sOcial buTterfly

I am very open to working in any OT setting, but I am most interested in geriatrics. This could result in me looking for jobs in a skilled nursing facility, which are typically private for-profit organizations. I first realized that I loved this setting while volunteering with an OT in a skilled nursing and rehab setting. I enjoyed getting to know the residents and learning what was important to them. Because I have a bachelor's degree in psychology, I also found the cognitive component of geriatric health interesting. The OT had to really motivate some residents to participate in therapy, and had to recognize signs of depression and isolation in long-term residents. Because of my love for the geriatric community and mental wellness, I am also interested in the hospice setting, which can be either a private for-profit or not-for-profit organization. This spark ignited recently after meeting my great-grandfather's hospice nurse, Melissa. Melissa was a source of immense comfort...

One event that stood out as a turning point for the field of occupational therapy was World War II. At this time, numerous men were deployed, opening up jobs in the community for women. This also meant that more men were becoming physically injured and exposed to mental trauma. Women primarily had to step in to meet these new needs at a break-necking pace, training for only 2 weeks before being considered an occupational therapist. Hundreds of occupational therapists entered the field at this time, and they were vital to the war effort and to the stability of the nation. Throughout the era presentations, I noticed one occupation that changed drastically over time-- play. Play, an important occupation for children, took many forms over the years. In early decades, like the 1940s, boys played with war figurines and pretended to be in combat. As time went on and fathers returned from war, boys began playing with toys such as tools, cars, and balls. Beginning in the 1980s, and even today...