Student Blog
Getting Involved

From Classroom to Community: My OT 340 Service-Learning Experience ⟩
September 7, 2026, by Makayla

Classes Getting Involved School/Life Balance What are OS/OT?

One of the coolest classes that I have taken at USC would have to be Dr. Ashley Uyeshiro Simon‘s OT430: Animal and Human Interconnections in Daily Life course, which is offered under the Occupational Science Minor Department. Every semester, the class fills up fast, and I was lucky enough to take this course during my senior year at USC. Aside from the many furry friends that visit the class, field trips, or presentations from industry professionals, what sets this class apart from the rest is the service-based learning project that involves students securing and completing a volunteer project for an organization that promotes animal/animal-human health and well-being. At the end of the semester, we present our experiences in a small group presentation with students from the same animal volunteer organization and get a chance to hear about the vast array of other animal volunteer organization experiences our fellow peers worked at as well.

For my service-based learning project, I volunteered at Stray Cat Alliance, a non-profit animal welfare organization based in Los Angeles, California, dedicated to rescuing cats and kittens by promoting trap-neuter-return programs and providing medical care for feral and community cats.

The occupations that I engaged in while volunteering included feeding the cats, cleaning/tidying up the cat enclosures, and socializing the cats, as well as tracking the cats’ behaviors in their Daily Observation Sheets. My favorite occupation that I meaningfully engaged in at my site was socializing the cats, where I was able to play with them using the cat toys and sit with them while petting their fur. Here, I was able to observe each of the cats’ unique behaviors and personalities. While it is easy to just play with friendly cats, sitting and interacting with less social cats helps them break out of their shell and, ultimately, makes them more adoptable to a potential caregiver. It is also immensely rewarding to watch cats recover from injury, illness, or spay/neuter surgery and then see them return healthy and thriving! The occupations that I observed the staff engaging in were syringe-feeding little kitties or providing medical care to cats. Sometimes, I would see office staff leading adoption hours and giving orientations to potential cat owners, as well as instructing new volunteer orientations. I found that there were many office staff organizing donations, answering hotline phone calls, and tracking different adoption metrics in their database.

My service-based learning project taught me that it takes a lot of diligent effort by many individuals to run any animal shelter, more than what meets the eye. I have a greater respect for the Stray Cat Alliance animal shelter workers for the amount of work that they put up with and for persevering through caregiver fatigue. While being a cat care volunteer, at times it can be an unpleasant job when having to clean the litter boxes, especially with fecal matter sitting there for long periods of time or smeared around the kennel. At times, I was grossed out at the amount of fecal matter that I had to clean, and it was much easier to think, “Someone else can take care of this.” I had to check myself at times, knowing the value of the volunteers’ responsibilities to ensure that the Stray Cat Alliance staff can complete theirs. When volunteers are not there, the Stray Cat Alliance staff must take on the volunteers’ responsibilities on top of their own work as well. Seeing them around, I found that they work around the clock and on weekends to ensure the health and well-being of the cats, as well as driving efforts to have them fostered or adopted. It’s a thankless job, and I am reminded of the meaningful work that happens behind the scenes to ensure the health and well-being of the populations that we work with. I recognize the importance of stepping up, rather than deflecting to someone else, in keeping at the forefront of how small acts of care contribute to a larger system of collaborative care. Additionally, I acknowledge that when working with vulnerable populations, I should never assume that someone else will take care of things, and check my privilege in the position that I am in to help others. I must do my part, whether difficult or unglamorous, in order for the collective success of a healthcare team and for the betterment of the populations in need.

What surprised me about Stray Cat Alliance was the turnover rate of cats leaving the kennels and new cats coming in. I was surprised when I got to know some of the cats, and then came back to volunteer a different week and to see them gone and replaced with new cats. While bittersweet, it was fulfilling to know that they have found their fur-ever homes and that cat adopters and fosterers are very prevalent, even if I do not see it. This gives me hope, especially during the holiday season, that the cats can touch the lives of so many. What challenged a pre-existing belief that I held was that cats are very quiet and sleep all day. However, being in a cat shelter, many of the cats were very lively, playing or snuggling with their kennel mates, and their “meows” can fill up an entire room. I even saw some cats snore, which I would have never guessed that cats could do, just as humans do.

What I learned about myself through this experience was that there is power in the choice to show up. When engaging in my service-learning project, it can feel tiring to wake up on a weekend to volunteer, especially knowing that it will be cold and I will probably be getting down and dirty with cleaning up the cat enclosures. Without someone supervising or micromanaging you, you can feel like your work is unacknowledged when doing menial tasks. However, I learned that through my work, no matter how big or small the task is, it returns back to me tenfold. Not only am I able to get volunteering done in the early hours of the weekend, but I feel ever so much more productive the rest of the day.

While socializing with the cats, I feel all my stressors melt away, or even that I forget them altogether. As a result, I can work through life’s challenges or tackle school assignments with greater focus and clarity after volunteering. Additionally, while leaving volunteering at the Stray Cat Alliance, I felt that I had contributed to something greater than myself. Being able to look into the eyes of the cats, there is a quiet understanding in knowing that they are perceiving me as much as I perceive them. While going through the motions of completing the volunteer responsibilities, it puts things into perspective when acknowledging the greater system of care that I am contributing to. The cats can’t take care of themselves, so if no one else will care for them, who will? I am motivated to volunteer again, and while reflecting back on the pictures I took with the cats, I hope to see them soon!

Check out USC’s Feature on OT340 on their Cool Classes tour

Learn more about declaring the Occupational Science Minor

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Finding Your Balance in Graduate School: Advice from an E-OTD Student ⟩
August 4, 2026, by Marilyn

Beginnings and Endings Classes Getting Involved School/Life Balance

Starting graduate school can feel exciting, overwhelming, and everything in between. While everyone’s experience is different, here are a few things that have helped me navigate life as a USC Chan E-OTD student and that I hope will help you as you begin your own journey.

One piece of advice I’d give to any incoming USC Chan student is to never be afraid to ask questions.

Before starting the E-OTD program, I completed my Master’s in Public Health (MPH) at USC, but my experience was very different because it was mostly online. Being in an in-person program has shown me just how approachable the faculty are. Your professors, advisors, and job supervisors genuinely want to see you succeed, not just as a student, but as a future occupational therapist. Go to office hours, ask questions in class, or even stop by to say hello. You never know where those conversations might lead, and who knows, they may even become your future colleagues someday.

Another thing I really appreciated about the program is the flexibility with scheduling. Before your first semester, you’ll be able to choose your preferred schedule from the four options provided, making it easier to find one that works with your life, whether you commute, work, or have responsibilities outside of school. No matter which schedule you’re assigned, everyone takes the same core classes and completes the same immersions; the timing of those immersions is just different depending on your schedule. Later in the program, you’ll also have the opportunity to take electives based on your interests.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that having a life outside of school isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity. One of my favorite occupations is spending time with the people I care about, whether that’s classmates, old coworkers, lifelong friends, or family. Even something as simple as grabbing lunch or planning a beach day helps me recharge.

Just as important are the moments I spend by myself. Working out, reading a book, dancing around my room, or taking myself out for coffee or a meal are all ways I practice self-care and protect my mental well-being. As much as I love school, I know I’d burn out without that balance. I’m definitely a planner (my friends and family can attest to that!), so I intentionally make time for fun alongside studying. I’m far from perfect, and I can absolutely be a perfectionist, but every day I try to find those small moments to pause, breathe, and remind myself that taking care of myself is just as important as preparing to take care of others.

Graduate school is a journey, and while it can be challenging at times, remember to give yourself grace, celebrate the little wins, and enjoy the experience along the way.

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AOTA Conference: A Look Into the Student Experience ⟩
May 5, 2026, by Guest Author

Community Getting Involved Living in LA

The annual AOTA (American Occupational Therapy Association) conference took place in Anaheim, California on April 23-25. Keep reading for some student experiences at the conference!

Megha Gala

Walking into my first AOTA Inspire Conference, I thought I was coming to learn techniques. I didn’t expect to leave questioning and expanding what it truly means to practice occupational therapy.

One moment that stayed with me was during “Parkinson’s Treatment Strategies Across All Stages.” The speaker didn’t just talk about motor symptoms, she spoke about preserving self. How a simple cue or adaptive strategy can mean the difference between dependence and dignity. It reframed Parkinson’s for me not as decline, but as a continuum where OT holds space for identity. In contrast, “A Holistic Approach in Acute Care Oncology” felt quietly powerful. Amid monitors and medical urgency, OT was positioned as the profession that asks, what still matters to this person today? That question lingered with me long after the session ended.

I also found myself unexpectedly inspired by “Alternative Exercise in Parks for Stroke Rehabilitation.” It challenged the walls we place around therapy, reminding me that recovery can happen in sunlight, in community, in movement that feels like life again. And then, seeing innovations in VR and hand rehabilitation robotics it felt like watching the future unfold in real time.

But the moment that truly grounded me was seeing a USC Chan professor on that stage. Confident, impactful, shaping the narrative of our profession. I felt an overwhelming sense of pride. This is where I’m being trained. This wasn’t just a conference. It was a shift from learning OT, to belonging to it.

Sri Raagavi Devi Kumaravel

Attending the AOTA Conference as a USC Chan student was an inspiring and meaningful experience. As an international student, receiving the Berro Award gave me the opportunity to attend my first occupational therapy conference in the United States, and I am deeply grateful for that support.

One of the most impactful sessions I attended explored inclusive travel using Disneyland as a case study. Since the conference took place in Anaheim, the experience felt especially immersive — we could even see the Disneyland Ferris wheel from the conference room. Seeing Disneyland presented as a “microcosm,” both inclusive and exclusionary, changed the way I think about accessibility beyond healthcare settings and into everyday community experiences. I was especially intrigued to learn that travel is not simply leisure, but can also support autonomy, self-esteem, identity exploration, and personal achievement.

I also attended sessions on school-based practice using the CO-OP approach, sleep health interventions, and school engagement in children with cerebral palsy, which strengthened my clinical reasoning and reinforced concepts related to my evidence-based project.

The conference reminded me how occupational therapy can shape communities, participation, and meaningful life experiences beyond clinical settings.

Dana Nguyen

Attending the AOTA Conference as a recipient of the Michelle Berro Scholarship was both an inspiring and affirming experience. Surrounded by passionate occupational therapy practitioners, students, and leaders from across the country, I felt a strong sense of belonging within the OT community. Each session I attended expanded my understanding of evidence-based practice, advocacy, and the evolving role of occupational therapy in diverse settings. Sessions expanding from Artificial Intelligence for Low Vision to OT in Adult End-of-Life Care challenged me to think more holistically about client-centered care. Beyond sessions, exploring technologies such as virtual reality and robot-assisted devices brought neurorehabilitation concepts to life. I also connected with OT students nationwide and participated in NBCOT activities, where I gained both knowledge and confidence. Additionally, hearing directly from clinicians who are making meaningful changes in their communities reinforced my commitment to becoming a practitioner who not only supports clients but also advocates for systemic change. I am incredibly grateful for the Michelle Berro Scholarship, which made this opportunity possible. This experience has strengthened my passion for occupational therapy and motivated me to continue learning, leading, and contributing to the profession.

Maria Nicole Carmela Sombillo

It was my first time attending the AOTA Conference, and I knew I had to make the most of it. Even though I was the only one from my cohort and didn’t have a constant companion throughout the three-day event, I set a clear intention: to immerse myself fully. I carefully organized my schedule to attend as many sessions as possible, listened intently to each speaker (J.M. Martinez’s keynote address even made me teary-eyed), explored poster presentations, and made sure to ask questions. I also took every opportunity to connect with exhibitors and fellow attendees.

As a pedagogy resident, most of the sessions I attended focused on transitioning to academia and understanding the foundations of being an educator. From this experience, I came away with five key takeaways: the more you know, the more you realize what you don’t know; networking builds connections and opens opportunities; showing up daily makes a difference; inspiration can be found in the everyday grind; and most importantly, you must pave your own way and pursue what sparks you.

Overall, the conference was an eye-opening and insightful experience, and one I look forward to attending again!

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Oh the Places OT Will Take You: Presenting at My First Academic Conference at Harvard ⟩
April 22, 2026, by Makayla

Getting Involved School/Life Balance

In continuation of my last blog, Mural Therapy: Arts Justice Advocacy and School-Based OT Intervention, I wanted to share about how my participation in Mural Therapy led me to present about my unique experience at Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Alumni Color of Conference (AOCC) alongside the team of occupational therapist Serena Au, the mural artists, and Mural Therapy student volunteers. Our session, “Painting the Future: Using LA Street Art Culture for Immigrant Justice and Disability Advocacy in Schools,” sought to engage attendees in collective arts in action by participating in art activities rooted in graffiti used in both educational and community settings. By demonstrating how persistence fuels collective creativity, our session invited participants to reimagine education as a living canvas, where social justice emerges not only from policy but from communities painting their futures into existence.

Throughout my experience, I created a film to encapsulate the entire Mural Therapy process, documenting this past year’s murals’ impact on the students, mural artists, and surrounding communities alike. I had the pleasure of having attendees experience my film, where I shared interviews from key players of this project who are challenging stigmas surrounding disability, people of color, and graffiti. By introducing culturally sustaining, disability-inclusive creative practices that promote mental health, belonging, and student freedom and agency, I sought to reframe and affirm public art as a legitimate pedagogical and occupational therapy tool.

Throughout our session, we invited participants to doodle or color on our provided coloring sheets that depicted some of the mural artists’ pieces or graffiti alphabet. While doodling for learning, this practice helped them engage with our material and learn about how educators, community leaders, and students can co-create learning environments that challenge deficit-based narratives surrounding disability, migration, and graffiti cultures. Additionally, we led an intergenerational panel discussion featuring our team examining our lived experiences of implementing Mural Therapy, and closed with a Q+A that facilitated dialogue about transferring these strategies into other institutions. In doing so, attendees left with actionable strategies for building collaborative, human-centered learning environments that advance racial equity, disability justice, and immigrant community advocacy.

This was my first time at an academic conference, let alone presenting, and I was very nervous at first simply being in the room full of highly educated people. However, over the course of the conference, I was able to attend some very insightful sessions that helped ease my nerves, such as attending breakout sessions, panels, affinity breakfasts, networking receptions, and listening to keynote speakers.

Here are some highlights from the sessions I attended:

1. From Harm to Healing: Participatory Design for Just AI Futures

Here, I participated in an interactive design workshop investigating how AI increasingly shapes the education landscape, while reinforcing inequities, particularly for Black, Brown and low-income communities. I learned how centering cultural and embodied knowledge as a core design tool is imperative in using AI and education for true engines of innovation.

2. Designing Schools for Human Nervous Systems

In this session, I heard student testimonials about co-regulating classroom structures and how healing-centered practices, nervous system regulation, and relational safety can be embedded into school culture rather than just isolated within counseling spaces. I learned from a school’s empowerment team on how they use joy as resistance and focus on restorative justice systems that replace punitive discipline.

3. AOCC Founders Panel and Keynote Address

I learned about the sacred art of teaching and how, in education, we must treasure the spirit of our students and must not fall into spiritual bankruptcy. Every soul is worth saving, even with individuals that we may find challenges and hardship. Radical vulnerability and rich dialogue take patience, not just working with the ecosystem we are embedded in.

Additionally, I got the opportunity to immerse myself in the art scene that Harvard and Boston uniquely offered. I got to visit the Harvard Art Museum, where I got to meet contemporary Nepali artist, Sneha Shrestha, known artistically as IMAGINE, whose art installation was recently acquired by the Harvard Art Museum. Alongside the student volunteers, we learned about the architectural elements of her piece that were inspired by her hometown and how the latticed and arched shapes echo the doorways of many South Asian revered spaces. It was so enlightening being able to learn from this Harvard alumnus, and the work she has done in starting the Children’s Art Museum of Nepal and curating art programs and exhibits of South Asia across the world.

This day was especially special because it was International Women’s Day, and to be in the presence of strong women on this day served as such a great reminder for the wonderful work that raises the standards for our future generations and is continually being done to advance our communities and world at large. Here, I am pictured by two strong USC Chan alumni, Serena Au and Dr. Natalie Palencia, who was also a USC Chan student ambassador like myself.

Also, I got to explore the Harvard Art Museum’s Forbes Pigment Collection that houses rare and historic pigments actively used by conservation scientists at the museum. While recalling the Dodgers mural from this past winter that we worked on, it is interesting to learn about the intentionalities and the rich histories that pigments carry beyond the paint at our fingertips. Here, I learned that the very pigment that is used to create the iconic Dodger Blue pigment (Lapis Lazuli) is primarily and historically sourced from Afghanistan.

Lastly, I got to explore the Boston area with the team before I headed back to sunny, Southern California. I got to visit Faneuil Hall for some Boston clam chowder and even got to squeeze in a visit to see my cousin for dinner and check out Tufts University.

Attending Harvard AOCC was one of the first academic conferences that I have been to, and I was just so appreciative that I was able to inhabit the same space as so many knowledgeable and intelligent people. In the midst of so many hardships in the news and around our communities, it is reassuring to know that the work is still being done by so many dedicated individuals who continuously push the bar to advance education for all.

Since then, I have returned back to OT volunteering at the special education center — where Mural Therapy all started — and my film has been considered into the Harvard Film Archive. I have since presented about Mural Therapy in Dr. Gabe Craven’s OT310 course, Exploring Creative Occupations with OT Serena. I am so honored to share this amazing experience not only with Harvard, but also bringing it back to USC Chan. It is such a full-circle experience, as I previously took Dr. Gabe Craven’s OT310: Exploring Creative Occupations course this past semester, right when I first started participating in Mural Therapy as well. Being able to come back to Dr. Gabe Craven’s class and seeing the exact same excitement and curiosity this project gave me in the fellow undergraduate students engaged in the presentation gave me a deep sense of gratitude, purpose, and hope for the future.

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Abilities Expo 2026! ⟩
April 7, 2026, by Trinity

Getting Involved Living in LA Patient Care

On March 29th, I had the opportunity to go to the annual Abilities Expo held in Long Beach, California with two of my good friends from the program. This is a huge event where vendors, advocates, and presenters come together to share products, events, and opportunities.

As an occupational therapy student, this event taught me a lot about what kinds of adaptive equipment are out there. I learned about organizations that focus on adaptive sports and activities. That will be important for me to know so I can make good recommendations to my future clients and patients, both about devices and resources. I also got to interact with many individuals who are disabled and learn about them and their stories, another OT essential.

Some of the coolest equipment I saw included a portable bathtub, an adaptive rock climbing wall, a bowel program support, a standing frame, and adaptive grips for tool use. Most of the equipment was designed or endorsed by a disabled person.

Not only were they showing equipment, but they let us demo some equipment as well. I got to trial an independent lift system and a power chair. In short, it was an occupational therapist’s dream come true!

There was a performance by the Rollettes, a famous dance group known for empowering people with disabilities. Their performance was off the charts! Check their website for more info!

At USC Chan, we have an assistive tech class specifically designed to help students become familiar with the equipment and devices commonly used by clients. In this class, you learn how to measure someone for a wheelchair, use different modalities for turning electronics on and off, complete a case study and a letter of medical necessity for a client who needs equipment, and learn how to 3-D print. The Abilities Expo was a great addition to that class and a reminder that technology is always changing and becoming better. We need to stay in the know so we can provide the best care and give the best resources.

If you are interested in attending the Expo next year, good news! The dates have been announced: January 14-16, 2027 in Long Beach, California. Check their website for more information and to stay informed!

The next part of the blog is by Cara, another ambassador, who attended the Expo with me!

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Until recently, I didn’t even know events like the Abilities Expo existed. I’m thankful to Trinity for inviting me, as it was a great opportunity to expand my understanding of how I can better support and advocate for my future patients.

In the Adult Rehab Immersion, I’ve learned a lot about mobile devices and adaptive equipment and how those both can improve patients’ independence, autonomy, and participation in their daily routine. It was cool getting to see many of the wheelchairs, arm supports, and accessible transportation services that I learned in class at the Expo. I, too, drove the power wheelchair and felt like I was in a Fast and Furious movie.

The Expo also featured the latest gadgets and innovations in assistive technology, from portable bathtubs and robotic feeding devices to specialized phone cases for carpal tunnel and smart beds for children with special needs. There were new fashion trends on display too such as fastening a shirt or jacket with magnets.

What stood out to me the most, though, was interacting with the exhibitors, many of whom live with a disability themselves. From cerebral palsy to spina bifida and spinal cord injuries, I was in awe of their resilience. Hearing their lived experiences redefined “disability”, a word that society often views negatively. Individuals with disabilities are not less capable. Rather they’ve just learned a new way of doing things, like anyone else adapting to life’s constant changes.

There was also an ally who wrote a comic book series about superheroes who have a disability, proving that anyone can be heroic. Selfless, empathetic individuals as such reminded me how important it is to provide services that are client-centered to more fully understand the patient’s needs while empowering them to take ownership of their lives.

Overall, the Abilities Expo was enlightening and I feel better equipped as I prepare to join the next generation of healthcare providers. Whether you live with a disability, are a caregiver, or a healthcare provider, I encourage you to attend to help move the needle towards understanding and kindness in society, so we can all thrive.

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