I feel that I am a strong candidate for your Masters Program in Occupational Therapy (OT) primarily as a result of my many years of experience in healthcare and education, which have provided me with vast insight into who I am and what my strengths are, the professional contribution that I am capable of making. I have always sought to cultivate creativity, innovation, empathy and patience and I derive great personal fulfillment from helping others. My vision of the future is one in which I help children with multiple challenges to adapt to their limitations and to learn how to respond to creative initiatives, building confidence through engagement in meaningful activities. Already 52 years old, I hope to continue to be extremely active professionally into my 80s, so I see the glass as half full of opportunity.

My volunteer work has also taught me many valuable lessons about how to best go about helping others, animals as well as human beings: working with the MS Society (Salt Lake City UT), AIDS Outreach Service (San Antonio, TX), SPCA (San Antonio, TX), American Red Cross (San Antonio, TX), Pacific Northwest Raptor (Duncan, British Columbia, Canada) and the American Cancer Society (Laramie, WY). As I continue to make progress, I plan to participate more on an international level in the advancement of OT, going on missions to the Developing World with international teams.

Most of my professional life so far has been centered on the field of imaging, in the service of neonate through geriatric populations and from ER through rehabilitation. I earned my AAS - Diagnostic Radiography in 2001 and my BS in Nuclear Medicine in 2005. I am currently enrolled in courses in Abnormal Psychology, Developmental Psychology, and Anthropology, gearing up for full time study in your distinguished Masters Program in OT, where I look forward to a full immersion experience in my study of OT, particularly in the mental health setting, and special education for elementary-school-age children.

The single most important factor which drives me forward in terms of career development is my son, a special needs child. Life was a struggle for us, transient poverty, little to no social support. Each day that we lived and grew together in the face of our limitations, I learned more, through sheer force of necessity concerning creative ways to deal with his/our limitations. This experience served to generate my vision of helping children of displaced or at-risk, special-need families. I want to help special needs children to grow into strong, resilient, balanced, and happy individuals through engagement in activities that promote contentment. I look forward to serving as part of an OT team or organization working with refugees. I also plan to engage professionally on a volunteer level with our veterans.

I have consistently been sought out in my career as a healthcare provider and special education para-educator to work with so-called "difficult" individuals, those that have chronic mental and physicals issues, often at risk of turning violent. Whether it was for a few minutes, such as obtaining a diagnostic imaging study, or more long term, such as working one-on-one with multi-challenged children, I was the go-to person. I have what some have called a gift in my ability to connect with these individuals and elicit positive results. The other imaging technologists sometimes looked at me stunned after I successfully obtained a beautiful set of images of a child who was most uncooperative.  I always know that I will be the one to connect with many of these children, especially those on the autism spectrum, similar to my own son.  I am their partner in the exam, teaching them in a visual and tactile manner what to expect, just as I would do with my own son. We had accomplished things together that have never before been done, simply getting through an examination without an outburst, without anger. Getting that image is one of my single most important achievements in life, along with many other perfect images that I worked very hard to get. There were many times that I was called upon to intervene when others could not obtain successful results with a “difficult” patient. 

These last several years, I have continued to blossom professionally by working as a para-educator in special education.  This position was offered to me because it was thought I would be a perfect fit as a one-on-one for a few elementary children that had multiple disabilities, and that has proven to be the case.

Choosing to become an Occupational Therapy professional rather than something else is a direct result of my employment as a caseworker at Catholic Health Services with XXXX. For the past five years, I have supported adults with developmental disabilities and I am part of a clinical team that includes therapists of various professional backgrounds. I work with individuals with physical limitations, cognitive disabilities, emotional and psychological challenges and those struggling with fine and gross motor skills. Most of the individuals I work with on a daily basis utilize adaptive equipment such as wheelchairs and transfer lifts. From what I have seen, among the great variety of professionals that in some way help or have an impact on my clients, the role of the Occupational Therapist stands head and shoulders above the rest, in terms of the professional contribution that is made to our clients’ quality of life, autonomy, human fulfillment, and joy in day-to-day activities.

This coming May, 2015, I will finish my undergraduate studies with a BS Degree in Exercise and Wellness from the Health Solutions College at XXXX University. Currently enrolled in my internship, I am in the process of completing 270 hours at XXXX Arizona (Specializing in the Education of Exceptional Kids), an OT facility for children.  I could not feel more confident and happy with the niche in life that I have chosen and I could not be more excited about the prospect of starting graduate school this fall and earning my Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy. In addition to my position at XXXX, I am also currently volunteering at the XXXX Children's Hospital every Monday.

My current professional position is with XXXX University’s Fitness Complex, serving as a Wellness Supervisor. I work with individuals and groups in the weight rooms and circuit training rooms, teaching them how to use the equipment, executing performance evaluations and testing, serving as a resource and helping to guide our clients forward towards meeting the wellness goals that I help them to set, realistic but effective, so that they do not become demoralized and continue to make progress. I like to think of myself as something of a professional cheerleader for wellness.

Now 22, I grew up attending a non-denominational church near our home in Illinois: The Chapel. This is where my professional interest in children first began, at about the age of 15, when I decided to volunteer on Saturday nights and/or Sunday mornings to help with what was called “the Great Adventure,” teaching dozens of children –some of them special needs – to appreciate and trust in others, especially their parents. I also began volunteering with youth basketball about this time. Throughout the summer months while in high school, I worked at YMCA Camp Duncan, leading daily events and activities for my assigned group of children.

Since my freshman year at Arizona State I have worked in several OT/PT environments including volunteering and internships focused on Health and Wellness, rehabilitation, OT, PT. My central goal now is to earn my Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy. I want to help people, particularly children, to live life to the best of their ability and I want to have a very positive impact on their lives. I want to be that person they can trust, always challenging them to try harder, always speaking openly with them so that they will return to me and I will be able to continue to help them. A compassionate and fun young man, I am 6 foot 6 inches tall and my clients always seem amazed at that and we easily start our conversations back and forth and I learn more about them amidst jokes about how tall I am. I am pleased that OT also takes place in private homes these days and I would enjoy working in this independent fashion, earning the trust and friendship of my clients, one visit at a time. As I gain experience, I would consider a managerial role at some point, being a mentor to others entering the field and promoting OT -  particularly with respect to special needs children.

My professional experience began with my position as a Therapy Assistant at XXXX Health and Wellness, working with a variety of patients ranging from adolescents to geriatric, executing treatment plans to help restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain and prevent permanent disabilities. I developed important technical as well as soft skills such as empathy, patience, and clear communication. This position solidified my determination to pursue my Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy.

Throughout the course of the last seven years as a volunteer, all of my experiences have been extremely gratifying: especially teaching children how to think and react in appropriate ways. It has truly been a great blessing. I have also profoundly enjoyed working with the elderly as a physical therapy assistant, coaching them with their prescribed workouts. My fondest memories of my high school years are at YMCA Camp Duncan in the summer time. Each day, I planned and supervised physical activities with the children from 4 to 14 years. I was their personal instructor and I also collaborated with other team leaders and counselors to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for all. This position was also highly satisfying as I witnessed the children growing socially and gaining self confidence year after year, which was most rewarding. Finally, I coached the XXXX (2nd -5th grade) in basketball during a summer program sponsored by my high school.

Before beginning my studies at Arizona State, I took several classes at Iowa State University in the Kinesiology Department and also volunteered at an after-school program in Ames, Iowa. In this position, I also worked with children that had a wide-range of physical capabilities. There were only two of us college students working with this group of approximately 12 children. I quickly figured out that we needed to lead them in group activities that they could all participate in. We started with minor stretching exercises and then played several variations of ‘round robin’ types of games where everyone played. I enjoyed encouraging each of them and was thrilled to see their joy.

Definitely a professional highlight for me so far has was serving as the YMCA Camp XXXX, Illinois Group Services Coordinator from May through August of 2015. I especially enjoyed collaborating with other team leaders and day camp counselors to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for all of our children (4 – 14 years old) attending day camp and resident camp sessions. I planned, instructed and executed physical activities on a daily basis. I also managed all aspects of the rock climbing station, including preparation work and safety procedures during climbing. I am a certified lifeguard for children and I was in charge of our children’s safety when we went swimming, indoors as well as at the beach on the lake.

I also had the opportunity to practice many important professional skills as a Physical Therapy Assistant, from May 2014 through May 2015, at XXXX Health and Wellness in XXXX, Illinois. More than any other professional position that I have had, however, serving as a Wellness Supervisor since May of 2016 has been the position where I have had the greatest responsiblity. I take my responsibility for the safety of all individuals using the Weight Rooms and Circuit Training Rooms very seriously; and I always make sure that they are familiar with and educated about how to appropriately use the facility’s fitness equipment. I am now well practiced at performance evaluation testing using body fat calipers as well as bod pods and blood pressure cuffs. I am a walking resource for wellness information and exercise options based on an individual’s specific needs and goals. I encourage participation in our personal training sessions and wellness programs and I also provide full support to most of our customers in addition to assisting with the maintenance of the building.

 I thank you for considering my application to your distinguished Master’s Degree Program in Occupational Therapy.

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My long term professional goal of giving my all as an OT Professional has been inspired by both my work and my family. As an OT Assistant, I work with a diverse group of disabled and elderly people and I cannot imagine finding greater joy day-to-day than I do helping them to achieve increasing levels of freedom and fulfillment in their lives. At home, I care for and support my husband in his recovery, a veteran who was injured on active duty.

I hope to contribute to the diversity of your doctoral program in Occupational Therapy at the University of XXXX as an African man who spent most of my adult life dedicated to public health in my home country of Sierra Leone; and also as an experienced medical doctor in my home country. I have been making excellent progress on fulfilling the prerequisites to begin your distinguished OT Program and I look forward very much to giving my all to my studies.