10 Reasons to Write for OT Student Pulse

Thinking about sharing your story or piece of advice with the rest of the AOTA community through the OT Student Pulse? Whether you want to spotlight an innovative project, reflect on a meaningful experience, or simply connect with fellow students and practitioners across the country, writing for the OT Student Pulse offers something for everyone. Here are 10 great reasons why students and new graduates just like you have chosen to contribute:

1. Brag about something innovative you, your friends, institution, or colleagues are doing—because you’ve earned it! You’ll need to promote yourself and your accomplishments in interviews, on projects, and throughout your life in general. Why not start here, among your friends and future colleagues? The OT Student Pulse is also a great place to spotlight your best friend or lab partner for the great work they do. Plus, your story might inspire another student or practitioner to engage in a similar experience.
2. OT Student Pulse contributions are an act of everyday advocacy for our amazing profession. Sharing your voice is a form of advocacy in action. Students are the future of occupational therapy! What’s important to you and your career trajectory? Initiate conversations, share your perspectives, and inform other student members—and also current practitioners, faculty, and AOTA staff. We can all learn from each other.
3. Lead the way in occupational therapy, on your own schedule. Do you find yourself more productive in the late hours of the evening or just before dawn? Whether you’re a morning bird or a night owl, the ability to flexibly plan is built into this opportunity. If you’re looking to enhance your portfolio, résumé, or social media presence, write a short article at whatever time of day works best for your schedule.
4. Start a conversation that lasts. Imagine this: you’re at AOTA INSPIRE 2026 | Conference & Expo, and you strike up a conversation with someone whose article you’ve read–or even better, they’ve read yours! Instant connection! Or maybe you write about a cool initiative your Student Occupational Therapy Association created, and some Assembly of Student Delegate Reps at other schools reach out to see if they can adapt it for their programs. That's a legacy!
5. Write the words your past self needed to hear. What do you wish someone had told you on your first day of OTA or OT school? What do you wish you had studied or had become involved with on campus? What assignment do you wish you’d forgiven yourself for getting by with a C? What did you need to hear then?… Or what do you need to hear now? Maybe it’s about managing stress, finding mentors, or giving yourself some grace after a tough semester. Your story could be exactly what another student or colleague needs right now.
6. Hone your writing skills, without a grade. Our editors are here to guide you, brainstorm ideas, and help polish your final draft for submission. We’ve got your back! This is a space to experiment with writing without worrying about rubrics or due dates. The editors will work with your schedule.
7. Turn your experiences into wisdom. Did a fieldwork placement reshape your career goals? Did you find yourself in an ethical dilemma that changed how you practice? Or do you wish you’d been better prepared for taking the NBCOT® exam? Your insights can help future students and practitioners navigate these same paths!
8. Feel connected. School and the grind can be isolating, but you’re not alone. Everyone seems to be tackling a million and a half tasks at once. You’re part of a vibrant group of more than 250,000 occupational therapy practitioners and students. When you start to wonder if you’re the only one who’s ever felt a certain way, the AOTA network is here to remind you—you are part of something bigger.
9. OT Student Pulse is for You and by You. Every article helps shape this evolving space for students and new practitioners. Just like our redesign, the OT Student Pulse will continue to change and grow with you. What’s your reason for becoming an OTA or OT? Let us know, or better yet, write an article about it!
10. Watch your contributions grow (literally). Not only will you contribute to discourse about practice, student experiences, and school tips, but pitching an article to the OT Student Pulse now earns you points in AOTA’s Volunteer Center!

Your story—and You—matter! Share it with the OT Student Pulse and let your voice spread across the future of our occupational therapy community!

Tyler R. Hood, OT, is a recent graduate from Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine’s Program in OT. He is service-driven and passionate about teaching, sustainability, and making a positive change in OT practice. He hopes to work in an outpatient setting while continuing to promote positive change in OT to improve the profession’s prominence.