Student Blog
Getting Involved

USC Represents ⟩
March 1, 2013, by Kendra

Getting Involved

A HUGE congratulations to the 2 newest members of AOTA Assembly of Student Delegates!!

From a National Election, 2 USC Students have been elected:

Chairperson: Susan Linglebach
Communications & Advocacy Chairperson: Sean Sullivan

Go Trojans & Go USC OT!

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Happy Valentine’s Day ⟩
February 14, 2013, by Alisa

Getting Involved School/Life Balance

First off, Happy Valentine’s Day! Happy Single Awareness Day! Happy Rotic Day (romantic without the “man”)! Happy whatever else you celebrate!

To be honest with you, I’m feeling a tad bit overwhelmed with all the roles and responsibilities that I have, but without these roles and responsibilities, I would probably be bored. Despite learning about time management in class, I still feel that I could improve. As I share about my time management, I would like you to consider how you spend your time as well.

Other than being a student, some of you know that I am also a resident advisor to undergraduate students. While some nights that I am on duty are peaceful, I realize my sleep gets disrupted when I get calls at 2:30 AM. Other than being on duty on certain nights, I also get to do programming (the more fun part!). Some things happen for a reason, and the opportunity to be involved in Relay for Life was presented to me, and I took it. Yesterday, I attended a team captain’s meeting for Relay for Life. In my undergrad I was also a team captain for the Chinese American Student Association, raising over $400 for cancer research.

As a resident advisor I also plan to organize a blood drive in the near future! I got the inspiration from my attempt to donate blood on campus last week. The Pharmacy school along with Hungtington Hospital organized a blood drive, and I was so excited to donate. Little did I know, I have failed to drink enough fluids, so the blood wasn’t coming out as fast as it should. I felt disappointed that I have wasted everyone’s time, but it sparked an idea for me to help organize a blood drive as an event in my residential community. I had no idea that blood was expensive (~$300/pint), and that they’re always in need of blood. Yes, 1 pint can help save 3 people’s lives! Here’s a cool fact from the American Red Cross website: If you began donating blood at age 17 and donated every 56 days until you reached 76, you would have donated 48 gallons of blood, potentially helping save more than 1,000 lives!

What I’ve learned from being involved in different roles and responsibilities is that it’s important to be optimistic. I’ve managed to find something positive out of a seemingly negative experience. I treat it as a lesson, and everyone is my teacher. In my life I have had my share of failures. I joked to my friends that I am usually second best. There was one time I went in for a scholarship interview for the second time, and I recognized the interviewers from the year before. They asked me, “What will you do if you don’t get selected?” I answered, “I’ll apply again next year.” Yes, we all laughed. Lo and behold, I got the scholarship to go to Thailand!

Wishing those of you who are applying and waiting to hear back a good luck! If you don’t get in the first time, tell yourself it’s okay. There are other options, and you can always apply again. Have a most awesome day!

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Color Run ⟩
February 10, 2013, by Paula

Getting Involved

This past weekend, The Color Run came to Dodger Stadium! There was a large group of OT color runners and a group of my friends from college also came down for the event so it was a great mix of people. I was a bit skeptical at first of how much I would enjoy running a 5k with people intermittently dousing me with colored cornstarch, but it was a lot of fun!

Being raised up as a little water baby and playing competitive water sports for 15 years of my life, I am normally the last person to suggest signing up for any sort of set length of running. Many people have told me that they hear swimmers have a certain incoordination when it comes to moving their body through space in “normal” popular sports such as soccer, basketball, etc. There is a certain amount of truth to that — I happen to be a prime example. If you ever see me on a skateboard or trying to master a hurdle (which you will never see), then you will understand.

Regardless, the run was a lot of fun and constant entertainment with all of the people being doused with colored powder throughout. It made me really excited to pursue more runs in the future. I am thinking of doing a Tough Mudder or a Warrior Dash next. Always important to try new things, right??

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A Day of Celebration ⟩
February 4, 2013, by Amber

Getting Involved

Before deciding to change careers and become an occupational therapist, I worked for many years as a corporate event manager. I still have a love for pulling off great events, so in my “spare” time I work occasionally for an event production company helping with day-of event management and coordination. The pinnacle of my time working for this company was when I had the opportunity to meet President Barack Obama at a private fundraiser in 2011. I do have a picture of us together, and if you really want to see it post a comment below and I’ll put it up for you!

But this blog is about a wonderful event I worked this weekend: the grand opening of a new patient care tower at CHOC Children’s hospital in Orange County. The day before the event, I had the opportunity to tour the new facility, which is still empty. It was incredible to see the shiny new hospital with all the latest technology. There were so many little improvements that will make a huge difference in patient care. For example, there is a nurse’s station between every two rooms, with windows looking directly into the rooms. This allows the child to see someone nearby at all times, and allows the nurse to monitor the child more closely. Also, they mounted all their equipment from the ceilings, with the knowledge that the number one error in operating rooms is tripping over equipment.

The celebration on Saturday was free and open to the public. It was the most elaborate community festival I had ever seen. There was a Disney-sponsored dedication ceremony and entertainment featuring famous child stars from Disney and Nickelodeon. In-N-Out Burger, Chick-Fil-A, Panda Express, and other vendors handed out free meals to the attendees. Games and giveaways were spread throughout the festival area. Stilt walkers, clowns, and princesses roamed the closed-down street. The public also got the opportunity to tour the new facility in small groups. It was a beautiful day celebrating a great cause, and I was proud to be part of the crew that made it happen!

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Alisa Goes to Ohio ⟩
November 27, 2012, by Alisa

Getting Involved

I don’t get to travel a lot, but I’ve gotten the opportunity to travel across the country a few weeks ago! The Division generously supported a selected number of students to attend the AOTA/NBCOT Student Conclave in Ohio, Columbus in November. I got to learn about the culture and realized the power of OTs. We are unstoppable! Being at the same place as 500 other OT/OTA students provided a unique opportunity to exchange knowledge and learn from each other. As a student ambassador, I also tabled at the USC booth and met many students who expressed interest in doing the MA/OTD/PHD programs. I also met an USC OT alum who graduated in the ‘70s and is now a professor at another university. It was also encouraging to see students in their undergraduate programs just starting to think about graduate school.

I realized that wherever I go, education is always going to be part of what I do. The conference area had businesses that are open to non-conference goers too. I met a group of guys at Einstein Bagels who thought that it was a women’s conference. I chuckled and corrected that this is an occupational therapy conference. He looked at me and said, “What’s that?” I then explained to him, “Occupation as in how you occupy your time. How do you like to occupy your time?” He said he fights, and he is here visiting Columbus to support his friend in a fight competition.  I educated him by saying, “Imagine one day if you can’t fight anymore, you might see an occupational therapist. Occupational therapists can help you get back to what you’re doing before and live life to the fullest.” He then replied, “That’s very specific.” We exchanged a few more remarks and parted ways, but it made me realize that wherever I go, I take the opportunity to educate people about the profession. I believe in the profession, that we can make a difference in people’s lives and improve their quality of life. It is then also our responsibility to spread awareness about occupational therapy. Let’s all work toward the Centennial Vision to help make occupational therapy “widely recognized” and “globally connected.” One way to achieve it is by talking to the person next to you while waiting in line at the grocery store, the bus stop, or a coffee shop. Who knows where the conversation could lead you? What has been your experience with educating people about occupational therapy?

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