Roadmap to be an OT

A roadmap to reaching my goal of becoming an occupational therapist in 3 years

Throughout my next three years of the professional occupational therapy program, I plan to develop the practical skills, knowledge, ability to think critically, understanding of the cultures and contexts in which I will practice, and the growth mindset I will need to become a competent and successful occupational therapist. Through my curriculum, I will learn and explore:

-Occupation-Based and Client-Centered Practice

-Research and Evidence-Based Interventions

-Psychosocial Dimensions of Occupation

-Cultural and Political Contexts of Occupation

-Community-Focused Occupations

I will learn to become competent in clinical knowledge and build my skillset, and then work to accomplish achievements such as completing a Capstone project, completing fieldwork, and eventually graduating and passing my board certification tests to become a registered and licensed occupational therapist.

Through fieldwork, I will explore first-hand and likely under the mentorship of a practicing OT, what OT looks like working with children, adults, and older adults in varied settings such as schools, hospitals, group homes, low income housing, assisted living, or community-based agencies. My fieldwork will help me apply what I learn in curriculum to the real world of occupational therapy practice, and help broaden my understanding of what OT looks like in the field, and all that it can do for the individuals, groups, populations, and world around me.

To successfully fulfill my plan to become an OT in the three years of the professional program, I will stay motivated by the fact that I know this is what I want to do with my life, I have worked very hard and dedicated myself to get into this program at Dominican, and I want to learn all that I can in my professional education to help me be the most informed, knowledgeable, and well-rounded OT that I can be upon graduation. Additionally, I have set personal goals for myself to help me stay on track, including striving to maintain a GPA of 3.7 or higher, never failing an exam, staying on top of my assignments by utilizing my planner and calendar, and being mentally present in every single session of each of my courses and days of my fieldwork.