Ariana Cristino MA ’19
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Program: Entry-Level Master’s, Class of 2019
What brought you to occupational therapy?
The blend of mental and physical health is what initially drew me to OT. When I first learned about this field, I thought it was refreshing to see clinicians treat the holistic individual, rather than the isolated symptom. After observing OTs in a variety of clinical and academic settings, I decided this was the path for me.
What area of practice are you interested in?
Besides Hand Therapy and Animal-Assisted Therapy, I’m really interested in incorporating environmental sustainability into my practice. I’m thankful this field is flexible, so I’m not limited to choosing just one!
What are some of the occupations you engage in?
I love creating playlists, doing yoga, scouring flea markets, and dancing to live music. You could say LA has been the perfect place to support my occupations.
Tell us about your favorite memory from the program so far.
So far, my favorite memory is the Craft & Creativity studio. I’ve had the opportunity to try so many new creative mediums, like tiling and grout, and I’ll always cherish the pieces I created in there.
If we opened your fridge, what would we see?
Lots of carrots and hummus, peanut butter, and Korean face masks!
If you could travel anywhere, where would it be?
I’ve always wanted to visit my grandmother’s hometown in Greece. It’s a beach town near Athens, and it’s on my bucket list as the first place to go after graduation!
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