Amy Su-Min Yeu MA ’21

What brought you to occupational therapy?
The first time I heard of occupational therapy was from a senior majoring in this profession back in high school. Gradually, I found that the aims of occupational therapy aligned perfectly with my interests and ambitions. I enjoy sharing stories and interacting with people from diverse races, cultures, and social backgrounds. I am also committed to pursuing health and wellness in our daily life. Occupational therapy caught my attention because it portrayed human beings holistically and exploring the art of living well. I truly believe that occupational therapy is the godsend that ultimately helps fulfill my dreams.

What area of practice are you interested in?
I am thrilled to explore the endless possibilities of being an occupational therapist. I have a strong passion for Lifestyle Redesign and college student’s mental health and well-being, focusing on guiding students in developing effective coping strategies to enhance their participation in meaningful occupations. I am also interested in the older adult populations, especially interventions, research, and policies for healthy aging. Additionally, I would love to venture into Sensory Integration Intervention and am looking forward to receiving a certification.

Tell us about your favorite memory from the program so far.
My favorite memory from the program so far is the overall interaction with my beloved professors and peers. Even though I am taking online classes in my home country due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I have built up precious international friendships and experienced a sense of belonging in diverse courses and extracurricular activities. I very much enjoyed brainstorming with all supportive partners and applying innovative concepts throughout this program. Those unforgettable achievements have demonstrated our resilience and perseverance during this unpredictability. Fight on!

If you could be immortal, what age would you choose to stop aging at and why?
I cannot think of an exact age to stop aging and hope to continue thriving by maintaining great health and quality of life. I would probably be satisfied after fulfilling my journey through engaging in amazing occupations that I want to do, need to do, and be expected to do.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
“Sometimes we get so focused on the difficulty of our climb that we lose sight of being grateful for simply having a mountain to climb” — Oprah Winfrey. This advice was given to me by my parents on my twentieth birthday. This helped me overcome several hardships and made me feel more at ease whenever I felt anxious and desperate.

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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.