Why I Chose Occupational Therapy

If you were to ask me four years ago when I was applying to my prospective undergraduate colleges what were my professional aspirations, my answer would be that I simply wanted to help people. I have always been passionate about working with children, but I had not quite figured out what professional path would be the perfect fit. I would like to share with you how I decided to choose occupational therapy as my career and how my academic experiences, research background, and personal hardships have prepared me for graduate school. I began at the University of Illinois as a Psychology major because it seemed to be the most logical way to work with children. Shortly after beginning my freshman year, I realized that this major was not for me
I participated in a study abroad experience, volunteering in hospitals and shadowing an OT while in South Africa. This experience allowed me to enter my master’s program with a unique outlook on possible therapy options. I am excited to see how the therapeutic needs of children and the techniques therapists use to treat them differ across cultures. I also believe that immersing myself within the South African culture prepared me to be mindful of the unique aspects of a person’s cultural background when working with clients. On this trip I gained knowledge of another culture’s view of how therapy can be beneficial while learning how to be sensitive to cultural differences. While I believe the University of Illinois has done a fantastic job of preparing me for my academic goals, my personal experiences have also helped prepare me for my career. In the beginning of my sophomore year my dad suddenly relapsed with cancer. Seeing my dad, the strongest man I know, at his weakest was infuriating. I wanted to be able to help him in someway but unfortunately there was nothing that could be done. Right before he passed away I promised him that I would continue to pursue my academic path. Losing my father was one of the hardest things I have experienced and I decided to take a semester off to recover. It was the promise I made to him and my determination to make him proud that encouraged me to carry on in my academic goals. Experiencing this personal tragedy has shown me that I have the strength to persevere through any obstacle that I may encounter on the path to achieving my goals. Looking back I knew nothing could be done for my dad at his weakest moment but I take comfort in knowing that this is not the case for all people who are experiencing a moment of weakness in their life. I look forward to using my skills as an OT