Hello Lovely Readers!

August 27, 2015
by Ariel

What are OS/OT?

Hello Lovely Readers!

For my first post, I’ve decided to mirror the student ambassadors of years past by telling you the tale of how I first fell in love with occupational therapy . . . .

Once upon a time . . .

I was a sophomore in college majoring in Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity (an interdisciplinary mix of psychology, sociology, anthropology, and history), and minoring in Drama. Despite this eclectic mix, somehow I wasn’t too concerned about what profession I would ultimately pursue; I figured if I took classes I was passionate about, they would lead to a major I was passionate about, which would eventually lead to a job I was passionate about. Then, in junior year, all my peers started siphoning off into various career tracks — tech, business, law, medicine, education . . . I knew I needed to do some major self-reflection and research to figure out which path I would take.

First, I thought about what I wanted out of my work: I knew I wanted to be in a helping role, create meaningful relationships, and that I wanted to wake up every morning (even 30+ years down the line) and still be energized by the path I had chosen. Second, I knew I wanted to have a flexible career — one that was dynamic in nature and broad enough that I could continuously be learning and expanding upon my knowledge. And third, I wanted to work in a profession that relied on kinesthetic experience (read: no cubicles!), and that would allow me to flex my creativity.

For a long time, I was unsure of how to proceed; even after hours of research (thanks Google!), it seemed that no profession existed that fulfilled all of my ideals in the way I had hoped. Then, during the last week of my senior year, I had a chance encounter with an acquaintance from my freshman dorm. She told me that she was going to graduate school for this profession called “occupational therapy,” and that if I wanted to help people I “should really check it out.” I had no idea at the time, but her offhanded comment would prove to be quite serendipitous. I headed back to Google, and searched for anything and everything related to occupational therapy. That’s when I fell down the rabbit hole . . . and I’ve just kept falling ever since.

Initially, it was the theory behind occupational therapy that was compelling: I was inspired by OT’s consideration of the multidimensional nature of the human experience. But it was in the clinic setting where I truly fell in love with the field.

My first hands-on experience with OT was at a pediatric occupational therapy clinic in San Francisco that helps children gain the strength and functional ability to overcome developmental challenges. Early on, I assisted a therapist in treating a boy with severe sensory processing disorder. At first, he was terrified to navigate the obstacle course, ride the zip-line, or even play with the toys. Over the course of several months, the OT and I graded his activities to address his sensory disorganization (a few terms you’ll learn in OT school!). His progress was astonishing. In time, the same boy whose frantic screams had once echoed down the hallways was beaming with confidence, showing off his fearless zip-lining skills. I could barely believe this was the petrified boy I had once met. I was thrilled to have taken part in his extraordinary transformation, and it was then that I knew for certain I would pursue occupational therapy.

Occupational therapy gives its recipients a new opportunity to really live. It was in my hands-on experiences where I concluded that the most serious adversities afford the most potent opportunities for growth. Furthermore, these experiences revealed to me that it is in grappling with our greatest physical and emotional challenges that we discover not only our limitations but — more importantly — our innate resilience.

Here at USC’s number one ranked program in Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, I’ve been offered so many different opportunities: I’ve been given the opportunity to teach children new skills, mentor adults and adolescents in attaining life goals, help brain injured patients maintain independence, explore research that advances evidence-based practice, and learn the ins and outs of creating community programs. Above all, USC’s occupational therapy program is preparing me to reach my overarching goal: emboldening patients to discover within themselves the perennial strength of the human spirit.

Welcome to my blog, and FIGHT ON!!!

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