Kris Aguilar OTD ‘27

What brought you to occupational therapy?
My first introduction to occupational therapy was actually through a psychometrics class. We completed a career inventory, and occupational therapy came up as one of the top three careers that aligned with my personality and work style. Not long after that, I broke my leg roller-skating during a lunch break and needed surgery. While I was in the hospital, an occupational therapist taught me how to safely use crutches to navigate stairs. It was a small interaction, but it made OT feel much more real to me—I got to experience firsthand how practical and meaningful the profession could be in helping someone return to everyday life.

What are some favorite occupations you personally engage in?
Some of my favorite occupations are camping, swimming at the beach, riding my bike, hiking, and being outside in pretty much every capacity. Music is also a huge part of my life. I love discovering new music, exploring different artists and genres, and going to little venues for shows.

What are your future plans in occupational therapy, either at USC or in your career?
I hope to build a career that brings together occupational therapy, mental health, advocacy, and community-based care. I’m especially passionate about harm reduction, justice, and working with underserved populations, and I’ve also really enjoyed school-based practice. I’m drawn to nonprofit and public-service settings where access to meaningful services is not dependent on someone’s ability to pay. I see meaningful occupational engagement as closely connected to human rights, and I hope advocacy remains central to my work, whether that means supporting individual clients, improving access to services, or addressing larger systems that affect people’s ability to participate fully in their lives and communities.

If you could watch a 5-minute video of any event in human history, what would it be, and why?
I’d choose Lou Reed’s 1974 press tour in Australia. During interviews, reporters pushed him on controversial topics surrounding his music, sexuality, and gender nonconformity, and Reed responded with super brief, deadpan answers rather than giving them the reactions they expected. I’d love to witness the tension, humor, and his complete commitment to being unapologetically himself.

What are “green flags” (i.e., pleasant attributes) and “red flags” (i.e., unpleasant attributes) that you notice about other people?
Green flags: curiosity, kindness, a good sense of humor, being passionate about something (even if it’s super niche), and treating people well when there’s nothing to gain from it.
Red flags: condescension, constantly speaking negatively about others, disregarding boundaries, and a lack of accountability.

 

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