7 Reasons For Choosing Occupational Therapy As A Career Or Course In College?

Honestly, I did not choose occupational therapy as my course to take in college. I only applied to two schools in the Philippines: the University of the Philippines and the University of Santo Tomas. In the application, you have to pick two courses, my first choice was B.S. Nursing, and my second choice was B.S. Physical Therapy. I got into the University of Santo Tomas. However, I failed to get into nursing, and I needed to pass the interview for B.S. Physical Therapy to officially get into the university. A few days after the interview, I returned to the school to see the results. Unfortunately, I did not see my name on the list of students for B.S. Physical Therapy. My mom decided to look at another list of students beside it, which was for B.S. Occupational Therapy, and to her surprise, she saw my name. I also looked at that list to double-check and was shocked to see my name written there. I did not know there was a course called B.S. Occupational Therapy. The university picked the course for me. My mom told me to go along with it as long as I was in the school I wanted to study. She added that I could just shift to B.S. Nursing after a year. But that did not happen as I decided to stick with B.S. Occupational Therapy because I learned to love it. It took 5 yrs and some months to finish the course at UST. We must take a board examination in the Philippines to be licensed OT. The licensure exam is administered over two days. After passing my Philippines Board Exam, I took my U.S. licensure exam, which took four hours. I will go into detail regarding those examinations in my future blog posts. 

Here are some reasons I choose O.T. as a career or course in college. 

1. Personal Fulfillment: Occupational therapy is a people-focused profession that requires a strong desire to help others. Occupational therapists work with people of all ages and abilities to help them develop skills and strategies to engage in meaningful activities that promote physical, cognitive, and emotional health. Many people are drawn to occupational therapy because they want to make a difference in the lives of others. Consider this career if you are passionate about making a positive impact in the lives of people from diverse backgrounds and ages to help them achieve their goals. 

2. Variety Of Settings: Occupational therapists work in various settings, including hospitals, schools, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, private practices, and community centers. This diversity of backgrounds allows occupational therapists to choose the work environment that best suits their interests and goals. 

3. Appreciation For Diversity And Cultural Competence: Occupational therapy values diversity and cultural competence since we try to be client-centered in our therapy interventions. Occupational therapists work with people of all ages, backgrounds, and cultures, striving to provide culturally sensitive and responsive care. Therefore, people who appreciate diversity and want to work with people from all walks of life may be drawn to occupational therapy. 

4. Creativity: Occupational therapy is a creative profession that requires problem-solving, adaptability, and a willingness to think outside the box. This can appeal to those who enjoy using their creativity and ingenuity to help others. Occupational therapy requires problem-solving skills to identify challenges and develop creative solutions that enable patients to engage in meaningful activities. Consider O.T. if you enjoy finding solutions to problems, thinking creatively, being comfortable with uncertainty, and adapting to changing circumstances.

5. Professional development: Occupational therapists must complete continuing education courses to maintain their licensure, which means there are always opportunities for professional growth and learning. This can help build or improve skills and increase knowledge regarding current evidence-based research or treatments that can be applied to therapy sessions with patients. 

6. Flexibility: Occupational therapists often have the flexibility to work part-time or full-time, and they may be able to choose their hours. This can be an attractive option for those who value work-life balance. Depending on what setting they would prefer to work into. 

7. Growing Demand: As the population ages and healthcare needs increase, the demand for occupational therapists will hopefully grow significantly. This means job opportunities in this field will likely be plentiful and stable.

Overall, occupational therapy is a rewarding profession that requires technical skills, interpersonal skills, and a passion for helping others. Consider your interests, values, and strengths to determine if this career fits you.

How about you? Do you agree with what I have written? If not, why? What are your experiences regarding choosing your career or course in college? Kindly share it in the comment section below!

Thank you for reading! Continue to adapt to change and enjoy life!