I have struggled with mental health issues as many people do, particularly with depression and anxiety. In my case, these issues were most prevalent during the earlier years of my teen years due to personal events that had begun to unfold. My main struggle with mental health happened over a couple of years. During this period of my life, I experienced depression and suicidal ideations, a very unpleasant experience in my life as it is with all forms of mental health issues. Despite the high level of comfortability this particular season in my life brought, I would not have it changed because it directed my path to understanding mental health better. Near the end of the time in which I dealt with my mental health the most, I began to read papers on such topics. Educating myself on the topic of mental health has been important for understanding what I went through and may go through, but more importantly, it aids me in understanding and further empathizing with others who have already or currently are experiencing mental health issues. Being an advocate for good mental health is important to me, because of my personal experiences as well as seeing the toll it has taken on loved ones. One of the first careers I began to see myself in was therapy. I believe this was a direct result of my experiences and despite this no longer being the goal for myself I still believe in being an advocate for good mental health. As an aspiring occupational therapist, my goal is to advocate for my client's mental health no matter what setting I work in. Our approach to working with people is a holistic approach in which we help individuals engage in activities that are meaningful to them. My experience of my struggles with mental health pushes me to be considerate of this invisible factor others might be dealing with. It is my job as a future practitioner and as a citizen in the community to reach out to others who might be struggling and let them know that there is hope. Taking on the role of an occupational therapist, I will work on staying educated on available resources for people with mental health concerns, advocating for policies that bolster mental health care access to the public, as well as working with individuals to live meaningful lives. Through my personal experiences and academic journey I understand that not everyone has access to mental health care and some individuals who do still do not see the value in which it provides. Being an advocate for others to be a self-advocate for their own well-being is important to me and can be done through meeting the individual where they are at, bringing a welcoming and supportive attitude, as well as resources as needed. Through everyday conversation now and all throughout my life, I will continue to encourage others to take an empathetic approach to viewing others and correct inappropriate behaviors toward mental health. Everyday conversations on mental health will contribute to a healthier society in which we can all support one another.

Growing up in a single parent household with my mother and three siblings was a challenging experience, however, it was one which we have all were able to come out well adjusted due to the help from one another. My main role model growing up was my mother, because she was the one who raised us while going to school and working hard. It was this hard working attitude and high drive for achievements along with the modeling I saw in my older siblings that set a fire within me to push myself in school and extracurriculars. This drive for excellence is a big part of the reason as to why I find myself working hard in graduate school right now. Another important quality that was passed down from my mother to my siblings and I was a desire to serve others. The inspiring image of my mother helping others to the best of her ability at work as a nurse, but also outside with those around her painted a vivid picture for my siblings and I to strive for. This passion to go out of your way to help others in need and work with them to ensure that they are doing well is a big factor as to why I find myself working hard to be a part of the medical field. Although not done with school, I have found myself in volunteer opportunities and jobs in which I could foster this drive to help those around me. It is from having my mother as a role model that I have chosen to be resilient despite the obstacles of finances, mental health concerns, intensity of work loads, and overall difficulty of life. My story is not complete, there is much left for me to complete on my journey. Part of my journey includes reaching out to others in need, in the community and through my future profession as an occupational therapist, and creating a positive impact in their life. My ambition is to understand the struggles that others go through and help them return to what is important to them. I plan to work in low-income populations such as where I was raised, so that I can serve communities in need and make a difference in which I wish I had seen. In the upcoming years I plan to save money so that I can contribute to other aspiring graduates on their academic journey as well as serve as an advocate in programs such as CASA for children and families who are struggling through the process of divorce as my family did. I will meet each person understanding that even if our struggles may have similarities, each person is in a unique situation and should be given the chance to be heard. I have fought and worked hard to get to the great opportunities I have now and I plan to encourage others to continue to push forward in their journey as well.

My favorite actor to take on the role of Spider-Man is Toby Maguire. Although part of the favoritism for him taking this role as opposed to Tom Holland and Andrew Garfield is due to nostalgia, I still enjoy seeing his take on Spider-Man when I view those movies. Toby's version of Spider-Man had a great deal of personal growth throughout the movies in which he starred. His Peter Parker went through hardships, pain, love, jealousy, grief, pride, vengeance, doubt, and even an identity crisis. Although not to the same degree, this portrayal of Peter Parker is a great example of creating a character that most moviegoers can relate to in some capacity. This ability to relate with Peter as an average person through the humanity of his character rather than the superhero that he is was the intent of how Stan Lee wanted his character to shine. Apart from the humanity that Toby Maguire brings to Spider-Man, I enjoy the similarities this version of Peter Parker has with the comics despite the discrepancy with the web shooting. Peter Parker is nerdy and excelling as a student, has MJ as a romantic interest, working as a freelance photographer, having Uncle Ben and Aunt May as strong figures in his life, as well as the iconic villains he faces. Of course, there are a multitude of comics with different ways Spider-Man is portrayed, however, this is my favorite portrayal of him in cinema.

My name is Daniel Rodriguez and I am a second-year doctoral occupational therapy student at the University of Saint Mary. I enjoy learning about occupational therapy and the various avenues occupational therapists may take to serve others, however, the areas of occupational therapy I am most interested in pursuing are acute care, home health, and academia. I have always wanted to be a part of the medical field, so that I may serve others to the best of my ability. However, as an introverted person, my expectations for myself in terms of how I would be involved in the medical field placed me in an area with fewer patient interactions than I currently want. My experience in undergrad challenged me, shaped me, and altered my perspective on how I wanted to make a difference in the lives of others. Through my experiences during my undergraduate career, I developed a passion for creating meaningful relationships with the people around me. My passion for helping others was bolstered through this newfound interest in creating real and meaningful relationships with the people I met rather than sticking to a minimal level of meaningful relationships. Being a resident assistant truly influenced my decision to become an occupational therapist, because it allowed me to be present and walk with students in times of trial and in times of celebration. My time as a resident assistant encouraged my growth in areas such as communication and personal relationships by allowing me the opportunity to meet people where they are and support them wherever they are in their journey. After self-reflection on who I had become as a result of my undergraduate experience, I took a deep look into all the opportunities the field of healthcare has to offer and this lead me to find my calling in occupational therapy. I fell in love with occupational therapy for the genuine connections we form with our clients which allow us to help them return to activities that are personally meaningful to them. The passion I felt for the profession after discovering was further deepened after having volunteered with occupational therapists in an acute care setting and at a hand therapy clinic. Each semester and the knowledge that comes with each semester further foster my passion for serving others as an occupational therapist. Although there are a variety of settings I would enjoy working in; I am most interested in working in acute care, home health, academia, and mental health settings. My time as an occupational therapy student has given me invaluable experiences through fieldwork, volunteer experiences, coursework, and student leadership. Coursework, fieldwork, and volunteer experiences have led me to serve various communities such as children, the aging population, and members of different abilities. My experiences have given me insight into the lives of different populations and the struggles they may face in their day-to-day lives. Together these learning experiences help shape not only an understanding of the challenges others face and a desire to continue to learn of others' experiences, but also ways in which I and other occupational therapists can help others lead fulfilling lives. As a student leader in my university's SOTA group, I advocate for our students and community alike. As a future practitioner, I will continue to advocate for students and our communities to promote meaningful and healthy lives.

My favorite aspect of Minecraft is its promotion of creativity and exploration. The additional content that comes with each update to the game brings interesting variety to the player's experience, however, I find that the ability to explore the far reaches of each world map as well as starting new worlds brings about a vast amount of creativity and opportunity for exploration. Through exploring a single world map the player often chooses to construct a new home with all the bells and whistles such as their room, a farm, space for livestock, walls to safely enclose their land, and an area for mining. Although there can be similarities in each settlement the player creates, it is difficult to create settlements that are exactly the same due to the surrounding terrain, available resources, and inspiration that comes with the space they choose to build upon. The creativity further continues when creating new worlds to explore with new set combinations of terrain. By entering a new world map the creativity and exploration never grow old. I enjoy the opportunity to relax and the opportunity Minecraft gives me to think outside of the box as I explore and construct settlements and buildings in both survival and creative modes. The space it provides allows me to stay open to new ideas and adapt to new settings, something I am grateful for as I enter into the professional setting.

My Barbie Dream House is two stories tall with six bedrooms and four full sized bathrooms. This house would be located in an accessible small town. The home would be built with universal design concepts in mind such as a zero entry shower, moving cabinents, and motion sensor faucets.There would be four bedrooms and two bathrooms upstairs with the remaining bedrooms and bathrooms on the first floor. The stairs to get to the second floor would be wooden and come with grips to provide safety along with the guardrail. In addition to the staircase there would be a stairlift. The house would come furnished with couches that can come apart and be reorganized, circular tables that can expand, and other unique items that may be used for multiple purposes. The home would be fitted with smart technology such as adjustable lighting, motion sensor lightining, lights that come on when the door bell is rung, a smart thermostat, and an adjustable bed. The home would be eco-friendly through the use of solar panels and geothermal energy to keep a cool temperature. The home would come with a large entertainment room, a gaming room, a gym, as well as an arts and crafts room. The entertainment room would use a high quality projector and would have various goodies such as a candy bar, popcorn machine, soda machine, and a slurpee machine. The house would come with a pool, tennis court, basketball court, and a soccer field all with shade close by. The pool would be customized to allow for easy entry for individuals that use a wheelchair. The pool would also come with a water fall and an attached hot tub. The house would have both a flower garden and a food garden with fruits and vegetables. The flower garden would be arranged to create a beautiful pattern of different colors in the back, but there would be other flowers surrounding the edges of the house.

My name is Daniel Rodriguez and I am a first-year doctoral occupational therapy student at the University of Saint Mary. I enjoy learning about occupational therapy and the various avenues occupational therapists may take to serve others, however, the two areas of occupational therapy I am most interested in pursuing are hand therapy and home health. I have always wanted to be a part of the medical field, so that I may serve others to the best of my ability. However, as an introverted person, my expectations for myself in terms of how I would be involved in the medical field placed me in an area with fewer patient interactions than I currently want. My experience in undergrad challenged me, shaped me, and altered my perspective on how I wanted to make a difference in the lives of others. Through my experiences with the classmates I had and the residents I served as a resident assistant, I developed a passion for creating meaningful relationships with the people around me. My passion for helping others was bolstered through this newfound interest in creating real and meaningful relationships with the people I met rather than sticking to a minimal level of meaningful relationships. Being a resident assistant truly influenced my decision to become an occupational therapist, because it allowed me to be present and walk with students in times of trial and in times of celebration. My time as a resident assistant encouraged my growth in areas such as communication and personal relationships by allowing me the opportunity to meet people where they are and support them wherever they are in their journey. After self-reflection on who I had become as a result of my undergraduate experience, I took a deep look into all the opportunities the field of healthcare has to offer and this lead me to find my calling in occupational therapy. I fell in love with occupational therapy for the genuine connections we form with our clients which allow us to help them return to activities that are personally meaningful to them. The passion I felt for the profession after discovering was further deepened after having volunteered with occupational therapists in an acute care setting and at a hand therapy clinic. Each semester and the knowledge that comes with each semester further foster my passion to serve others as an occupational therapist. I will continue to push forward in my program to make a meaningful and positive difference in the lives of my future clients.

The dream version of my future self is an occupational therapist by profession, but apart from work, I want to be a mentor, a father, a husband, an educator, an advocate, and a philanthropist.

How do I stop from throwing my hands up, how do I not give up Overcast skies, dreary prospects for what is next People on my left and people on my right trying to fight and fight, its in my head echoing Ever hear of being hopeful kid? Throw it in your head and remember it when you get out of bed Forget the senseless bickering, you have got to move on and make the future bright Up and over a hill, the next and the next, follow the path and do not forget Light at the end of the tunnel. "Never give up." Oh, what a reasurring phrase that echoes on and on Light all around me and I can see a brighter future for you and me Young and hopeful today but one day I will lay to rest. Gazing hopefully at what is left for whom is next

As a child, I did not have long before my upbringing of a two-parent household was altered into a single-parent household. I was in elementary school when my parents divorced, leaving custody of my brothers and myself to my mother. Growing up in a single-parent household has led me to persevere through all the challenges in my life primarily through the example my mother has served and that I have tried to live up to. Although perseverance on my end would have always been present due to my own volition, I give thanks and credit to my mother for being my role model which has boosted the level of resilience I have within me. The experience of growing up in a single-parent household affected me in areas of my life and development such as emotionally and socially. Difficulties that arose in my family's circumstance as a result of a single-parent household included: stretched finances, limited family time, and an overall lack of stability. Raising four kids on a single income leads to difficult times when it comes to finances, however, she turned this into an opportunity for growth in which she earned a nursing degree and was able to better provide for us. As a result of the increase in demand it took to care for her children, the time we spent with our mother was affected negatively. Despite the initial hit to the time we had together, my mother established a lifestyle in which she devoted herself to successful family and work time. Life can be hectic, even more so for busy single-parent homes, but the effort and intention put forth by my mother created a stable family dynamic for us. During the pressure of raising four kids with limited resources, my mother pushed forward and found a way to better provide and care for her family. Having seen the pressures she was faced with and how she rose above and beyond the situation has instilled a fire within me to always push forward for a better tomorrow. While stretched thin for her free time she made herself available to be around for school events and extracurricular activities for each of her children. It was her drive and love for her family that allowed us to feel heard and wanted even throughout our whole childhood. Although my journey with positive self-esteem and confidence has been long and rocky, the love and support she gave were a catalyst for building stability and understanding of self-worth in my life. It is this high level of resilience I have taken on that has aided in my journey with my mental health, working multiple jobs to attend college, going back to college to update my resume for graduate school, heartbreaks, failures, and setbacks of all kinds. My life experiences have cultivated the person I am today and I intend to use these experiences to make a positive impact in my community by volunteering, establishing a scholarship award for low-income households, and serving others as a professional in underserved areas. Volunteer work comes in many forms and I hope to be a part of it in our communities as a member, as well as a professional both as a mentor and utilizing the therapeutic knowledge I am building. I intend to continue being smart with my money and establish a reoccurring scholarship for similar students who want to make a positive difference but need help on their journey. Having grown up in an underserved area, I wish to make a difference by returning home or somewhere similar and work as an occupational therapist.

My dream is to leave a positive impact on others lives through serving others as a Hispanic male in a field dominated by Caucasian women. My plan to achieve this dream is to earn my doctorate in occupational therapy, specializing in hand therapy, and return to my underserved childhood city.

To me generosity means giving from the heart regardless of what you have left. I believe a common thread we see throughout our society would be an increase in possessions correlating with a decrease in generosity. Although this is not the case for everyone, I think this trend fortifies the value of what is given from those who do not have as much as others do. For someone who is generous they are giving from the heart. If one is giving from their heart they are giving through altruism, their generosity only stems from the goal of benefiting those they are helping. Although there are many gifts and aid given out the motivation behind this act is not always one of pure intent. Giving unto others for the sake of feeling better about yourself, although usually a byproduct of such actions, is not the goal of one who would be considered truly generous. I believe this quote by Carol Ryrie Brink is an excellent summation of a generous heart. "The most truly generous persons are those who give silently without hope of praise or reward." I believe generosity can be found through two main facets, physically and temporally. One typically thinks of generosity in terms of the physical things which may be given: money, toys, and other such gifts. Being generous with your time often seems to be overlooked. We can be generous by spending more time with others, denying the things on our schedule or deliberately adding to our schedule in a way which we are pouring into others. These forms of generosity and the heart behind it is what generosity means to me.

I have struggled with mental health issues as many people do. In my case, these issues were most prevalent during the earlier years of my teen years due to personal events which had begun to unfold. My main struggle with mental health happened over the course of a couple years. During this period of time I experienced depression and suicidal ideations, a very unpleasant experience in my life as it is with all forms of mental health issues. Despite the high level of comfortability this particular season in my life brought, I would not have it changed because it directed my path to understanding mental health better. Near the end of the time period in which I dealt with my mental health the most, I began to read papers on such topics. Educating myself on the topic of mental health has been important for understanding what I went through and may go through, but more importantly it aids me in understanding and further empathizing others who have already or currently are experiencing mental health issues. Being an advocate for good mental health is important to me, because of my personal experiences as well as seeing the toll it has taken on loved ones. One of the first careers I began to see myself in was therapy. I believe this was a direct result of my experiences and despite this no longer being the goal for myself I still believe in being an advocate for good mental health. I will utilize the information I have learned and will learn on this topic to serve others as a friend as well as in my future profession as an occupational therapist.

By leaning on one another throughout this journey of life we spread love, happiness, and hope to each other. These benefits from socializing in our immediate communities is why the one aspect of my life which gives me the most hope in life is my loved ones. As we support one another we tend to inspire others along the way. We do this through assuring those around us in mannerisms such as "things will get better" or "you have got this." It is this type of supporting of one another which fosters hope amongst ourselves. Even for someone who generally has a positive outlook on life they can not always maintain a positive outlook on life, that is where being part of a community shines. Life is a series of ups and downs for everyone of us and by leaning on one another we make life more manageable as well as more rewarding to live. I consider myself to be a lucky individual who has an amazing support system with me whenever I need them. My loved ones whom I consider my support system consists of my family, my friends, and my girlfriend. My loved ones are always there to remind me that I am not alone, they give me hope for tomorrow when I do not feel as if there is any. The hope which they instill in me occurs through their words as well as their actions. Often times we need a fresh perspective to help bring hope to the situation which we find ourselves. During the trials of our life stress becomes overwhelming as it invades our mind. The high levels of stress can become so consuming it dominates the state of mind that we are in, in which a fresh perspective is necessary to help reroute our mindset to believe in hope again. At times we may find ourselves in a positive mood, however from the conversations and time we spend with others can capitalize on the hope we already have. In the end our hope is revitalized through the conversations we have with one another, we stir in each other a fire for a better future.

For the majority of my life I have had the pleasure of having my life bettered through the influence of family pets present through the journey of life. My pets have changed my life both emotionally and physically. For as long as I can remember, I have had dogs by my side to keep me company through the good times as well as the bad times. During my younger years until the end of high school I was lucky enough to live with two sweet dogs, Buddy and Shadow. These two canine family members filled my days with laughter and love. By the end of high school I lost one of my beloved dogs, Shadow, which left my family and I in heartbreak. I was blessed enough to have a handful of extra years with my other dog Buddy before he passed away. Apart from these two precious companions I have been thankful to have my present dog, Luna. Through all the years in which I have been lucky enough to call these pets my friends I have grown as a result of their daily influence on me. From all the wonderful pets in my life I have learned responsibility, love, positivity, compassion, and healthier habits. All the influence that my pets have had in my life has been positive. The positive change in my life can be seen in examples such as: learning the responsibilities which come with owning a pet at a young age, learning how to have a positive outlook such as dogs typically exemplify, developing deeper compassion and sympathy for other living beings, developing an active lifestyle which supports having a healthy pet, and seeing and receiving unconditional love. Although all these wonderful results come from having special pets in your life, there is one outcome that means the most to me. Love is one of the most powerful forces there is in this life, this is no exception when it comes to your pets. The way my dogs have shown me love throughout all of my years has been positively life changing. As someone with a multitude of points in life where I have felt myself being in a low point of life it has been an uplifting experience to be accompanied by a loving dog. In these low points of life typically we want to be away from other people, we want a sense of solitude which allows for us to feel and think without interference. Despite moments such as these in which we want to be alone, these are moments in which our pets are still able to comfort us with their presence and love. I remember moments in which I was angered or confused I was sought out by one of my pets and they worked their way into disassembling the turmoil in that moment. There is a sense of peace we receive through our pets due to the nonverbal companionship they give us. We do not have to impress them or explain our situation to them, however our pets love us anyways. I love my pets and how they have changed my life for the better.

For the majority of my life I have had the pleasure of having my life bettered through the influence of family pets present through the journey of life. My pets have changed my life both emotionally and physically. For as long as I can remember, I have had dogs by my side to keep me company through the good times as well as the bad times. During my younger years until the end of high school I was lucky enough to live with two sweet dogs, Buddy and Shadow. These two canine family members filled my days with laughter and love. By the end of high school I lost one of my beloved dogs, Shadow, which left my family and I in heartbreak. I was blessed enough to have a handful of extra years with my other dog Buddy before he passed away. Apart from these two precious companions I have been thankful to have my present dog, Luna. Through all the years in which I have been lucky enough to call these pets my friends I have grown as a result of their daily influence on me. From all the wonderful pets in my life I have learned responsibility, love, positivity, compassion, and healthier habits. All the influence that my pets have had in my life has been positive. The positive change in my life can be seen in examples such as: learning the responsibilities which come with owning a pet at a young age, learning how to have a positive outlook such as dogs typically exemplify, developing deeper compassion and sympathy for other living beings, developing an active lifestyle which supports having a healthy pet, and seeing and receiving unconditional love. Although all these wonderful results come from having special pets in your life, there is one outcome that means the most to me. Love is one of the most powerful forces there is in this life, this is no exception when it comes to your pets. The way my dogs have shown me love throughout all of my years has been positively life changing. As someone with a multitude of points in life where I have felt myself being in a low point of life it has been an uplifting experience to be accompanied by a loving dog. In these low points of life typically we want to be away from other people, we want a sense of solitude which allows for us to feel and think without interference. Despite moments such as these in which we want to be alone, these are moments in which our pets are still able to comfort us with their presence and love. I remember moments in which I was angered or confused I was sought out by one of my pets and they worked their way into disassembling the turmoil in that moment. There is a sense of peace we receive through our pets due to the nonverbal companionship they give us. We do not have to impress them or explain our situation to them, however our pets love us anyways. I love my pets and how they have changed my life for the better.

Community is a culmination of various people who come together in support of one another. A community is a group in which everyone feels valued and heard, there is an understanding between each member in which they look out for and have the best interest in mind for one another. As a member of a close community one shares the emotional lows, supporting those in times of need, as well as the emotional highs, celebrating and congratulating those in good times. To me, giving back to the community would be considered instances such as the aforementioned. Giving back to the community are instances where one exemplifies their appreciation for what the community stands for, how the community has helped them, as well as setting up the community for future success. Consolation with those grieving, donations to food or toy drives, or volunteering in events or programs for the community are some ways I enjoy giving back to my community. I am entering the academic journey of becoming an occupational therapist in which my goal is to create meaningful relationships with the patients I serve. I envision a future in which I am able to give back to smaller communities such as the one I grew up in. My desire is to reach out to the community and help those in need with the skills and knowledge I will have acquired through my graduate program. I value the communities which have provided me with opportunities and support both of which have aided in the person I have grown to be today. I wish to bolster up the communities that are underserved and those who call it home. I plan to set aside money for scholarships dedicated for students in need who have a passion for serving others in health care field. Furthermore, I hope to create a presence on college campuses where I will speak about my future career as an occupational therapist and the variety of the health care field. My hope is to speak to students interested in the health care field and help those students broaden their horizon when it comes to the possibilities that come with the field of health care. As someone who had tunnel vision when it came to what the field of health care has to offer I am excited to be an advocate for the variety the field offers. Even if I never find a student who is interested in occupational therapy, it will be worth the time to get the students thinking about the possibilities and how they can fit people with different interests, aspirations, or personalities. Lastly, for those students who become interested in the field of occupational therapy my aspiration is to mentor them through prerequisites, applications, and graduate school. I wish to be a positive influence in the life of others both in and out of my profession as an occupational therapist.

Life comes filled with hardships, that much is true for everyone. However, one who stays strong in their aspirations despite the confusion and curveballs life brings us will find their path come to fruition. Despite all the obstacles I have encountered in life, my determination remains strong to pursue my passion and help others in my future career and outside of it as well. Growing up as a minority in a broken home comes with its expected challenges. Your resources are stretched thin, your opportunities are lessened, you struggle to find that role model you crave, and your mental health takes a hit. Life pushes up against you constantly, but you keep moving on and on. Progressing and finishing high school was good despite the aforementioned list of obstacles. Excelling in sports and school was a given, you have to do your best to get into college to make it in life just as everyone tells you. Now in college things start to change up on you more than you anticipate. Doubt creeps in more than before, but you push forward past those thoughts of inadequacy. You have to eat and have a bed to sleep in, so you work two jobs while going to school. All this hard work pays off, you get your degree and your free to relax for a second before you realize you have been pushing towards a goal that you can not see yourself being happy with. Discontent and lost you take your time to work and search out how you want to make a difference in this big world. Months pass until one career finally speaks to you, one route in life that allows you to create a meaningful difference in the lives of others around you. Occupational therapy speaks to you as if it is everything that you have dreamed of when it came to helping others, but you are not ready to jump in. More time passes as you study and search your way through all the programs you might consider to be a part of to reach your goal. It takes some time and resources, but you complete the additional courses and experiences needed to apply. You apply, but begin to feel the discouragement which comes from being rejected over and over. It may sting a little, but pushing forward is the only way until you hear congratulations. Now it is just a matter of time and more hard work before you can use what you have learned to make a positive change in the life of others. Although my goals in life have shifted occasionally throughout life my main goal to help those around me has never changed. This life is not just about ourselves and what we can do for our own life, this life is about leaving a positive impact on others and making a difference. No matter how many times life knocks me down, I will get back up. I will move forward, uplift others, and be the positive change that we need in this world.

There are marvelous inventions, organizations, and policies that are aimed at positively impacting a wide range of people all at the same time. While these are noble pursuits which bring forth exceptional change, this is not how I see my impact on others in this life. I believe the greatest impact I can have on this world is through impacting someone else's world one person at a time as an occupational therapist. As an occupational therapist I would come into someone's life who is in need and meet them where there are at in life. As an occupational therapist it will be my duty to create a space where anyone can feel heard and feels safe enough to share what is important to them. Through the nature of the job, the individual will not be able to participate in the things which they value in life whether that be their their work, family, leisure activities, or more. Their lifestyle will be strained in terms of independence and functionality. Through various sessions and exercises I will be have identified what is important to the patient and have utilized various methods to guide a successful recovery in which they will be able to return to those valued aspects of their life. Although I will not be able to leave a positive impact on the masses initially, I know through hard work, kindness, and dedication I will have positively impacted a multitude of people throughout my career as an occupational therapist. This personal level of positively impacting others is my passion and I am excited to help others regain their independence and return back to the activities in life in which they find meaning.