My Goal Of Becoming An Occupational Therapist

Nothing will deter me from achieving my goal of becoming an Occupational Therapist. I have witnessed first-hand the impact occupational therapy can make in people’s lives, watching the delight of a child who was not expected to live, take her first steps after weeks of therapy. The journey to reach my goal began as I watched my grandmother serve others. I accompanied her when she visited nursing homes, playing the piano, singing, playing bingo, conversing, and being a friend to everyone she visited. I developed a passion to emulate my grandmother’s desire to serve others. I volunteered at Church, visited elders, taught swimming lessons to young children, and led water aerobic classes for older adults. These experiences fueled my enthusiasm

This was a humbling and rewarding experience, showing myself that through determination and perseverance I will overcome adversity. During that time this experience also taught me how to stay focused and not let a misstep deter me from my goal.
Through my continued education, volunteering for sorority activities, and shadowing, I explored several careers. The turning point came my junior year at KSU when I took a seat next to a stranger, who quickly became a close friend. He shared his experiences working at summer camps and volunteering in
Africa, and how he learned the value of occupational therapy. His experiences reopened my eyes to the field of occupational therapy and how this fit my aspiration to make a difference in peoples lives. At this point, I began researching, volunteering, and shadowing occupational therapists. After shadowing many
OT professionals, I realized this is a field that encourages creativity, empowers individuals, and values of each human life. A consistent theme I took away from shadowing and working is that each individual should never be defined or recognized by their disability but rather on their strengths and how far each individual had come to preserver through challenges in their