Student Blog
Fieldwork

Last Day of Level I Fieldwork ⟩
November 19, 2013, by Jen

Fieldwork

I cannot believe that today was my last day of level 1 fieldwork. Level 1 fieldwork introduces students to a specific occupational therapy setting (my fieldwork this semester was in the pediatric setting) and allows students to apply what they have been learning in class into practice. My experiences this semester at my fieldwork site have really helped me develop a better understanding of what occupational therapists are able to do in the pediatric setting. I love working with children and families, so I am definitely going to miss the people I have met during my final level 1 fieldwork.

I am thankful that I have found such a rewarding field to work in and a population that I genuinely enjoy working with.

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Kid-tastic! ⟩
October 18, 2013, by Clarissa

Fieldwork What are OS/OT?

Last week, I got to spend every day with kids, yay! At USC there’s one full week out of the first three semesters that the students spend at fieldwork and I’m at a school-based pediatric site this semester. I went with my clinical instructor (CI) to several schools for most of each day and then to a clinic for about two treatment sessions before wrapping up. It was really great meeting all the kids that my CI works with, observing her treatments, participating in partial treatments, and also trying out my fine motor toolkit! I practiced documentation too, which wasn’t too stimulating, but I’m still grateful since it’s a necessary part of clinical work.

Anyway, back to the fun stuff! As you read, last week I created a fine motor toolkit and I used it to implement treatments on a few of the kids with fieldwork. My favorite activity was one I call Tennis Ball Monster where I used a tennis ball with a slit cut into it for the mouth and with a face drawn on. I then instructed the child to squeeze the tennis ball so the mouth opens and it can eat pom poms! This is to trick the kid into doing several things on my hidden agenda like hand strengthening, practicing a particular grasp that would eventually help the kid with writing, developing the arches of the hand, and work on thumb opposition which is integral to several types of grasps. Like my pediatrics professor says, “The trick is to outsmart the kid.” Muahaha.

Seriously, though, the creativity is one element of occupational therapy that I love. We’re all motivated in different ways and I love the challenge of tapping into what intrinsically motivates each client.

I don’t know about you, but my fine motor toolkit would be motivating to me, even now! Look at all the animals and colors!

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Planning for the future ⟩
October 17, 2013, by Rob

Classes Fieldwork What are OS/OT?

This is an exciting time to be a second-year student. After getting back from our full week of fieldwork on Monday, my Inbox started filling up for future things to do. First, I had to submit my application for the OTD program. After a lot of thought and consultation with faculty and fellow students, I decided it was the best decision for myself and my future in the profession. I’m looking forward to exploring possible residency sites in the next few month as I try to work out a fun and educational yearlong experience. Find out more on the OTD here.

I’m also starting to plan the elective courses I will be taking this spring. We have two required classes and then up to 12 additional elective units. The program is very structured for the first three semesters, but the final semester is exciting because it gives all of us students the chance to specialize in an area of interest. I’m going to be taking the Universal Design class as well as an independent study on disability studies in occupational therapy. The only sad part is that our cohorts (the three groups that we were divided into at the beginning of the program) will be splitting up. I have made some really good friends in my cohort — spending hours playing on the pediatric equipment, making splints, studying, eating lunch and basically living together for a year and a half has created tremendous camaraderie, and I’ll miss it. But that just means we will have to get some potlucks and themed parties going to bring us back together!

The last big decision on my plate is where to do my Level II Fieldwork next summer. Since I was a teaching assistant this past summer for the foundational courses the first-year’s take, I will be doing both my Level IIs back-to-back after I graduate in May. I’m going to Philadelphia for my second Level II to work on an interdisciplinary program for older adults that focuses on aging in place, something I am very passionate about. I’m still exploring places to do my first Level II here in LA. I’m leaning toward mental health, but I still have a few more weeks to get things figured out.

Whatever I choose will shape the future of my next few years in the program. But no pressure, right?

Also, a big round of applause to fellow Ambassador Jen! She has posted a whopping eight blog posts thus far. I’ll have to step up my game in the second half of the semester!

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A full week of fieldwork ⟩
October 16, 2013, by Jen

Fieldwork

This past week I did not have any classes, because I had a 40+ hour week of fieldwork. My fieldwork took place at a pediatric clinic. The purpose of fieldwork is to provide occupational therapy students to incorporate what we have been learning in the classroom to what really happens out in the field. I know I am a kinesthetic learner which means I learn best when I carry out a physical activity (as opposed to listening to instructions or observing a demonstration). This is why it has been so important for me to have as many hands-on opportunities as possible during my education. I also think that because occupational therapy is typically such a hands-on profession, it is important for everyone in the field (whether they are kinesthetic learners or not) should get as much hands-on experience as possible!

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Whirlwind Week ⟩
October 4, 2013, by Clarissa

Fieldwork School/Life Balance

Oh, what a tornado of a week!  We started off with a midterm on Monday for Health Promotion and Wellness, I made and brought in a fine motor toolkit and took a midterm yesterday for Pediatrics, and the write-up for the fine motor toolkit is due midnight tonight! Of course, I miscalculated my exams and assignment due dates and bought tickets to Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland the weekend prior to this craziness.  It’s my planner’s fault really.

On a positive note, making my fine motor toolkit was such a fun project! I had a great time creating activities with toys and objects to help kids at my fieldwork site develop fine motor skills.  I can’t wait to try out my toolkit on them during our full week of fieldwork next week.  I also worked at a launch event last week for Interacting with Autism, an online resource with documentary-like videos that invites website visitors to interact with various topics. The launch event was so cool! There were various poster presentations, lectures, and musical performances by the Miracle Group which is a fine arts program for children with autism. I was so impressed with their musical abilities!

All right, it’s time to go back to the grind. The important thing is that that I’m somehow surviving this madness, thanks to caffeine, great study buddies, fun assignments, and epic study breaks. Now, if only those study breaks didn’t include running into my nemesis yet again.

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