Climbing, OT, and Me

July 25, 2025
by Katelyn

Community Living in LA School/Life Balance

Even before starting OT school here at USC Chan, rock climbing was my escape. It was a place where I could disconnect from the noise of my life and simply move. The walls were puzzles, and my body was the solution. I loved the physical challenge, the focus it demanded, and the way climbing left me grounded and at peace.

So, where did my love for climbing come from?

Since I was a child, I’ve always loved the outdoors. My childhood best friend and I spent hours in our backyards. We dug for worms, chased lizards, collected rolly-pollys, and climbed the wall that separated our houses. Once we reached the top, we triumphantly ate unripe fruit straight off a tree. While I cannot pinpoint the exact moment my love for rock climbing started, I know I’ve loved the art of climbing, whether it be a tree, a backyard wall, or even a boulder. Climbing felt like a dance: hauling my body upwards, finding handholds I could trust, and shimmying my toes into the tiniest of footholds. It felt intuitive. Natural. Joyful.

Naturally, as I grew older, I explored opportunities to rock climb. At community fairs, I would scramble up plastic rock walls, catching fair technicians off guard as a scrawny little girl climbed up the wall as if her life depended on it. I loved climbing.

My eyes were opened in my freshman year of undergrad. My RA happened to be an avid rock climber and decided to invite a group of her residents to a rock climbing gym. The irony? We visited a climbing gym in my hometown of Arcadia, CA. I was stunned. My life was changed. Since that instance, I have bought a membership to Hangar18 and have climbed on and off for the last 6 years.

Climbing has become my outlet, a time when I can be fully present in my task. It has become a time for stress relief, to build confidence, and for me to nourish myself. Alongside these wonderful perks of climbing, it has also become a time when I connect with others. Whether it be sharing beta on a route, encouraging newly made friends mid-climb, or just laughing with friends during a bouldering session. I’ve come to appreciate climbing. Like many occupations, climbing holds many layers: physical, cognitive, emotional, and social.

Since beginning my program here, climbing has taken on multiple layers of meaning. In class, we often discuss “occupation” as more than what people do; rather, it’s who they are. Suddenly, I see climbing in a new light, not just as a sport, but rather a powerful occupation that shapes my identity, supports my mental health, and brings community into my life.

I’ve started seeing others at the gym differently. The people I interact with are not just climbers; they’re occupational beings. I’ve noticed how people adapt quickly when they fall, they self-regulate when frustrated, and how the climbing gym fosters inclusion. Ultimately, these are the same lenses I bring to fieldwork as a future clinician, observing, participating, and providing meaning all in real time.

Especially in such a demanding program like USC Chan’s E-OTD program, holding onto meaningful occupations like climbing has reminded me why I chose this path. Because at the heart of Occupational Therapy, there is a belief that what people do matters. And for me, climbing does.

Ta-ta for now!

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