I am an BSc Occupational Therapy student currently in my final year. Here’s a little bit about my journey to OT and why I love it…
Like many people, when I first came across Occupational Therapy I had no clue in the world as to what it was. In college I knew I wanted to go to university and study something health-care related. But I wasn’t sure what. As the time slowly approached to write up a personal statement for UCAS, my dad who works in a hospital told me to just to do a five day work-experience within the Occupational Therapy department and see where this takes me. Before this point I had never even heard of Occupational Therapy.
This is the bit where you think I’m going to say I went there and knew it was the career for me. NOPE. Although the Occupational Therapists were nice and insightful, I was more confused than ever – unsure of what exactly it was they did (I just thought it was about providing equipment to whoever needs it!). Nevertheless, I stuck with it and decided to apply for the course. I went on to secure my place at the University of Derby.
As I started the course I slowly learned about the diverse nature of this profession and how broad it can be, this is one of the reasons why I love Occupational Therapy. You can work in hospitals on various wards, social services, GP practices, schools, care homes, even prisons, and the list goes on. I was amazed at how much depth there actually was to learning about occupation, never would I have envisioned it to be that deep and interesting.
After completing two very different placements (one on an acute physical ward and one at a perinatal mental health unit) I soon realised Occupational Therapy is one of the most rewarding careers out there. As it enables patients and service users to reach their potential and improve their health/wellbeing no matter what they are going through, by using the act of ‘doing’ to help facilitate this – and no not by ‘just’ handing out equipment. It is so much more than that, so why not ChooseOT?
