I grew up thinking I wanted to be a teacher; as a senior in high school I volunteered in a kindergarten class as an elective...that changed my mind real quick. After a quick (3 year) stint in court reporting school, which is a whole other story in & of itself, I started working more full time while taking part time classes at the local community college until I decided what I wanted to major in. For the past 5 years my career has been working as a nanny. It was through my experiences with two families, one brief and one longer & more intense, that I finally stumbled upon, what I believe to be, what I want to do with the foreseeable future of my life. Occupational Therapy.
The first family I worked for on a short term basis consisted of BG twins born 3 months premature; when I came in to care for them they were 8 months old calendar, 5 months adjusted, Baby N weighed 18 pounds & Baby T weighed 12 pounds...soooo...small! Baby T also had a Colostomy bag. I clearly remember their OTs coming to the house & telling me what they were doing with the babies. I remember the parents giving me a packet of exercises that they do with the babies. And this I vividly recall, sitting & watching the OTs working with T&N (not knowing really what they were doing but still) thinking, "I really like this. THIS looks like something I would want to do. What is this? I could do this. I WANT to do this." 4 years later I understand who they were & what they were doing...Early Intervention OT.
The second family I worked for a year and a half and consisted of C, 7 at time of hire, and H, 4 at time of hire. From the VERY BEGINNING my Spidey-senses were picking up on ques that H was not a Typical child; from his intellect (very high), compulsions, complete FREAK OUTS over things like automatic toilet flushers or certain foods at dinner time...something wasnt right. When these events happened I would write it down, then go home to Google it & they all shot back the same results: Autism/Aspergers. In the year and a half I worked for the family ( who were lovely, wonderful, amazing, sweet & glorious people to work for) they NEVER ONCE said to me, "Stefani, H is on The Spectrum. This is what it means & this is what we need you to do for him." NEVER ONCE. I figured out what to do (through consulting his OT & ST) for him while I was with him for the things I needed him to accomplish during the day. It was through my Sensory Integration techniques that H expanded his diet from 3 dinner dishes to 8+, & enjoyed them!
There was a time in the beginning when I was very frustrated because I didnt know H's diagnosis, I was highly considering leaving the position, but I stuck with it because I found a groove that worked, through research/consultation found exercises & techniques that worked for H & me & soon our days glided along so smoothly. It was after this job that I was pretty much sure, OT was for me.
Fast forward a few years, one Intro class( & some postponing), here I am, almost done with my first year of the COTA program. This is what I want to do with my life,as far as I can see from standing here in my almost 24 year old shoes. Im excited to have finally found something that I enjoy, Im good at & fulfills one of my main goals in life; do good things for other people & leave a positive impact on the world.
