A French Canadian woman now 22, I feel strongly that I am an excellent candidate for selection to a Master’s Degree Program in Occupational Therapy because of my sheer energy and love of life. I play the piano and guitar, sing, swim, and do yoga. Thus, I feel I have unique gifts that bring out the best in children with learning disabilities and resources that help put healthy and satisfying futures within their grasp. I feel incredibly grateful to have found my calling and joy in life: children with learning disabilities and special needs. In particular, I thrive on curriculum development.
Having earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology with a Minor in Psychology, I am focused on movement as a motivator. Earning the Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy is the perfect choice for me to learn how to make my maximum contribution to small children who still have a chance, an open window slipping closed all too rapidly for too many of them. I look forward to a long professional lifetime of reflection on how to most effectively incorporate a broad range of teaching activities into educational programs for my students; many focused on the gifts that I want to share, especially piano, singing, and most of all swimming.
In Kinesiology, I learned a great deal about motor skill development, anatomy, athletic injuries, and how to assess the typical story of children. I earned my degree at the same time that I gained extensive and invaluable hands-on experience. My classes dealing with physical activity and motor development introduced me to various physical conditions and what typical result looks like at different ages. All my courses have taught me to focus on what an individual can rather than cannot do. I believe that I am ready for the rigors of graduate school in OT because of my extensive preparation for excellence.
In addition to playing the piano for 15 years, I have been involved in a variety of sports and played on several athletic teams, and earned my National Lifeguard Certification. My devotion to piano and swimming helped me to appreciate dedication itself. My team sports have helped me to understand the importance of collaboration and how important a community is for success. Between my hobbies and studies, I have learned how to manage my time effectively and how to maintain a balanced lifestyle for a healthy mind. I also see networking as critical to success, and I continue cultivating many vital connections in the health care field that will serve me well in OT.
My ideal position in OT will be at a hospital or a health center, although I would like to have my practice someday. My professional experiences up to this point, volunteer and professional, have helped me acquire a well-rounded educational foundation that is well suited for a career in occupational health and therapy. From a very young age, I have wanted to go into health care, and OT is the right choice to maximize the positive impact I can have on the life of another human being. Shadowing several occupational therapists has confirmed that my personality is a good fit for this profession.
As a participant in the Sensory Motor Instructional Leadership Experience at XXXX University, I got my first chance to volunteer with younger children with varying disabilities. My youngest partner on the autism spectrum was a very visual learner, so I focused on visual aids that helped him to process information. As a volunteer at XXXX Independent Living Program, I also learned a great deal about young people with physical disabilities – working alongside Occupational therapists who I found most inspiring, their methods and adaptive tools.
My volunteer work at XXXX Hospital in Toronto has instilled in me a passion for facilitating the healing process through therapeutic play interventions while advocating for the psychosocial needs of children and families in collaboration with other health care professionals.
Often, I play the role of a physiotherapist, programming daily exercises and strengths to help loosen up joints and muscles. I also perform work similar to an OT: adaptive strategies, developmental activities, interaction ideas, and stimulation. I was serving as an instructor at XXXX has taught me how to assess a child’s current level of ability in several areas by looking at their gross and fine motor movements by implementing play-based physical activities.
For the past two years, I have also volunteered with seniors, led exercises in fall prevention programs at health centers, and worked alongside an Occupational therapist. I have learned how to modify practices for the appropriate level. During XXXX’s Active Aging program, for example, I led weekly exercises for older adults in in-group and also one-on-one. I would describe none of the above activities as easy, but the reward is in the challenge.
I thank you for considering my application.
