Student Blog
Plan. Period! ⟩
August 29, 2019, by Kat
The new semester is starting and I already have tons of things on my to-do list. Whats my game plan for the semester? A PLANNER!! During the fall semester I will be in the Adult Rehab immersion, working as a student ambassador for the Chan Division, and trying to balance life with family and friends. Personally, I find that a planner saves my life during a busy season. Writing due dates for assignments, work schedule, and dates with friends helps me keep track of upcoming events and how to prioritize my week. Having a visual aid for me to help support my completion of tasks and responsibilities is something that could also be done with a client to support their engagement in meaningful occupations.
Kickboxing, running, cooking, and hanging out with friends are some of my favorite occupations. With a busy semester ahead, it is important for me to make time for my meaningful occupations in order to stay sane and find a little time for self-care. Finding activities that help you rejuvenate, clear your mind, and that you enjoy are an important part of living a balanced life. I am able to find time for my favorite occupations by planning ahead and using time management skills. By practicing these skills on myself, I am able to refine them so I can implement or adjust them with future clients.
There are many ways to stay organized, such as using Google Calendar, reminders on your phone, sticky notes on your mirror, or old school paper and pen. All in all, be an OT and get creative. Find the method that works best for you! It may also work for a future client!
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Why I Chose the OTD ⟩
August 29, 2019, by Catherine
For me, returning to school to pursue a second Master’s degree felt like running into a deep and dark tunnel. Despite this, the first time I stepped foot into CHP for an informational session of the program, I had a sense that I was becoming a part of something great. The amazing faculty, robust programs, and sense of community among others, has always made me proud to be a Trojan. I must admit that there were times I would get overwhelmed and second guess whether I would be able to power through to graduation. Then Fall Semester of my second year came. I was hesitant. The idea of staying on for the OTD had always been at the back of my mind from day one. However, I found myself questioning if even know where I wanted to be for my residency. I still had one immersion left. What I needed at that time was to “OT myself”. After taking a step back and allowing myself to breathe, I made a list of the pros and cons of applying for the OTD. I reflected on my initial inspiration of why I wanted to be an OT. Having this visual, and having taken the time to re-connect with my goals, I was able to see that all the amazing qualities of Chan that inspired me to apply for the Masters, stood true of the Doctorate. However this time, I wasn’t running into darkness unarmed. With me were all the tools of an entry-level practitioner. Now that I am beginning my residency, I strongly feel that I made the right choice. I find myself better positioned to expand my knowledge to elevate my future practice with the support of my mentor, Dr. Rebecca Aldrich, and the Chan Division. Moving forward, I am excited to share with you my experience and hope to provide useful insights into OTD.
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Summer Coming to an End ⟩
August 24, 2019, by Anijah
The time has come for me to say goodbye to a great summer. During my time here at the USC Chan Division, I have learned a lot, met new people, and grown as a person. These last few days have been bittersweet. I have spent these past three months getting to know the amazing faculty and staff who make sure that each program runs smoothly. You can only understand so much about how the programs run when you attend a tour or information session but, working from behind the scenes has allowed me to appreciate the effort USC Chan puts into making sure students enjoy their time while becoming an occupational therapist.
The first time I met an ambassador, I never thought I would have the opportunity to be one. I remember attending an information session and being amazed by the structure of the program while I was a sophomore. Then, on the first day of any occupational science minor classes, one of the first people you will meet is a student ambassador from the Master’s Program. These students describe what occupational therapy is to students who may be taking their very first minor class. At the same time, they are refreshing students’ minds about occupational therapy to returning students. This summer, being an ambassador has allowed me not only to understand the structure of the program better. I have also learned the necessary steps required to take to run events such as the information sessions.
I am sad to be leaving this position, as there are a variety of experiences and memories that I truly enjoyed while working as an ambassador this summer, but I anticipate the future. During this last year of my undergraduate career, I look forward to helping students better understand what occupational therapy is through the Pre-OT Club. I will be applying to a variety of Occupational Therapy Master’s programs, with my eyes on a certain school! I hope my time here has helped many students who are currently applying or trying to get a better idea about what this great health profession is. For now, farewell and Fight On!
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Daily Fun ⟩
August 9, 2019, by Anijah
There are a few activities that I engage in daily that I believe lead me to live a good quality life. One is to start my day with a warm cup of tea and another being regular exercise. When my siblings and I were younger, our parents embedded a tradition into our lives, from their childhoods, which was to have a warm cup of tea in the mornings. This tradition I continue to this very day. The first thing I do every morning is to make a cup of tea while catching up on social media or watching television. The two hours each day before class or work are the best times for me to fully relax and not worry about anything especially since it is rare for me to have time to watch anything once I have started my day.
Exercise is the other activity that I engage in almost every day. Once I retired from track and field, I had to find a new way to stay active. Initially, it took me a while to get back into the gym because I enjoyed having a break from a mandatory workout routine. But after taking a weight training class at USC, I was able to find a good work-life balance and realize the impact this balance has on my life. Certain activities either make my energy levels increase or decrease, and exercise ensures that my energy level was steady. If I go too long without at least fitting in 30 minutes of cardio in my day, I tend to feel really lethargic until I work out again.
To be consistent, I created an exercise plan. While creating my exercise plan, I had to know how much my body could take without being burnt out. It is important to know how much you should be engaging in an activity like exercise, especially since I was used to exercising at an extreme level. Exercising can be really rewarding, but it can also have a negative toll on you if you do not know have a reasonable approach and goals.
The last activity that I try to do every day is to spend time with friends without having to do work. My friends and I tend to study together because we are more productive that way. We also put time aside to spend a few hours with each other without having to worry about school work. During these times, we are either enjoying each other’s conversations, playing games, trying new things, or cooking. (Earlier I wrote a blog on how much I enjoy cooking, and luckily, I found friends who really appreciate cooking as well.)
It is essential for everyone to spend time doing those things that interest them so that they can lead a good quality life. There will always be things we may not necessarily enjoy doing. But, as long as we have a good balance between the two, you can lead the life that you truly enjoy. Take time to find pursuits that you enjoy by testing new ones or continuing to engaging in ones you do like. Fight On!
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Getting to Know the Field ⟩
August 2, 2019, by Anijah
Hi everyone!
Before you sit down to start applying to occupational therapy schools, I highly recommend volunteering in settings that provide insight into what this health profession includes. Prior to deciding to choose occupational therapy (OT) as my career path, I was on track for a pre-physical therapy. After attending USC’s information session for occupational therapy, I became even more interested in this field. But I wanted to make sure that OT was the right discipline for me. I did not want to switch my major to something I had very little knowledge about and feel unhappy. To determine the best way to proceed, I had discussions with some of my occupational science minor professors about my hesitancy about switching from PT to OT. They recommended that I learned more about what occupational therapists do in a clinical setting if I have the opportunity. As suggested and to get an idea about OT in a clinical setting, I volunteered in a one. When I first started volunteering, I pictured myself, in the future, working in an Acute Hospital healthcare, but that has now changed to Adult Physical Rehabilitation. I hope to explore more areas in a Masters program. For many, like myself, the way to learn about OT is to volunteer in an OT office. Here are a few tips I have when taking the step to volunteer:
- Research! The occupational therapy field has a variety of settings they work in including hand therapy, pediatrics, rehabilitation, and many more. Some hospitals and clinics will only focus on one practice area, so for example if you see yourself in a pediatrics setting look for a location that specializes in it. Other hospitals and clinics work with multiple practice areas. Since there are a lot of options for you to possibly choose from in the future, it is important to find a location that also fits your interest. The sites can range from hospitals or day-care centers to schools and universities.
- Try different settings! After spending a reasonable amount of time in one setting, it is very important that you test out other practice areas as well. This is essential because you may be surprised by the fact that you enjoy one practice area, like hand therapy better than mental health. You may also consider volunteering in a multi-area practice. This may allow you to get a wide variety of OT experiences in a short amount of time.
- Get to know the people! It is a good idea to get to know those that you work with because they give great advice and could potentially provide a letter of recommendation for you in the future. I had a great time interacting with the occupational therapists, assistants, therapy aides, and physical therapist. While shadowing, I was able to see how occupational therapist and physical therapist work together with their patients.
I genuinely enjoyed my time volunteering at USC’s Keck hospital. It provided me with a lot of insight about a variety of things about the field of OT and how an OT practice works. Not only did I get to learn more about what an occupational therapist does, but I also got to learn more about the healthcare field. I hope to explore more settings and practices in a master’s program. If you would like to find a location to volunteer, observe, or become an aide, use USC’s volunteer system. Fight On!
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