Final Reflection on Leadership

During my undergraduate career, I had the opportunity to assist an individual diagnosed

with multiple sclerosis with her every day routine and needs. This was the first time I can
remember putting myself out on a limb and taking advantage of an experience I had little
knowledge in. Throughout this experience, I learned of the many rehabilitation avenues for an
individual struggling with this particular diagnosis. Alongside this individual, I attended weekly
physical therapy, pool therapy, acupuncture, and cardiac rehabilitation appointments along with
any additional needs that arose. Thinking back to this experience, I wish I could go back and
approach it with my now developed occupational therapy (OT) lens. I believe I could have
provided her with a much more holistic and occupation-based experience. This is truly the
beginning of my leadership skills and OT journey.
In addition to being a caregiver as an undergraduate student, I also acted as a mentor to a
close friend who was also interested in the OT career. I educated her on the process of applying,
provided her with advice on selecting a fitting school, and then acted as her mentor once she was
accepted into an OT graduate program. I found much joy in being able to share my own
experience and advice on this challenging process. I then applied this experience once in
graduate school and applied for and became a student ambassador. As a student ambassador, I
was able to assist with the interviews with the upcoming cohort. It was great to provide
applicants with advice and information regarding the OT program at Touro University Nevada.
Another opportunity to increase my leadership skills was being a member of Pi Theta
Epsilon, the honor society for the OT profession. This was truly an accomplishment for me
because it was the first time in my college career that I achieved honors. I have never worked so
hard and I can truly attribute that to my passion for this career choice. In April of 2016, I plan to

attend the Pi Theta Epsilon gathering and look forward to meeting others involved in this
research-driven group.
In the spring of 2015, a member of the TUN cohort invited me to volunteer at The
Painted Turtle, a SeriousFun camp founded by the Paul Newman Foundation dedicated to
providing children with life threatening illnesses an opportunity to engage in a fun weekend.
This experience was so moving and I recently found that there is another Paul Newman camp
about an hour north of Seattle. I look forward to the opportunity to continue volunteering and
sharing my knowledge as a future OT.
Lastly, an additional artifact that I believe will shape my future as an OT was receiving
the Washington Indian Gaming Association scholarship. I am part Native American and cannot
wait to indulge myself in the culture and contribute my knowledge to their community. I am
confident that each of these experiences has shaped me into the leader I am today and will
contribute to my dedication to the OT profession.