I am a Pacific Northwest native who has split her time between Washington State and Oregon. When not studying occupational therapy (OT), I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, getting outside, and relaxing at home with my cats.
Before pursuing my Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD), I was a long-time restaurant industry worker. My many years as a manager and corporate trainer has engendered a love for making people happy and pride in giving them the service they need, not the service I think they want. Through this role I was able to advocate for and communicate the needs of both my customers and employees, and a number of these conversations led to company-wide change. My interactions with customers taught me invaluable lessons about the way people live their lives and enabled me to develop a skillset in assessing people’s needs. Meeting people where they are at and providing individualized, person-first service is where the service industry and OT intersect. Though their approaches may differ, both fields are dedicated to identifying people’s needs and helping them live more meaningful lives.
I was drawn to OT through a series of events, starting in 2010 with my mother’s fibromyalgia diagnosis. When other providers began hinting that her pain might be “all in her head,” it was an occupational therapist who believed in her experience, sought answers, and became her biggest advocate. Later, I had my own experience with OT. I was quickly losing function in my forearms, wrists, and hands and felt defeated, like my body had failed me. It was my occupational therapist who gave me hope; she helped me find strength within myself to begin the healing journey. I saw myself in these occupational therapists and so began researching the profession. And now, here I am!
I know in my heart and through years of careful consideration, research, and intrapersonal reflection that the goals of OT align with my own and afford me the greatest opportunity to express my aptitude and joy in helping people. OT is not “just a job” to me; it’s a calling.