Faculty / Staff Resources Student Resources
University of Southern California
University of Southern California
USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
X/Twitter Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube
Education
Education

Joyce Yoo MA ’19

Joyce Yoo MA ’19

Hometown: New York City, NY
Program: Entry-Level Master’s, Class of 2019

What brought you to occupational therapy?
My grandmother’s experience with an incomplete spinal cord injury brought my family together. As I saw the way she went through the rehabilitation process, I was in awe of the power of therapy. In addition, I went on two service trips to Kenya and Brazil. Being in a different country where locals had no idea what a wheelchair was opened my eyes to a world outside of the states. With these experiences together, I realized that I wanted to pursue a career in serving others!

What area of practice are you interested in?
Mental Health! Mental Health! Mental Health! Society has been making progress towards decreasing the stigmatization of mental illnesses and psychiatric disorders. But there is still much more to do. Many of these issues are misunderstood and poorly represented. I want to take an active role in making small changes.

What are some of the occupations you engage in?
My two stress relieving occupations are dancing and shopping. You can probably find me dancing almost anywhere at any time. And well for shopping . . . I’ll be doing that online, in person, in my sleep. 😊

What song can you sing entirely by heart?
Empire State of Mind — Jay Z.

If your childhood had a smell, what would it be?
Bath and Body Works Sweet Pea.