Student Blog
Living in LA

My Occupations in 4 Words: Disneyland and Fight On! ⟩
September 13, 2013, by Clarissa

Getting Involved Living in LA School/Life Balance

Since we don’t start our Level I Fieldwork until the fourth week of class, I had this past Tuesday free and I decided to spend it at Disneyland with three other occupational therapy students. We all got annual passes last year and escaping reality in Disneyland is one of our favorite occupations. One perk about living in Los Angeles is that Mickey and Minnie Mouse don’t live too far away.

As one of the social chairs for the Occupational Therapy and Science Council (OTSC), fall semester not only means Halloween decorations at Disneyland but also that it’s time to plan interdisciplinary tailgates for football season! For the game this past Saturday, I coordinated with the socials chairs of physical therapy (PT) for a joint tailgate. The people setting up had to get there at 6:30am and the tailgate lasted until 7:00pm! As you can see, football and tailgating are HUGE parts of USC student culture. PTs and OTs share the same building, so tailgates like these help make the hallways a friendlier place. Interdisciplinary events are also great because they provide students with the opportunity to educate one another about our professions. Over the summer at my Level II fieldwork site, I would co-treat with PTs all the time. It is so important to understand what they do for the benefit of our patients. I’m a big advocate of interdisciplinary cooperation, especially after having worked in an interdisciplinary setting in the Student Run Clinic. In the past, we’ve also done tailgates with pharmacy and I’m also planning a tailgate with the public health program in the future. Did I mention that I also befriended an adorable half dog and half Trojan creature?

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One of My True Loves: USC Football ⟩
September 9, 2013, by Kate

Living in LA School/Life Balance

Let’s be honest: this past weekend was bittersweet. I am a huge, and I mean HUGE, USC football fan, so let me explain a bit more . . .

Once of the best perks about being a USC student (undergraduate or graduate), is that you can buy a discounted season pass for all the home football games. Before each home game, occupational therapy students put on a joint tailgate with the students from the physical therapy program. We rally around all things USC and spend time getting to know each other better outside of school. It is a great way to spend your Saturday!

However, not all Saturdays end with a “win.” This past Saturday was USC football’s home opener against the Washington State Cougars. I attended the OT/PT tailgate with two of my best friends. We laughed, played games and were excited for our USC Trojans to beat the Cougars! The game itself was exciting. It was a perfect summer night, not too hot, not too cold. But when the game was over, it was not the ending we had all wanted. The Cougars beat the Trojans 10-7, and we left a bit broken-hearted. Not all was lost, though; I remember the great time I had with my friends, fellow OT students and new PT friends. And like all Trojans, we will Fight On!!

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Am I ready? ⟩
April 24, 2013, by Kendra

Getting Involved Living in LA

Last week while busily adding my part to crazy long study guide for our comprehensive exam in two weeks, it dawned on me: I’m graduating from OT school next month.

After having to take a series of deep breaths to get my heart rate back to normal I asked myself, am I ready to be an Occupational Therapist?

Good thing I was working the OT booth at the LA Times Festival of Books the next day or I may have spent my weekend submerged in graduation themed anxiety. At the booth we had several different stations: Sensory Integration, Lifestyle Redesign, Low Vision, and Stress Management. Each of us was so busy unpacking supplies, it felt it was a matter of minutes before people started arriving asking us questions about stress, relaxation, anxiety, depression, the list goes on and on.

Here I surprised myself again, I was able to answer their questions! Not just that but I felt confident in what I was saying, that what I was telling them was based on research and facts and information I’d learned in OT school.

Suffice to say, I slept easier that night with the faith in myself that not only am I ready to graduate with my Master’s in Occupational Therapy, but that I am well informed and prepared to be an effective, insightful therapist.

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CicLAvia ⟩
April 23, 2013, by Alisa

Getting Involved Living in LA

It’s my first time participating in CicLAvia! On Sunday my friend and I biked from USC to Venice Beach. The city blocked off the roads, so I didn’t have to worry that a car was going to hit me. In total I rode 22 miles on a mountain bike. I couldn’t even run a mile. I couldn’t believe myself, and I was more impressed that my bike made it. We were among 150,000+ people who participated in this event. I remember growing up as a child, I was the first among my siblings to ride a bike (and hit the trash can because I didn’t learn how to apply my breaks), but I remember loving the feeling of the breeze hitting my face, especially at night. My friend graciously carried her pump and put airs on my tires, and it worked miracles on my bike. I’m so glad I did it. It’s something I never thought I could do since I haven’t biked in a very long time. It’s one thing off my bucket list. The next CicLAvia event is on June 23, 2013. I might be hitting the roads near you! Watch out!

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Comic Relief ⟩
April 11, 2013, by Alisa

Community Getting Involved Living in LA

Last night I went to a comedy show on the other side of town, UCLA. I really don’t have anything against UCLA, except that they rejected me for undergrad, which made me found something better — OT at USC. UCLA unfortunately doesn’t have an OT school. Anyway, my friend invited me to see the comedy show, Kristina Wong: Going Green the Wong Way. She has done numerous tours throughout the US and Europe. She chronicled her efforts for a greener, more sustainable lifestyle since middle school until now. She recalled her experiences campaigning with CALPIRG, driving a twenty-five year old Mercedes that completely ran on vegetable oil, and learning wisdom on public transportation. I don’t want to reveal too much, but it’s great to see how the efforts of one woman to save the world could be inspirational yet hilarious. After the show, we were invited to have dinner with Kristina and the crew. While deciding on where to eat, the car that Kristina’s props were in did not start up. We tried to jump it with 2 cars, but to no avail. We spent half an hour flagging down cars to help us on the UCLA campus, but none could. I understand it could be a liability issue, but still. While calling for help to come, a crew member and I went to do an In-N-Out run for everyone. Afterwards, we went to Kristina’s house to enjoy ourselves this meal. From this unexpected adventure, I gained six new friends. I was able to talk to them about occupational therapy, and we all departed with happy stomachs. It was a night to remember.

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