What Inspired Me to Become an OT

It was clear at a young age who I was. My family, my peers and my teachers all labeled me the same: a kind, empathetic, young girl who cared deeply about others. I had many friends, a social butterfly of sorts. This is really where my story begins with why I became an occupational therapist.  

My empathetic nature followed me all throughout school. In high school, I really struggled to decide what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, as any teenager would. All I knew was that I wanted to help others. Questions arose in my head left and right: “I love working with children, why not a teacher?” I loved attending physical therapy for different injuries and ailments I had growing up and thought that was definitely something I could do as a career. “But what about a nurse or a doctor working on the front line to help their patients?” With all these career options, the idea of being an Occupational Therapist didn’t even cross my mind, mostly because I had never heard of it. I remember applying for colleges being so anxious to choose what path I was going to take. My high school counselor had told me one day she thought I would be really good at OT. Once my initial research about OT began, I thought: wow, I would love to help people after a stroke or help children learn to write better in school. But little did I know, OT was so much more than that.  

First, I was amazed to find out how many settings and populations one can work with: 

• School based 

• Early intervention 

• Acute care 

• Skilled nursing facility/inpatient Rehab 

• Hand therapy  

• Home care 

• Community based 

• Mental health 

• Driver rehab 

This list goes on and on!

So, the questions I found myself asking became: “Why would I choose anything BUT occupational therapy?”. 

That’s what is amazing about OT. There is so much we can do. And of course, the core of OT lies in the ADLs and IADLs we help individuals regain independence in, but there are just so many occupations we can address that I think are often overlooked: 

• Golfing 

• Caring for a child/baby 

• Caring for pets 

• Work on a computer 

• Reading  

• Sewing  

• Gardening  

• Painting  

• Going out to restaurants  

And yet again, the list continues to go on and on...  

It’s no wonder why people find the field of occupational therapy inspiring. And it is true, most individuals can go to school and receive an Occupational Therapy degree, but I have learned in my 7 years of being an OT that this is not the career for just anyone.  For me, empathy, patience, and motivation has truly helped me become, and continue to grow, into the best OT I can be. It requires caring. This career is not just a job that “helps people.” It brings independence, freedom, and purpose into people’s lives by stepping into their shoes and understanding what is meaningful to them. Helping someone regain the ability to perform a meaningful daily activity after a major life event is incredibly rewarding and heartwarming. And of course, there are going to be setbacks and challenges along the way. But being able to be an integral part of someone’s rehabilitation is exactly what I was looking for in a career.  

I’m so proud to call myself an OT and improve our clients’ quality of life. I couldn’t be more thankful that someone saw that occupational therapy is the career for me, and I am continuing to learn every single day how to better my skills as a professional.