such as taking shoes on and off, tying laces, getting his lunch, and making the transitions throughout the day run more smoothly. I immediately raised my hand when my teacher asked for a willing helper, and made sure I did everything in my power to make Jeremy’s day easier. Little did I know that I would find so much reward in helping Jeremy maintain a state of independence through assisting in his activities of daily living, nor that this love for empowering

In spending time as a hospice volunteer I have been able to express a magnitude of empathy for my clients as well as their families in quite difficult situations. I have ultimately found joy in sharing a small moment in these individuals’ lives. I am grateful to be able to spend time with many persons who do not have family nearby, and to be able to see each client as a person who deserves just as much attention as the next individual. In volunteering with Erik’s Equestrian Center, a therapeutic horse ranch which teaches children with special needs how to ride, I have been granted the opportunity to exercise my patience toward others. As a lesson guide at Erik’s Equestrian Center, I am not only focusing on building up the child’s physical strength, but also teaching the child to ride and to be comfortable in interacting with others. I believe this skill of patience is vital to my immediate goal of excelling in an occupational therapy program, in learning to apply exercises and the backbone of the occupational therapy field, as well as in fieldwork. What I feel is most important is the role I play in the child’s life; I am giving him or her a sense of control in their life when much of their lives have likely been out of their control due to their diagnoses thus far. Being able to see the child