An Unconventional Occupational Therapy Student

I graduated from Temple University in 2017 with a major in Tourism and Hospitality Management. After graduation, I accepted a position with a company and moved to Washington D.C. to work at the Capital One Arena, home of the Washington Capitals (hockey) and Washington Wizards (basketball). I was quickly immersed in the business world as manager of premium clubs and suites, working long event-based hours, managing employees, writing contracts and selling different products.

In 2018, the Capitals were contenders for their first Stanley Cup, and work got increasingly busy. As exhilarating and invigorating as this experience was, I was quickly realizing that this was not a fulfilling career. Yes, it was exciting when I got to see the city come together and win its first Stanley Cup. Yes, it was exciting in the moment when fans were cheering, confetti was streaming down, people were crying, and when I was given my very own Stanley Cup ring from the team. But it wasn’t fulfilling.

I started looking for a new job, one that may feel more “like me.” I stumbled across an opportunity at a hotel in Philadelphia. My job was fun, I got to create relationships with clients, help plan events and create wonderful experiences, but something was still missing. While all of this was going on I was recovering from an injury. That past winter I had a skiing accident and tore my ACL and meniscus, and I had to undergo surgery. The surgery was unsuccessful, and after intense physical therapy, I underwent another surgery seven months later, and another four months after that. During my experience as a patient and seeing my own recovery process unfold, I was inspired and intrigued. I started doing research. I saw both Physical Therapy (PT) and Occupational Therapy (OT) at work and fell in love with the rehabilitation field. I began shadowing, talking to my own physical therapist, interviewing friends in OT school, and decided that OT was the career for me.

While still working at the hotel, I continued shadowing occupational therapists. I also started classes to complete the many missing science-based prerequisite courses that I needed. I researched schools that stood out to me and began filling out my applications. I had a long road ahead of me, and applications were due in a few months. Every night after work I was either in class, studying for the GRE, or shadowing.

In February I got the call from Salus, my top choice, that officials there wanted me to come in for an interview. I was over the moon! I showed up to my interview in a full knee brace and on crutches. The tour guides were wonderful, accommodating, and answered all of my questions. The campus was beautiful, intimate, and charming. I loved the small feel, especially in contrast to the large community at Temple. The staff and faculty who interviewed me were passionate, professional, and full of knowledge. I knew the moment I stepped (crutched) onto this campus that I belonged here.

The biggest draw to Salus is that it took a chance on me. I did not have a science background, my GRE score was average, and I was still taking my last anatomy class so my transcript was incomplete. I told them my story and promised that I would finish my last class in good standing and that I had an unmatchable drive. I received my acceptance letter weeks later.

Fast forward, and now I am in my last didactic semester of OT school. I am a member of the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association and was treasurer of the Student Occupational Therapy Association for four semesters. I am currently president of my class and am a work-study student for two different departments. I also had the opportunity to attend a healthcare service trip to Guatemala over this past summer as the only occupational therapy student, along with nine other Physician Assistant (PA) students from Salus. I have made wonderful, supportive, and caring friends and developed great relationships with my professors. I truly believe that this school is where I was meant to end up.

I am here to tell you that your past does not define your future, that you are capable of whatever you put your mind to. Just because you don’t have a science background does not mean that you cannot be successful in a healthcare graduate program. It is worth it to chase your dreams, no matter how scary the first step or road may seem.

- Robin is a second-year occupational therapy student at Salus University

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Work Study Program

As I was starting to look into graduate school, one of the most daunting things to take into consideration was the cost. While it’s very common for graduate students to take out loans to cover the cost of their education, it can still be an overwhelming process, especially when you realize how much debt you will inevitably accumulate by the end of your time in any health profession graduate school. My mind was put at ease during orientation our first week at Salus University, when we were given a presentation on how to manage loans after we graduate and how it is possible to live comfortably while paying off your debt. As an optometry student, I have been assured by other optometrists that it will not burden you for the rest of your life if you handle your money wisely. However, I still try to minimize the amount of money I owe wherever possible.

One way that I would suggest to reduce your loans as a student is to sign up for the Federal Work-Study program. Many people do not take advantage of this program, and it is a great way to earn money throughout the semester when it’s convenient for your schedule. When filling out an application for financial aid, you can choose to sign up for work study as well. Choosing to partake in work study reduces the amount of federal loans that you take out each semester, and the money does not have to be re-paid.  A student also chooses the amount of hours they can realistically work per week when they sign up, and it can be divided among various departments on campus. However, it is important to note that you should not sign up for 20 hours a week if you realistically will only work 5 of those hours. You will have a larger work study fund in your financial aid package, but your loans will also be reduced by that much. If you are counting on the work study money to help you pay for expenses throughout the semester, it is important to ensure you are able to work the allotted time to earn the money you need.

For me, work study was a great option because I have a small paycheck coming in every two weeks without having to juggle a part-time job outside of school. The money helps to pay for groceries and other expenses throughout the week. While some people may be able to fit in a part time job in their schedule, I knew it would not be possible for me on top of balancing my studies and my sanity. Instead, I am able to work a couple hours here and there throughout the week, during a break in my class schedule or at night. There are plenty of jobs around campus for students. I currently work in the Office of Communications and as a Teaching Assistant in the Optometry Clinical Skills Lab. There are also jobs in the library, the gym, admissions office, etc. Each department offers different shift options so it’s important to look into what kind of hours they require and whether or not it will work with your schedule. Some jobs, like the Learning Resource Center and Hafter Student Community Center, offer weekend shifts if you don’t want to try and schedule another commitment during the week. No matter what your preference is, there are work study jobs to fit everyone’s schedule. Having work study here has been a great way to earn some spending money throughout the week and help me minimize the amount of loans I’ve taken out thus far. Although it may not seem like much in comparison to the cost of going to graduate school, every little bit helps. Make sure to explore the idea if it works for you when filling out your financial aid package!

-Kelsey is a second-year optometry student at Salus University

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