Narcolepsy Personal Statement

I have not always known that I wanted to be an occupational therapist. When I was researching potential careers in high school, I knew that I wanted a job that is creative, helps people, and doesn’t involve encountering bodily fluids. I wanted a job in healthcare that allowed me to make a difference in someone else’s life the way that many of my healthcare providers have made a difference in mine. I have had narcolepsy most of my life, but I did not receive a diagnosis until I was almost 17. Narcolepsy causes me to have abnormal sleep cycles, which leads to an overwhelming amount of sleepiness during the day. Once I was diagnosed I had to make many adjustments to my lifestyle and medications. It was very difficult at first, but these lifestyle changes allow me to life a productive and successful life, despite having a disability. Through the many years I went without having a diagnosis, I was surrounded by wonderful health professionals who cared for me and worked diligently, exploring every avenue of possible sicknesses until ultimately discovering that I had narcolepsy. They have inspired me to make a difference in others lives in a similar way they made a difference in mine. I want to be an occupational therapist because it allows me to use my creativity to transform the lives of others. Because

I am currently seeking shadowing opportunities for this coming summer. I am also going on an alternative spring break at a camp accommodated for disabled people where I will be working directly with people who have disabilities. I plan to do at least one major thing related to the career I want each semester and summer of college. I plan to take the GRE the summer after my senior year. The graduate school I am most interested in is University of Tennessee Chattanooga. If I can not get accepted there, I have multiple other programs I will be applying