Our niece, Kylee, just became a genuine, informed, trained, scholarly, intelligent, enlightened, knowledgeable, skilled, proficient, capable, stellar, eruditely, approved, college educated, board-certified, Occupational Therapist, or as we in the know like to say, an “OT.”
I always knew Kylee was smart — when she was little, every time I was around her, she was always asking me to give her a “woid” to spell. She outgrew that pronunciation, but she knew how to spell more words than I knew. So I always assumed she’d become a spelling teacher or something like that.
But I’d say that an occupational therapist is even better.
Kylee graduated from West Virginia University — to become an occupational therapist, she had to earn a bachelor’s degree and then a master’s degree in occupational therapy.
A couple of people I’ve talked to think that Kylee became a physical therapist…. she didn’t. She became an occupational therapist.
As I understand it, the primary difference is that physical therapy’s main focus is gross motor function, while occupational therapy focuses on how the patient uses fine more and cognitive skills to perform tasks that are meaningful to them. The occupational therapist’s primary goal is to help patients engage in activities in areas such as self-care, homemaking, leisure, play, and socialization. Their treatment may include physical exercise, but may also focus on areas such as problem solving, memory, organization, keeping a routine, social skills, and using community resources.
I don’t pretend to understand all of this, but it sounds pretty impressive to me.
The fact is, we’re really proud of Kylee and there’s absolutely no question she’ll be a success. Whatever direction she chooses to go, or what “speciality” she selects, she’ll do great. Because no matter her educational background, she’ll be a success because she’s Kylee. You see, success as a therapist is not found in doing something for the patient, but rather in being something for the patient — I’m pretty sure that’s the way Kylee will operate — congratulations to the newest professional in our family!
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