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. I want to be part of such a rewarding career.
As a first generation student to attend college from a family of seven, the journey to a higher education has been arduous and overwhelming. My family gives me all the encouragement I need and are very optimistic about pursuing a higher degree. Unlike myself, my parents did not have the opportunity to attend college. My parents were born and raised in a small town in Mexico where the highest level of education they received was fifth grade. I have worked since I was 14 years old to support my parents with bills, and also saving for college and my own vehicle. I have not had any interruptions during my education, because I was able to balance work, babysitting, studying, and attending class on time. Although I managed not having any interruptions
Occupational therapy provides assistance for those who are in need of assistance with daily living and work skills. These specialists work with people of various demographics to handle normal life challenges in a safe and healthy manner.
One of the reasons I want to become an Occupational Therapist Assistant is to help people who have been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome. Albert Einstein once said “Everybody is a genius, but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” People with Asperger’s syndrome are often misjudged because of their “disabilities.”
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.
The fact that learning never stops, that you work and collaborate with some of the smartest minds around, and the uniqueness of each patient gets me very eager to enroll in a challenging DPT program with proven student success. I am very thankful for the experience I’ve had so far observing physical therapy and studying the sciences in my undergrad. I don’t think as many other careers are so open to allow students into their workspace and I look forward to one day being able to spark another young student’s interest in rehab therapy. Before my sophomore year in high school, there was little I knew about the physical therapy field but since then I have spent a great deal of time observing physical therapists and from all that I’ve learn I know that I want to become a physical
Occupational Therapy Assistant is a growing profession. According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of OTA is projected to
For almost three years now, I have been enrolled in the Health Science program at Manchester Community College in Manchester, NH. My intentions are to transfer to a four-year college for a Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy and then continue on to a Master’s degree. My goal is to become an Occupational Therapist with a focus on children with special needs. I recently added a dual enrollment to my degree in the Infant/ Toddler Lead Teacher certification program to gain experience in the Early Childhood Education field in a school setting. Beginning my college career at the community college allowed me to focus on my academics, while also being able to explore my options with job shadowing and observing occupational therapist and
Since eighth grade I have had this burning desire in my heart to become a pediatric occupational therapist. As a thirteen year-old I spend hours watching videos and reading about “what it takes to be an occupational therapist”. Passion was overwhelmingly the most popular answer. I knew the second I read the word “passion,” I had what it took to be a pediatric occupational therapist. I know that God has shown me that the path for me is to become a pediatric occupational therapist over and over again. This past summer while I was working at the Columbia Mall Carwash I was introduced to Dr. Bert Bachrach at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Columbia, Missouri. Dr. Bachrach gladly gave me his email and has coordinated days for me to job shadow. God has continued to open doors for me and I am excited to see what my future
Occupational Therapy is a health care profession in which we facilitate maximal independence and quality of life throughout the lifespan. As an Occupational Therapy Assistant Student, I want to be able to make the difference in the individual life to reach the patients goals and helping them back to be independent as possible. “The mission of the University of Charleston is to educate each and every student to their life of productive work, enlightened living and the community involvement.” (The University of Charleston, 2017). Liberal Learning Outcomes helps the student to be able to communicate effectively and engage in creativity in our professional and personal life (The University of Charleston, 2017).
Although each individual mentioned in this passage made a positive impact on Occupational Therapy, one therapist in particular stood out to me. If I were alive in the early 1900’s, George Edward Barton would have convinced me to pursue a career in occupational therapy. I believe that Barton had a stronger impact on the field because he was once a patient himself. Therefore, he was a direct example of how the therapy can help people and reassure those in his shoes that there is a way for them to achieve independence again through the “work cure”. I always find it inspiring when people fight through their struggles, become
Occupational therapy allows a patient to work towards the goal of being able to perform basic everyday functional tasks. Therapy will differ for each patient, providing purposeful tasks that will allow the most growth for the specific individual needs. Being able to be an independent individual that can perform functional tasks is something that most people strive for, and if something happened that altered this way of life, it can be very stressful and even feel dehumanizing to the patient. Striving for independence and working with the therapists is something that will positively affect the patient's quality of life.
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.
By 2026 physical therapy jobs are said to be increased by 25% (“10 Interesting Physical Therapy Facts & Statistics,” 28 Dec. 2017). Physical therapists are doctors that help people who have pain during movement or have lost some range of motion. They help those patients regain their abilities or manage their pain (Bellamy). This is a great career to go into. There are many aspects that go into being a physical therapist like degrees, advancement opportunities, day to day responsibilities, and much more.
For as long as I can remember, I have possessed a desire to help people, especially those who are less fortunate than me. This trait along with life experiences are what drew me to want to pursue a career in social work. I want to be available to provide support to people when they have nowhere else to turn.