My grandfather lived his life from a chair.

He spent his adult life nearly immobile

and in constant pain. And it wasn’t until I was older that I realized the loss of
control, the loss of independence, that he felt was even more crippling to him
than the constant struggle he experienced as he fought to simply sit up, or take a
breath. For many years, my grandfather refused physical therapy. He felt like
more of an experiment than a person. But finally, Cone Hospital sent a different
breed of person to help him navigate through the struggles he was bogged down
by. The help they sent was a therapist and a counselor and, most importantly,
someone who listened and understood. They sent an Occupational Therapist. My
grandfathers passing struck me hard. But so did the affect that his Occupation
Therapist had on the end of his life. She gave him back a part of the sense of
freedom he had lost by motivating him to try and giving him the tools he needed
to live his best life. Watching the change she inspired in my grandfather allowed
me to make a decision about my own life: I will be an Occupational Therapist.

I have had a myriad of jobs throughout my life. After earning a Bachelors of Arts
in Theater from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, I studied conflict
in Ireland, volunteered as a builder in Belize and a firefighter in Pennsylvania. I
worked making sandwiches, selling supplements, coordinating weddings, and—
my personal favorite—as a stage magician. While my past work seems
incongruent, there is a common thread throughout. All my life, personally and
professionally, what I find most important is connecting with others. Whether that
presents itself as a joke in the checkout line, a memorable wedding, or a brand
new (SCHOOL/HOUSE), I’ve found that a little effort can make a big difference. I
want to be part of a profession that inspires positive change and helps people do
what matters most to them. My dream is to wake up every day knowing that I am
improving the quality of life for individuals and the community.  I believe that
Occupational Therapy is best suited for these goals, and is best suited for me. It
is a diverse, growing field that is constantly changing and improving. It is a field
comprised of passionate individuals from all walks of life striving to help others
live their best lives. I am currently enrolled in the prerequisite courses that will
give me the knowledge I need to succeed in graduate school. However, I believe
many experiences in my own life have given me the insight and experience I
need to excel as an Occupational Therapist. Even my degree in theater gives me
a distinct insight into this field. When you examine characters, you realize that
people are more than the sum of their parts. We are made up of our experiences.
They create in us the nuances that make us individuals. In Occupational
Therapy, each patient requires individualized treatment, both personally and
medically. This became fully apparent to me while shadowing Occupational
Therapists at Jacob’s Creek (HOSPITAL?). I watched as therapists altered their
candor and demeanor to suit the needs of each individual patient.
One man needed to be coddled and urged gently, never pushed too hard in any
one direction. One woman responded to direct answers, clear orders, and nearly
brutal honesty.
For example, I helped to setup and facilitate a charity clothing sale that happened
on one of my last days shadowing. People who never enjoyed participating in
therapy were doing hours of ADL, upper body and core strengthening by folding
and setting up. Jacobs Creek also taught me that sometimes occupational
therapy isn't about treatment at all. It can be just listening and offering a brief
respite from an otherwise dreary day. Being an advocate for the people you work
with can be enough to increase their quality of life. In the end, that's
whatOccupational therapy is all about. Anyone has the ability to tell
someone what to do. It takes a special person to work hand in hand with
someone to do something meaningful; to treat the entire human and problem
solve in real time with both the physical and emotional tribulations people face. 

It is important to do what you love, to figure out what matters to you and chase it
with everything you have. I am confident in the lessons my theatrical career gave
me. Those experiences galvanized my resolve and made me who I amtoday. I
think that I can take that spirit, drive, and compassion to excel in Occupational
Therapy. Having such a unique background affords me a rare perspective since I
have not had the perfectly manicured college experience. I’ve had to live in my
car, I have missed meals, and I have had to shower in the gym. It took me more
than four years to get my undergraduate degree because I had to take time off to
raise money for my next semester. I will not take this opportunity for
granted because I know now how important of an opportunity it is. Instead, I will
cherish it because I want it the way I want air. I have fought tooth and nail to
figure out how to be an adult and how I can make a difference in the lives around
me. My family didn't teach me that. I learned it through trial and error and I never
gave up. I just tucked my chin and moved forward because this is my
dream. I have a profound compassion for the human experience, for pain, and
struggle because I have lived it. I know what it’s like to feel lost and trapped, to
feel like you have no control, and to only find walls where you needed a door. As
a theater major you learn to take the words off the page and to understand how
each person. They have a history and a story that needs to be taken into account
and understood. This same rule is true of patients. The therapy for any person is
only as effective as you are at reaching them and communicating it. My
background isn't as direct or as linear as some of the other applicants but, I bring
more passion, more empathy and more understanding. I have always been good
in school, but I am an expert with people. I want to bring to the Occupational
Therapy profession the same and even more of what my grandfather saw. His
caretakers made a lasting difference in his life and I want to bring that
same patient centered approach. Only, I want bring a contemporary perspective
with original ideas that are grounded in a deep understanding and reverence for
the human experience.