Occupational Therapy Month - April

April is OT month every year--what joy!

As the month progressed, I kept a list of 30 reasons why I love OT and what it means to me--one for every day!

This month opened my eyes to what a beautiful profession OT truly is. I had the opportunity to hear emotionally-moving stories from guest speakers in my classes, interact with individuals with progressive diseases online, and witness the remarkable Rolling Bears.

The Rolling Bears are a wheelchair basketball team in Loma Linda, CA. They are amazing. The team members have different sorts of conditions, such as spinal cord injuries, amputations, spina bifida, etc. I thought wheeling a wheelchair straight was hard enough--throw in high speeds, quick stops, pump fakes, dribbling, guarding, and shooting on top of that! These guys have my utmost respect.

They also use this program as a rehab outreach to encourage individuals with similar conditions to join their team. They are remarkable individuals. And they even let me and my classmate try it out. It looked hard...but it was even harder than it looked! They taught me how to do a lay up, but learning how to spin in a circle definitely was my favorite!

I had a chance to interact with one of the players who volunteered to be quoted in my blog! With exuberance, he is a valued member of the Rolling Bears team and has been for many years. He says:

     The Rolling Bears have been everything to me. It's about competing at a high level and being a 
     real athlete, not just a person in a wheelchair. We are athletes that give everything to the sport 
     and for one another.
     Edward

The Rolling Bears practice every Thursday night 6:30-9:00 pm at the Drayson Center. Go check them out! They are part of the greater PossABILITIES ministry, which has many other amazing ways to get involved!

It was a blessing to spend my last night of OT month with the Rolling Bears.

Every day is a blessing in my OT program. I learn more and more each day how to open my mind up to possibilities, opportunities, and the power of positivity. I see new blessings every day.


30 wonderful things about OT:

1. OT is the perfect mixture of creativity, helpfulness, science, and optimism.

2. OT helps stretch my mind into learning more ways I can exhibit the fruit of the Spirit through what I do.

3. OT opens wide the door to opportunity and advocacy.

4. I love that I chose a career path that focuses on quality of life.

5. I love this quote and think it breathes life to what OT's do, whether or not individuals have the use of his or her hands: "Man through the use of his hands, as they are energized by mind and will, can influence the state of his own health" (Mary Reilly).

6. I love looking at experiences holistically--and that's just what OTs do!

7. Every patient I will treat will give me the challenge to touch a person's life for the better.

8. OT allows the option to work with the whole lifespan of individuals.

9. OT is not just a health profession--OT gives voice to the speechless and involves advocacy and seeking of occupational justice.

10. OT encourages me to engage in meaningful conversations with people I don't know.

11. OT is fun! We can incorporate crafts into our treatment sessions!

12. OT has so many beneficial and wonderful resources for all individuals in every aspect and condition of life!

13. OT offers so many choices in career settings!

14. OT is a beautiful career and I love talking to those interested in checking out this profession!

15. OT has made me a better person.

16. OTs make great friends!

17. OT draws me closer to God by being in awe of how He has created the human body.

18. OT reminds me to count my blessings.

19. OT has given me my professional wings--the sky's the limit!

20. OTs meet people on the path they are on.

21. OT embodies the "therapeutic use of self" so well.

22. OT makes me a lifelong learner--there is never an end to the amount of information I can learn!

23. OT has brought amazing, interesting, and inspirational classmates, teachers, professionals, and patients into my life!

24. OT makes me want to have kids so I can watch the developmental milestones in real time (side note: I want to have kids for more reasons than just this one!).

25. OT teaches me to hone my skills of leadership and teamwork.

26. OT keeps me on my toes and staying positive!

27. OT has made me a better listener and observer.

28. OTs are storytellers.

29. Every day is different for an OT!

30. OTs are able to bring out the best in others.


I am so thankful God has opened the doors wide for me to become an occupational therapist! God is good!