After graduating from Forrest County Agricultural Highschool with Special Honors in both Academics and Allied Health in 2009, I actively pursued my chosen field. In 2012, I completed the Pearl River Community College’s Career Technical Program for Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant. I completed the program as a top 5 in my class, graduating on the Dean’s List with Honors. I completed course work in Pediatric, Out-Patient Hand Therapy, Skilled Nursing Facility, and Acute Care.
Description On the 10th of April 2017 at 10am I, a first year Occupational Therapy student interviewed a participant about her favourite leisure activity which was touch rugby in a semi-formal setting for 10 minutes which took place at City College. The main reason why this interview took place was to help me reflect on my communication skills and to make goals to improve my skills. Due to the participants confidentiality I have made sure that I have used a different name throughout this assignment, the name in which I am going to use is Jane.
According to the American Occupational Therapy Association. “Transitions or movements occur throughout an individual’s life. Each person navigates through different life stages, settings, and situations.” Based on personal beliefs and assumptions, transitions can have a positive or negative impact (). Change is interrelated to circumstances, people, and the environment ().
There are many leaders among us in occupational therapy. Some leaders are obvious such as our American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) President, Amy Lamb, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA. However, many others work diligently in the background providing critical guidance in areas of education, clinical practice, administration, legislation, public policy and other significant roles. At our annual conference, may leaders are recognized for their contributions, and they inspire me with their commitment.
and intrigued by the mind-body connection as well as the importance of human activity and occupation in maintaining mental and physical well-being. At the same time, my desire to work directly with people and be able to make a positive and lasting change to their lives by empowering them and helping discover their strengths and confidence in themselves to achieve their goals, led me to a realization that a career in occupational therapy would be a perfect fit for me. To me occupational therapy is a dynamic, rewarding, challenging, and inspiring field where I can fully realize my skills and knowledge. Having always been a firm believer in the patient-centric approach, I am passionate about providing excellent service to patients by improving their performance, preventing illness and disability and promoting adaptation to life
I love the rewarding feeling of helping others with physical and mental disabilities. Memories of my grandfather and subsequent encounters with occupational therapy pulled my attention to this path. Lewis and Clark’s OTA program has a very high reputation and an exemplary graduation rate of 86%. I want nothing more than to be accepted into this program so I can pursue my dream career as an OTA. As an occupational therapist's assistant, I will be able to make a difference in someone’s life, such as the OTAs who helped my grandpa made a difference in his.
Growing up as a twin, I always had that one person who I was always looking after. Growing up as a child I always knew I wanted to work with people. I always enjoyed looking after her, and making sure she was okay. The medical field was something that I have always been very intrigued by. As I got older, I got to experience not only looking after my sister but my gram too.
As a student with only a year left of highschool, I have an understanding of what I am considering to do when I graduate. As much as I would love to teach children in school, I have found a different profession that sparked my interest. Being an Occupational Therapist would be the job of my dreams. Occupational Therapist is just one of the many different types of Therapists. To do a job with such high expectations, I had to plan out the skills, passions, and interest that I excel in.
I have always had the intense desire to care and look after people from a very young age. I firmly believe that everyone deserves the best quality of life possible and this is what had drawn me to occupational therapy as a career path in the first place. It is so easy to take for granted all the everyday tasks we can do and we seldom consider the effect of not being able to complete them. As an occupational therapist I would be able to make a positive impact on someone’s life and make it possible for them to enjoy their life. I want the opportunity to provide support to people, help them gain independence and watch them grow more confident in their own ability.
Occupational therapy saved my family. Growing up with a sister with severe spastic cerebral palsy to include both cognitive and functional deficits, life existed on a day to day, hour by hour basis, as we were unsure of challenges each moment would bring. This all changed the moment occupational therapy brought quality of life back to me and my family. My very personal experience defined my purpose to become an occupational therapist, to pay the gift given my family forward.
Becoming an occupational therapist is my passion and my long-term career goal. Since a young age I have been incredibly inspired and motivated to befriend and help disabled individuals. Having grown up with a disabled mother who benefited from the services of occupational therapy I had the opportunity to see first hand how the experience gave can give individuals like her fulfilling and productive lives. With both parents working as healthcare professionals, including my mother who is now an occupational therapist herself, I see every day how rewarding the field is. Through my life I have had unique personal, professional and educational experiences that have shaped me into a strong candidate for an advanced education in occupational therapy.
Occupational therapy enables individuals of all ages with an injury, disease, or disability to be able to perform meaningful everyday activities through therapeutic interventions. Historically, occupational therapy derived from social justice philosophies and was influenced by events at the Hull House. It was surprising to learn that occupational therapy is connected to the Hull House, Chicago’s first settlement house; so, a meaningful connection as a Chicagoan and a future occupational therapist. Although it did not seem apparent, there were traces of occupational therapy within the exhibit at the Hull House. Furthermore, the Hull House was a meeting place for contemporary social movements, such as the resistance against the tyranny of the
One of the best reasons to choose occupational therapy is to have the opportunity to help people in a truly meaningful way. I love that occupational therapy focuses on the small pieces that make up the whole – the little challenges that make up a quality of life. One of the best aspects of doing occupational therapy is the visible growth you are able to see in patients; it is both inspiring and rewarding. I have aspired to become an occupational therapist since I was fourteen years old. Since then, I have sought out every opportunity I could to volunteer or be in contact with occupational therapists and their
Occupational Therapist “I have seen firsthand the difference that we can make helping individuals return to important occupations” –Gregory S. Seymour. Occupational therapists choose direct therapy activities to help disabled patients become as independent as possible in their homes and workplaces. They use a wide range of equipment and at times, must be creative. Even though you face many years of school, becoming an occupational therapist will benefit you with many rewards.
I learned that occupational therapy is not just about physical limitations, strength and endurance, but more about a client centered approach indicative of adaptations and interventions. An OT practitioner can assist clients in returning to an independent level of functioning by creating and developing activities that are meaningful to them. According to AOTA (2011) “The practice of occupational therapy means the therapeutic use of
