Reading Wesley Beck's story resonated deeply with me because it reminded me of the incredible peers I have connected with —individuals who have taught me more about resilience and determination than I could have ever imagined. For the past three years, I have been given the opportunity to connect with my peers who have special needs in a physical education setting, and this allowed me to begin working at a company that specifically works with people with disabilities, and provides care to help them to become more independent in more nontraditional ways. Through these experiences as well as exposure to people with special needs throughout my entire life, I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in occupational therapy and focus on people with special needs. Because they deserve the same opportunities as their peers and should not be limited because of their disability. I want to use my career as an Occupational Therapist to help people with disabilities to foster independence in an accepting environment. I have experienced first hand the impact a welcoming environment can make on a person and their abilities, when people feel truly supported in the world around them their possibilities are limitless. I aim to help people with special needs improve their daily living through the use of assistive technology—like communication devices and adaptive clothing—that empowers them to dress themselves and navigate life more independently. But also providing support to them as a whole, supporting their families and giving them resources in order to help their child. Additionally, being able to see past their disability and not just providing physical support, but assistance in sensory and cognitive development. Beyond my work with people with disabilities, I have also been able to work with a variety of people with special needs through volunteering. My community has built many opportunities for people with disabilities to thrive, one of these is a "Night to Shine" event at my church. This event allows for students with disabilities to have a sensory friendly night at a specialized prom. I saw firsthand the transformative power of creating an inclusive space. Watching students, who often feel excluded, light up with joy and confidence reminded me of why I’m passionate about helping individuals with disabilities feel truly seen and celebrated. One of the moments of my life that has been the most impactful to me, my service, and my community was last year, I was approached by the special education teacher at my school. This upcoming year, one of the students in the special education class was graduating, however due to his disability he was unable to walk across the stage by himself. This is when I was asked to assist him in walking across the stage and accept his diploma. I agreed without any hesitation, honored that I was going to be able to give his parents an experience they were told was never possible. Through both of these experiences I have learned the importance of accepting people for who they are, and not making them conform to the world, but instead making the world adaptive for them so they can participate and be given the same opportunities. I have learned the value of service and how it can help to increase inclusion in my community. Ultimately, I want to use my work as an Occupational Therapist to transform lives—helping individuals with disabilities not only thrive but also inspire others with their resilience and strength. I am committed to ensuring that every person I work with feels empowered, respected, and capable of achieving their fullest potential.

My name is Emma Sizemore and I am a student at Norwalk Community High School in Norwalk, Iowa. And I dream of being an Occupational Therapist. Throughout my time in High School, I have thought I would be many different things, from a Doctor, to a Special Education teacher and everything in between. But when I think about my future all I truly know I want to do, is make even the smallest difference in this world. Everyone deserves a reason to smile. For a long time I was seen as less because I was a woman. I couldn’t be as smart as the smartest kid in the class because he was a boy. I couldn’t be faster than him because he’s a boy. With people constantly putting you down, it is hard to know when to get back up. But that is when I discovered my schools Peer PE program. This program allows students to connect with their peers who have special needs. And these people are truly some of the most special people I have ever met. Many of our peers have intellectual disabilities, which can many times leads to them not truly believing in themselves during different activities, but I have also strived to cheer every single one of them on to make them feel supported and like they are able to do their best, and ensure that the activities are inclusive for all students no matter what their ability level may be. And they have impacted me more than they will ever realize. This is how I landed on Occupational Therapy. I want women who have had heart attacks, strokes, or have a disability to be able to do all the things they used to be able to do or to even gain new skills to help them become stronger, more confident, and independent. So that they can continue to pursue their passions and goals without fear of what people are saying about them or if they will be able to do it. This field for me will be the start of helping someone on the path to recovery, but ultimately will lead them to success. I do not want to be the reason for their success just a helpful and empowering stepping block along the way. My goal is to empower more women like me, to achieve the highest education and dominate a field. To strive for greatness. And to never let the world tell them they can’t because they most certainly can.