Student Blog
Diversity

Black College Expo ⟩
February 24, 2014, by Ryan

Admissions Diversity Getting Involved

This weekend I was worked at a table representing USC Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy at the Black College Expo in Downtown Los Angeles’ Convention Center. It was a great event for anyone who is interested in going to college. They had tons of colleges there as well as seminars for parents, such as how to apply for financial aid. I was amazed at how many people were there. I just wished that I had this when I was thinking about college because it is such an overwhelming process. I was happy to tell them about my experience at USC, but also about the amazing field of Occupational Therapy . . . because, of course, a lot of people didn’t know what it was. I didn’t know what OT was until after I graduated from my undergraduate program. I was so glad to be a part of this and inspire prospective students!

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Tai Chi and (Chai) Tea ⟩
January 23, 2014, by Clarissa

Classes Community Diversity What are OS/OT?

This morning, I saw a group of older adults practicing Tai Chi in a park nearby my house and I felt so happy! Why, you ask? I took a class last semester geared towards creating a community project. My group members and I interviewed experts, talked to community members, and designed a program for (you guessed it) Tai Chi!

Older adults are often at risk for falls and social isolation. In our research regarding Tai Chi, we found evidence in the literature supporting Tai Chi’s positive effects on fall prevention in older adults — it helps with factors contributing to falls like balance, coordination, and fear of falling. To address fall risk and social isolation, we decided to write a proposal for creating a Tai Chi class followed by time to socialize with tea. The social relationships built through tea time could also motivate the older adults to join our class.

We decided our target population would be older adults in Monterey Park, a city just east of downtown LA. The city has a 66.9% Asian population. In our research, we also found that Asians were less likely to talk about their lifestyle to their health providers so they may have needs that aren’t being met. The cultural familiarity of Tai Chi (and the tea!) may work to encourage their attendance to our program.

To explain the title of this blog post — my group really wanted to name our project Tai Chi and Chai Tea but had to very sadly let go of it. Chai tea’s sugar content may not be the best for older adults. The title lives on here. Woohoo!

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Group Projects ⟩
January 22, 2014, by Jen

Classes Community Diversity

So far this semester, I feel like I have had a number a group projects. The great thing about USC being such a large program is that with each new project, I generally get to work with someone new! I enjoy this because each person in the program has something different and exciting to offer. Everyone in the program has I different background, I’ve become friends with people who were professional dancers, writers, teachers, accountants, and more! I am glad that I went straight from undergrad to grad school because I never had a chance to get out of the “school mode,” but my peers that did work before starting grad school have brought such great experiences and knowledge with them . . . and I’m fortunate that they are always willing to share their knowledge with me!

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Accessibility at Disneyland ⟩
April 23, 2013, by Alisa

Diversity What are OS/OT?

Last week my uncle and his family came to visit from Thailand. It was their first time in the United States. I had an eye-opening experience to begin to understand what it was like to live with a T4 spinal cord injury. I was playing tour guide for some of the days. At Disneyland the accommodations were spectacular. They have done a good job in making most of the rides accessible for people using wheelchairs. I had my handy dandy Guide for Guests with Disabilities. We went to Indiana Jones, It’s a Small World, the Jungle Cruise, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Finding Nemo Submarine Voyager, Star Tours, Railroad, Pirates of the Caribbean, Innoventions, the Haunted Mansion, Mickey’s House. While some of the rides didn’t require my uncle to transfer, many of them required transfer either to a higher seat or to a lower seat. My uncle thought that at times he was just going to wait for us, but I insisted that his son and I could lift him. He was able to enjoy all of the same rides with us, and I thought that this is how everywhere should be. I didn’t see my uncle as a person who is disabled, but the environment made him that way. I thought about universal design and the importance of making all spaces accessible for everyone. I appreciate the fact the guide provided a description of where the accessible entrances are located. During lunch we saw a Jedi Training Academy workshop for kids, and I also got to learn more about what it’s like to live with a spinal cord injury for over 20 years. He knew I was studying to be an occupational therapist and even offered himself as a case study. After I took them to get jelly beans and dinner at Rainforest Café, I dropped my uncle and his family off at the hotel exactly at midnight. It was a Cinderella story after all.

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ANIMO! ⟩
November 16, 2012, by Ricky

Diversity Getting Involved What are OS/OT?

Two weeks back, in my role as student ambassador, I presented at the 2012 ANIMO Latino Young Men’s Conference (by a not-for-profit called Family Success by Design). This program features a full day of mentorship, motivational speakers, and empowering activities . . . and it’s pretty OT-based! The founder has been an OT practitioner for over 30 years. The main themes are education, financial literacy, and health. This was such a refreshing experience, and it was an honor to interact with and provide mentorship for all the young men who attended. It was great to see how talented, intelligent, and resilient these guys are. I also loved the craft project at the end (prolly the OT in me, haha).

I collaborated with one of my instructors to create and deliver a presentation on OT. Our talk was part Intro-to-OT and part motivational discourse on going to college and pursuing your dreams. Going into the conference, I was a little confused about why we were pitching OT to kids as young as 12 years old, but now I can see the whole picture. Not only is it important for these guys to be exposed to “successful” Latino men, but they also need to know about promising options for their future. The thing is, these young men are ideal candidates to become OTs in Southern California. They are male, and males are severely underrepresented in the profession. They are minorities . . . again, underrepresented. And, most speak Spanish. It’s important to note that cultural competence (and there are few better ways to immerse yourself in a culture than to speak the language) is vital to developing a therapeutic relationship and administering effective client-centered intervention.

The whole experience got me thinking about my own OT journey. I wonder how I would’ve responded to a presentation like this when I was 12. I think at 12 I was too busy trying to act cool. Anyhow, it took me a while to be honest with myself and accept that my true strengths and passions make me an ideal candidate for OT. I always knew I liked helping others and loved working with kids. That stuff just came natural to me, but my environment never gave me any indication that pursing something like OT could ever be a viable option. It wasn’t until I found myself working long hours as an accountant and asking myself “why?” Why was I working so hard? Is the paycheck enough? That set off this whole soul-searching episode in which I discovered OT. I wrestled with it. I would ask myself what my family and others might think. Would people think I was less manly? Would/should I care? It was rough, but I couldn’t deny myself anymore. I started working at a pediatric therapy clinic, just to make sure, and I was sold. Being an accountant and pragmatist, the numbers added up too (do you know how much money OTs make?! Haha).

For any of you guys that may be interested in something like OT, but don’t think it’s a viable option, I encourage you just be honest with yourselves. Take a risk and volunteer for things like ANIMO — they need more mentors like you, even if you don’t pursue OT. Trust me, I know your heart yearns for experiences where you can just let go of insecurities and just be genuine, with others and yourself.

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