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#Spring25 What experiences in life led your heart to choose a career in Occupational Therapy?
#Spring25 What experiences in life led your heart to choose a career in Occupational Therapy?
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4 answers
Kaitlyn Corey
Occupational Therapy Assistant/Occupational Therapy Student
60
Answers
Graniteville, South Carolina
Updated
Kaitlyn’s Answer
For me, it was a mix of personal experiences and a passion for helping others. I have always loved working with kids and seeing the difference that support and encouragement can make in their lives. Over time, I realized I wanted a career that allowed me to combine compassion with problem solving. Occupational therapy stood out because it helps people get back to the activities that mean the most to them. Shadowing therapists and learning about how they work with patients also confirmed it for me. I saw the creativity and the care that goes into every session, and I knew it was the right path. My heart chose OT because it is a career where I can make a real impact and help people live their lives to the fullest.
Updated
Carol’s Answer
Hi, Shayla! I’ve been an OT over thirty years, and I have really enjoyed my profession. I knew as a high school student that I wanted to do something in the medical field. I also realized upon volunteering within the local hospital that certain professions get to spend appreciable time with patients while others don’t. Therapists tend to do sessions between 30 minutes and an hour depending on setting. I knew I wanted to build relationships and help on a deeper level because I would have time to know my patients’ needs. I picked OT over PT and SLP because I liked the therapy activities better. It’s a good idea to volunteer at a practice setting where you can see all three and make an informed decision about what seems right for you, your interests, and your personality. Good luck!
Tamina Crook
pediatric occupational therapy assistant; student
24
Answers
Greensboro, North Carolina
Updated
Tamina’s Answer
It wasn't one single moment for me—it was a series of experiences that confirmed I was exactly where I was meant to be. I started my career as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant and spent many years working in the schools, where I had the privilege of helping children become more independent and successful in the classroom and in their everyday lives. Watching students accomplish things they once struggled with, seeing their confidence grow, and working alongside families and teachers made me realize how meaningful occupational therapy truly is. Those experiences are also what inspired me to go back to school to earn my Master's in Occupational Therapy. I wanted to continue growing professionally and have the opportunity to help people across the lifespan in even more ways. Looking back, what has kept me in this profession isn't just the science or the clinical skills—it's the relationships, the problem-solving, and knowing that even the smallest intervention can make a lasting difference in someone's life.
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Chanyapatch’s Answer
Being an occupational therapist requires patience, a passion for service, attention to detail, and the ability to communicate well with patients, caregivers, doctors, and nurses. In addition, skills in data collection, processing, and management are also required.
Occupational therapists (Occupational Therapists) are personnel who assess, analyze problems, and plan treatment together with patients and their families, as well as providing treatment and monitoring of treatment results for those with physical, mental, and cognitive impairments due to illness, injury, or other situations, whether in the nervous system, musculoskeletal system, or the effects of various movement restrictions.
Occupational therapists (Occupational Therapists) are personnel who assess, analyze problems, and plan treatment together with patients and their families, as well as providing treatment and monitoring of treatment results for those with physical, mental, and cognitive impairments due to illness, injury, or other situations, whether in the nervous system, musculoskeletal system, or the effects of various movement restrictions.