Intention Statement Introduction

The intention statement serves as a personal and academic foundation that captures my aspirations, values, and motivations as I navigate my college experience and future career path. It reflects how my goals extend beyond academic success to include personal growth, community engagement, and meaningful contributions to society. By articulating who I want to become and the impact I hope to make, this statement provides direction for my decisions, involvement, and long-term planning throughout my undergraduate journey.

Original H200 Statement

I am/ I want to become statement: 

I want to become somebody who creates change in the lives of others. I want to work in a large scale and fix systems rather than experiences. I want to work in the filed of public health to create a difference in the access of healthcare and opportunities to be healthy. I want to be able to balance my work life with my social and family life. I want to be able to spend quality time with the people I love and cherish the memories. I want to be able to travel the world and discover everything about it. I want to learn about different cultures, lifestyles, and environments. I want to become someone who gives and receives loves from others. I want to become someone who practices self-care and create the best version of myself. I want to become more involved in campus and participate in more clubs and volunteering opportunities. I want to be able to create my own club and work for a cause I’m passionate about. I want to start working on campus and gaining experience in research and leadership. I want to get into the SIP or LHSI internships in my sophomore year and learn from those experiences. I want to be able to live on campus and gain more access to opportunities. I want to be able to balance my performance in classes, employment, involvement in student organizations, volunteering, studying abroad and practicing self care. I want to become the best version of myself.

Updated Statements

Reading this now, I see that while my desire to create change, serve others, and live a balanced life has stayed the same, my experiences helped me realize that occupational therapy allows me to create meaningful change at the individual level while still addressing broader systems of health and access.

I want to become an occupational therapist who creates meaningful change in the lives of others by helping individuals regain independence, dignity, and purpose in their everyday lives. I want to work in a healthcare setting where I can directly support patients while also advocating for more equitable access to care, especially for underserved and vulnerable populations. I am particularly interested in exploring pediatric and acute care settings, while remaining open to discovering additional areas of practice throughout graduate school.

I want to become a healthcare professional who balances compassion with competence and understands the importance of addressing not only physical health, but also emotional, social, and environmental factors that impact well-being. I want to maintain a healthy balance between my professional responsibilities and my personal life, allowing time for family, community, faith, and self-care.

I want to continue growing as a leader by remaining involved in service, advocacy, and collaboration, both within healthcare and beyond it. Ultimately, I want to become the best version of myself—someone who serves others with empathy, purpose, and integrity while continually learning and evolving as an occupational therapist and as a person.

Intention Statement Reflection

Reflecting on my intention statement, I recognize how much my academic experiences, clinical exposure, and personal growth have shaped and clarified my goals. When I first wrote my original statement, my aspirations were broad and centered on creating large-scale change within healthcare systems and public health. While those values remain important to me, my shadowing experiences, work as a rehab technician, and growing understanding of occupational therapy helped me realize that meaningful change often begins at the individual level. Supporting patients as they regain independence and confidence in their daily lives demonstrated how powerful person-centered care can be.

This reflection also highlights my increased clarity in professional identity. Rather than simply wanting to “help others,” I now understand the specific ways occupational therapists promote holistic well-being by addressing physical, emotional, social, and environmental factors. My updated statement reflects a more focused vision that integrates my passion for advocacy, equity, and compassionate care within the occupational therapy profession.

Additionally, this process allowed me to evaluate my personal priorities beyond academics and career preparation. I continue to value balance, relationships, faith, and self-care as essential components of becoming not only a competent clinician but also a fulfilled individual. Overall, revisiting and revising my intention statement reinforced my growth, strengthened my commitment to occupational therapy, and provided reassurance that my evolving goals remain grounded in service, empathy, and lifelong learning.

Journey Map 

The journey map visually represents the progression of my experiences, challenges, and achievements throughout my academic and personal development. It highlights key moments that have shaped my identity, influenced my goals, and contributed to my growth over time. By mapping these experiences, I am able to better understand how different opportunities, transitions, and reflections connect to form a meaningful narrative of learning and self-discovery.

Journey Map – Reflection
Creating my journey map allowed me to step back and see my experiences from a broader perspective. I was able to recognize patterns of growth, resilience, and exploration that may not have been obvious when viewed individually. The process helped me appreciate how challenges contributed to my development just as much as successes did, and how relationships, involvement, and academic choices collectively shaped my direction. Reflecting on this journey reinforces my confidence in my ability to adapt, pursue opportunities, and continue building a path aligned with my passions and values.

Old Journey map (HON200) Updated Journey Map