How To Become A Occupational Therapist

Have you ever stopped to think about what things in life have influenced you the most? Can you look back and identify defining moments? I began reflecting on this in my life because my son is making some big career decisions and he asked me how I decided what field I was going to go into. I had to think for a few minutes before I could come up with an answer. When I was in high school I worked part-time in the library after school and in the summer months. When I was a junior the librarian, who I thought was God himself, showed me a book that outlined different careers. I told him that my accounting teacher was advising me to go into accounting. The librarian told me I showed do something where I was helping people because I was such a good listener. We started looking through the career book and he pointed out social work. He told me I would be very good at this. I had never talked to a social worker and did not know what they did, but if the adult that I admired most said that this is what I should do I did not question it. I became a social worker.

My son has had a similar experience. He was injured playing football and had to go to physical therapy. In the clinic where he goes the therapy rooms are opened. While he was getting physical therapy he could watch occupational therapist working with other patients. He thought this looked very interesting. He asked the therapist where he could go to occupational therapy school and ask for best occupational therapy programs to take. The therapist told him about the two schools in our state that offer the degree. The therapist said that the occupational therapy school that he went to has a very good reputation. It is a tough program and only about sixty percent of the students actually make it through the program. He told my son that he would be willing to write a reference letter to help him get into the occupational therapy school. Having a letter from an alumnus could help his chances. He filled out his application and sent it in along with the letter. After several weeks he received a letter from the occupational therapy school accepting him into their program.

I know when my some looks back he will realize that getting hurt playing football and having an adult point out his assets were defining moments in his life. It is important to remember this when we say things to people who look up to us. Our words can make a huge difference in another person’s life.