Student Blog
Evan
Spring 2019 ⟩
April 3, 2019, by Evan
It’s unbelievable that my leadership capstone class, which meets every Monday at 1pm, represents the last opportunity my entire MA-II class will have to be together in one room. It seems like only yesterday that we were all meeting each other for the first time! These two years have just flown by. To be honest, at the time I entered grad school I was feeling very nervous about my choice to come back to school and pursue a second career. Now I feel so good about that decision, and grateful that the experience has surpassed my expectations. Simply put, I’ve met some of the best people I’ve ever known here in the USC Chan Division. I have learned so very much. Not only do I feel ready and competent to move on to an OTD residency at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, but the base of knowledge and experience I have gained through this curriculum will serve me as a person, father, and husband for the rest of my life. Thanks sincerely to my student colleagues and every professor and staff member that has made this journey special for us. It’s an amazing gift to be in a position where you genuinely feel you can help people.
And to those of you who were wondering if it is really possible to have kids in Grad School, I’m happy to report that my second child was born in December! She is my soulmate. Sure, these last few months have been busy. It’s taken a lot of hard work and determination to get everything on the list done each day. But with the sincere support of this department, which really means the world to me, I’ve been able to stay on course.
So all of you who might be wondering if a return to grad school might just be too much, I’m here to tell you it’s possible! Keep the faith, work hard, and good things will happen. I believe this with all my heart.
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It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood ⟩
January 28, 2019, by Evan
I’m a proud resident of Santa Monica, CA. Whatever inconvenience it is commuting 45 minutes to school, for me it is worth the quality of life I am afforded on weekends where I spend most of my time walking about in the neighborhood with family. Many students find it most convenient to live near health science campus or USC main campus, and I think this is a great option particularly for those new to LA, but I was living in Santa Monica before grad school and am grateful I didn’t have to move when I started.
It’s amazing how much where you live can influence occupation. Is it a walking neighborhood? Near the beach or good hiking trails? Near art museums and restaurants? My life is certainly influenced by my home and neighborhood, and I’d have to say that my current favorite occupation is watching the sunset from our roof. Where will you live when you move to LA and start the Master’s program? The possibilities are endless.
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OTSC ⟩
November 30, 2018, by Evan
I’ve spoken in a few posts about my role as OTAC representative for the student body at various external events, but have yet to touch my role the executive board of OTSC. OTSC stands for Occupational Therapy and Science Council, and is a student organization that has a significant influence on the extracurricular lives of students in the Chan Division. ALL students are stakeholders in the OTSC organization and welcome to attend monthly meetings. The Executive Board of OTSC includes elected representatives from other student organizations, plus a variety of other elected leadership positions. We are also blessed with the guidance of two wonderful faculty liaisons. OTSC meetings generally serve to facilitate communication between the various student organizations, as well as provide a forum in which information can be disseminated and various events can be coordinated. For instance, last April the other OTAC chair and I wanted to host a letter writing party to promote advocacy on state legislative issues. By announcing our intentions at an OTSC meeting we were able to get the word out to the whole student body, vastly increasing participation, and even got a budget approved so that pizza could be provided! I’d encourage anyone pursuing a degree in the Chan Division to find a way to get involved in OTSC. Not only is it a great way to be of service, some of my closest friends in the program have come from this type of extracurricular participation. Feel free to message me if you have any questions!
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Having a Baby While in Grad School ⟩
November 14, 2018, by Evan
Life Hacks School/Life Balance
The biggest thing going on in my life at the moment is that my wife and I are expecting a baby girl this January. It will be our second (we also have a 2.5-year-old boy) and we are grateful that all signs so far point toward a healthy pregnancy. When sharing this news with my student colleagues, I get mixed responses. Of course, everyone is excited first and foremost. But then for some the excitement melts away into a touch of concern. One classmate last week even went so far to ask, “How are you going to manage it?”
My response is always the same: “Having babies in graduate school doesn’t have to be more difficult than having a baby with a full-time job!” In fact, in some ways it may even be easier. Let me explain:
USC CHAN OFFERS AN INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT — most of my teachers have families of their own and have been very supportive about my journey into the occupational role of being a parent. Even though I am a male and not physically carrying a child, they recognize the importance of my presence and involvement during the critical moments of pregnancy, the birthing process, and early childhood. It’s wonderful to know that I will always be able to be there for my family without incurring unreasonable academic penalty.
THERE ARE OPTIONS — while I am electing not to take time off school, it was made clear to me from the beginning that it was an option. Students in the past have chosen to take a semester off class, or delayed a level II fieldwork, and then were able to pick back up right where they left off several months down the road. This is also true with regard to my student job. I am so grateful that my supervisor has given me some flexibility on hours during the month of birth.
BALANCE CAN BE ACHIEVED — of course grad school is academically rigorous, but I honestly find my live-work balance to be healthier now than it was during the years working a full-time job in the film business. Most days I get home between 5-6pm and have the opportunity to eat dinner, give baths, and put my son to bed. This simply would not have been possible in my old job. People always ask when I have time for schoolwork — let me tell you there’s plenty of time after bedtime for homework, especially when you can’t really leave the house!
So for me, having a baby in grad school is doable, and even preferable to trying to manage it while working full-time at my previous job. If anyone out there is hesitant about OT school because they are ready to start a family, I’d encourage them to not feel held back by those fears. Rest assured those feelings are normal — I had them too — but I’m here to tell you it’s possible to earn a master’s degree with a young family. (And even have fun in the process!)
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2018 OTAC Conference Student Knowledge Bowl ⟩
October 27, 2018, by Evan
This weekend is the annual conference of the Occupational Therapy Association of California (OTAC) and I am having the time of my life. What a privilege to spend a weekend learning more about unique and meaningful applications of occupational therapy from future colleagues, and spending time with my professors and fellow students in a professional setting. This morning was the annual student knowledge bowl, and I’m happy to report USC had a great showing. We took 2nd place overall, from a diversified field of many OT and OTA programs across California, and I’m so proud to have been part of the team. The format of the competition utilized past questions from the NBCOT licensing exam, so in addition to being a lot of fun the session proved to be a valuable learning experience for participants and audience members alike. I want to especially thank Tracy, Jesse, and Joyce for waking up early and representing our school. Fight On!
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