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Mai Sou MA ’15

What brought you to occupational therapy?
After completing my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at UC Berkeley, I was ready to head home to see my family. I applied to many PhD programs in Clinical Psychology thinking that I wanted to become a Clinical Psychologist, but when I was in the middle of my interview, I realized that I couldn’t convince myself that this was the path I wanted to take. I took some time off to explore other options. I wish I knew about occupational therapy early on. My brother’s friend told me about OT and I knew that OT was right for me. I was attracted to the varied settings and specialties of OT as a healthcare profession. I love that the sole focus of this profession is to help others live a meaningful, happy, and independent life.

What area of practice are you interested in?
I am pursuing clinical work with children after graduation. I have been working with children for many years and I find them ever so fascinating. They have such incredible energy, presence, optimism, and potential that I want to use my personal and professional abilities to harness and appreciate what they have to offer to themselves and the world. I enjoy working with children and I find that my creativity in terms of arts and crafts, ideas, and various hobbies will serve as a real asset for me and for the children I serve. I have worked with children in various settings: academic (elementary and middle after school programs and tutoring) and clinical (mental health facility, sensory integration clinic, and hospital).

What are some of the occupations you engage in?
I picked up a handful of hobbies during my undergrad years. I love to learn new things on my own and these are some of the occupations I engage in: baking, knitting, tennis, hiking, swimming, and practicing the guitar and piano.

If we opened your fridge, what would we see?
It’s empty right now, but typically, you’ll find vegetables, blocks of butter (because I bake), baked goods, milk, apples (my dad loves them), leftovers (because my mom tends to make too much food), etc.

What Hogwarts house would you be in and why?
Slytherin house because I value ambition, craftiness and resourcefulness. Plus, I tend not to play nice with others. 😉

If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?
I would want the power to heal self and others. I want this power because I don’t like being in pain. This power may raise some ethical issues . . .

What are two truths and a lie about yourself?
I have never seen snow in real life until I was 21 years old. I am fluent in English, Cantonese, and Vietnamese. I am one of seven children.

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USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
1540 Alcazar Street, CHP 133, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9003

ACOTE accreditation | NBCOT certification

The USC entry-level master’s degree program (cost of attendance) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education® (ACOTE®) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). The USC entry-level doctorate in occupational therapy (OTD) degree program (cost of attendance) is accredited by ACOTE®. View our program’s ACOTE® standards public data. ACOTE® c/o the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.®, 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814, (301) 652-AOTA, www.acoteonline.org.

Professional program graduates are eligible to apply for the national certification examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.® (NBCOT®), nbcot.org. All states require licensure to practice; a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT® OTR certification examination or attain state licensure. Program results from the NBCOT® can be found online at www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance.