Top Tips for New Students: Making the Most of Your OT Journey
Joseph Christian Ungco, University of Southern California
It’s wild to think that just over 2 years ago, I sat down for my very first occupational therapy class. And here I am today with my Master’s in Occupational Therapy in hand, sitting down to prep for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam, the final step before becoming an occupational therapist.
The process hasn’t always been easy, but over the last few years I’ve had the most incredible and transformative journey. I pivoted from a different career path to come into the OT profession, initially aimed at going into physical rehab, then every semester and clinical course showed me a new side of OT that flipped my world upside down, taking me towards mental health one day, then primary care the next. Now that I’ve completed my program, I find myself open to the wide world of OT possibilities.
Through the tremendous mentorship I’ve received from faculty at the University of Southern California (USC) and the incredible experiences I’ve had as the chair of AOTA’s Assembly of Student Delegates, I’ve developed not just clinical skills, but personal and professional life skills as well. But it didn’t all just happen overnight, so here’s some advice for those of you just beginning your OT journey:
1: Get to know your faculty. I remember right at the beginning of our program, Dr. Samia Rafeedie, director of the Professional Program at USC, said simply: “you’re a student for now, but I see you all as future colleagues,” which really set the tone for the relationships we should develop with our faculty. I’ve made it a point to meet with each of my professors one-on-one at least once per semester. They have invaluable insight and expertise, and their input has been so crucial to my personal growth and success in the program. Make the effort, it’s well worth it! Don’t worry, they’re all friendly and warm—they’re OTs!
2: Learn through experience. OT classes are great at setting your foundation for clinical reasoning and developing hard clinical skills through fieldwork, but there is so much more to learn about yourself both personally and professionally through extracurricular experiences. Go to all the seminars, guest lectures, presentations, and other myriad opportunities available to you throughout your time in the program. I’ve continued to learn new skills through some unexpected ways, such as meditation training through my volunteer work with the health promotion office, and presentation skills through my work as a student ambassador.
3: Get involved with our professional associations. I cannot stress this enough! Being a part of the OT profession means being a member of your professional associations at the state and national levels. Not only do they act as your professional insurance to protect the work we do as practitioners, but they also provide really great opportunities for learning and networking. My involvement with AOTA has opened incredible leadership opportunities & experiences, like attending the Annual Conference & Expo to speak in front of hundreds of people, and even representing the OT profession at the American Physical Therapy Association’s national student conclave. Which leads me to tip 3.5: Go to conferences. They’re super fun, but they also give you a chance to feel part of the greater OT community. Go to the mixers and networking events, attend sessions of interest—I’ve made so many good friends from attending conferences. That’s where I meet the OTs who have similar interests as me, and who have offered invaluable advice going through the process. While there are lots of conference & symposium opportunities, attending at least one AOTA national conference is a must!
Assembly of Student Delegates Steering Committee taking a break from meeting planning at AOTA’s 2014 Annual Conference & Expo in Nashville, TN
And finally, 4: RELAX. It’s easy to get caught up in the stress and workload of school, but remember to take time to take care of yourself. We talk about life-role balance a lot as OTs; make sure to apply that to yourself. Keep up with leisure and recreational activities, make time for friends and family, and give yourself permission to enjoy a delicious meal and a good night’s rest.
Ok, one more. 5: Celebrate your successes. You’re going to work hard for the next few years, so reward yourself for your accomplishments along the way. You’re on an exciting and rewarding journey, and it will fly by before you know it, so savor every new insight and job well done!
This article was originally featured on the USC Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy Student Blog.
Joseph Christian Ungco is pursuing his Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD) at the University of Southern California, where he received his Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy in August 2016. He is passionate about student leadership development as well as social justice and diversity. He has led presentations at the local and national levels on these topics. He currently serves as chair of AOTA's Assembly of Student Delegates. In his free time, he enjoys dancing, swimming, and travel.