Student Blog
JRoe

Did you know?!? ⟩
September 14, 2016, by JRoe

What are OS/OT?

A unique aspect of the Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy is that we offer a minor in Occupational Science. I had the pleasure of speaking to undergraduate students this past week about our minor and master’s program and felt nostalgic about my days as an undergrad being back on the University Park Campus, or as it is commonly called, Main Campus.

I know what you might be wondering, “What is the difference between Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy?” A common question. OS is the science that informs the practice of OTs. What the undergraduate students learn in their classes is applied when OTs treat their clients. Fun fact of the day, USC is the birthplace of OS and one of the founders, Florence Clark, currently sits as our division chair.

Students who take the undergraduate classes come from all backgrounds and majors, and many of them have never heard of occupational therapy prior to enrolling in the class. I met students majoring in accounting, biochemistry, engineering, architecture; you name it, and I met them! I think the minor’s classes are an excellent introduction to what it means to be an OT and they are fun to be a part of thanks to their engaging professors and interesting topics, like exploring one’s own creativity and understanding how animal companions contribute to one’s health. I wish I took more advantage of these classes.

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Welcome, Friends! ⟩
August 24, 2016, by JRoe

What are OS/OT?

For this first blog post, we all wanted to share our stories about how we discovered and decided to pursue occupational therapy. Here it goes!

I’ve always had a passion for children. When I was in eighth grade, I decided I wanted to teach preschool because I knew I wanted to work with young children and I did not want a desk job. As such, in high school I began volunteering to work with children in various capacities. What I looked forward to most was being a counselor at a summer camp for children with special needs where I got the opportunity to be paired one-on-one with a camper. I became passionate about working with children with disabilities and that’s when my mother suggested I look into occupational therapy. At the naïve and stubborn age of 16, I said no — I was set on becoming a preschool teacher.

Fast forward a few years to my last semester at USC where I took OT 250, Introduction to Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, with Dr. Kate Crowley. It was in this class that I learned more about the holistic and broad nature of the profession and began to think that maybe my mom’s initial suggestion wasn’t so terrible. However, I was still fixated on becoming a preschool teacher. The more time I spent teaching in a typical preschool classroom, the more I missed working with children who have disabilities and the one-on-one nature of the camp I was a part of. I slowly began to think that my mom had the right idea after all.

I began volunteering at a pediatric clinic and in a school district where I had the opportunity to observe the amazing work they were doing each day in an intimate setting. I was excited by the idea to foster relationships with my clients that could span years and help them achieve their individual goals. I knew I had found my calling when I saw the impact that these OTs had and how excited both the children and the therapists were to come in every day. I was hooked.

Since becoming an occupational therapy student, I’ve enjoyed furthering my knowledge about pediatric OT, but I have also had the pleasure of learning more about the other practice areas. My eyes have been opened to a new world and I am excited to see where my career takes me!

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