Four students share what inspired them to pursue occupational therapy and what they are most looking forward to over the next two years.
Tara DeVouge
What made you interested in pursuing occupational therapy?
I have always been interested in health care, and after working in a physiotherapy clinic over the past year, I realized that I wanted to continue working in the rehabilitative side of health care. It was so rewarding to watch patients improve their mobility and learn about how they have been able to engage in meaningful activities. I like occupational therapy because you can work with individuals of all ages and abilities and aren’t limited to a clinical setting. You can work with individuals in their homes, workspaces, and outdoor environments to help improve their everyday occupations.
What did you do before coming to U of T?
I completed my bachelor’s degree in kinesiology at Dalhousie University and then worked as a physiotherapy assistant at a clinic in Halifax, N.S. over the past year.
What are you most looking forward to in your studies? What are you nervous about?
I am eager to learn more about the different streams of occupational therapy and I am excited to gain clinical experience in different health care settings. I am also excited to meet new people in my program. I am most nervous about the workload and being able to balance work-life outside of school.
What do you like to do outside of school?
I love to read, cook, try new cafes and restaurants, travel and do most outdoor activities in the summertime. I recently started bouldering and I just moved to Toronto, so I have been enjoying exploring the city.
Mahnoor Fatima
What made you interested in pursuing occupational therapy?
I want to pursue occupational therapy because I love how multifaceted and diverse the field is and how you can combine multiple passions in one field. One thing that really influenced my decision is how occupational therapists meet clients where they are in their recovery, create individualized recovery plans, and help clients get back to doing the activities that are meaningful to them.
What did you do before coming to U of T?
I completed my undergraduate degree at U of T majoring in global health and minoring in biology and psychology. After graduating, I worked at UTM as an undergraduate program assistant for the psychology department. Alongside that, I have been volunteering in many health centres and organizations with seniors and children, which has been fun.
What are you most looking forward to in your studies? What are you nervous about?
I’m really excited about my placements and figuring out which area of occupational therapy I am most interested in and passionate about! I’m nervous about finding the study, work and life balance again after being out of school and working full-time for a year. But I’m hopeful that it will all be okay!
What do you like to do outside of school?
Outside of school, I enjoy exploring my creative side with activities like knitting, painting and sewing. I also love being outdoors and finding new trails to adventure through.
Rachel Lisogurski
What made you interested in pursuing occupational therapy?
For as long as I can remember, I have always been interested in a career where I can help people improve their physical health as well as their mental, social and environmental needs. Through my work and volunteer experiences, I got to learn more about occupational therapy and see how therapists make a positive, long-lasting impact in people’s lives, which inspired me to pursue this career path.
What did you do before coming to U of T?
Before coming to U of T, I studied sensory motor systems with a minor in psychology at McMaster University. I got to learn about the neural and motor systems that help in controlling human behaviour and movement, which led me to the field of occupational therapy! During my undergraduate studies, I taught cooking classes to children with autism, ran science education workshops and worked as a teaching assistant. Since graduating in 2022, I have continued working on two occupational therapy related research projects with one of my professors from McMaster.
What are you most looking forward to in your studies? What are you nervous about?
I am most looking forward to meeting and collaborating with my classmates and future colleagues – I value learning from diverse perspectives. I am also really looking forward to the program’s research project and improving my critical thinking skills to become a leader in health care. Going into this program I am nervous about managing a heavier workload, and my responsibilities during placements, but I know there is lots of support available to me if needed!
What do you like to do outside of school?
Outside of school, I am passionate about cooking and I love spending time learning new recipes to share with others. I also love to read, listen to music and watch Blue Jays games. I like to stay active by going on walks, taking dance classes and swimming!
Hayley Ma
What made you interested in pursuing occupational therapy?
Deciding what I wanted to pursue was not a linear path. I spent quite a lot of time during my undergrad exploring my options and I eventually consulted a career counselor who suggested I look into occupational therapy. I was reminded of when my grandpa, who had Parkinson’s disease, saw an occupational therapist. It was one of the first times I had seen a health care professional try to communicate with and understand my grandpa’s wishes. Since he was non-verbal, he was often excluded from decisions regarding his care. Recognizing the profound impact occupational therapists can have on both the client and their loved ones, I am excited to do the same for others.
What did you do before coming to U of T?
I graduated from the bachelor of health sciences program at McMaster University with a specialization in child health. I also volunteered at McMaster Children’s Hospital where I worked with a team of Child Life Specialists to plan and deliver toys, crafts and other activities to the patients during their stay. I saw the impact this had on their wellbeing and became interested in working as an occupational therapist in an acute pediatric setting.
What are you most looking forward to in your studies? What are you nervous about?
I am most looking forward to learning with and from my peers since we are all coming from diverse educational backgrounds. I am also looking forward to applying my knowledge and practicing my clinical skills during fieldwork. Since fieldwork is a unique opportunity to learn from practicing occupational therapists, I am excited to explore different fields and further develop my skill set. I am nervous about prioritizing my well-being while juggling the course load and other extracurriculars. However, I am thankful to be surrounded by loved ones who I know will be there to support me.
What do you like to do outside of school?
I enjoy learning new things in my free time, especially arts and crafts. Some skills I have picked up are air-dry clay sculpting, painting, embroidery and sewing. I love using these skills to create things to give to friends and family. I also enjoy reading, cooking and exploring new food and study spots with friends!