Immediate Professional Goal

I was nine-years-old when my parents and I began to notice that my four-year-old sister, Christine, could not walk, talk, or balance like other children her age. Christine was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. My parents did not speak English. As a result, I became both a translator and negotiator for my parents, as well as a fierce advocate for my sister. My family and I did not understand the lifelong effects the disability would have on Christine, which caused unimagined stress and sadness for everyone in our family. Watching Christine live a life different from mine motivated me to pursue studies where I could make sense of my family’s hardship and provide resources to make my sisters life satisfying. I also wanted to help other people …show more content…
As a volunteer, I have helped multiple occupational therapists work with a diverse patient population. Helping patients develop, recover, and improve the skills needed for daily living activities, brings enormous satisfaction. As a future occupational therapist, my immediate professional goal is to improve my professional skills to serve a community of people to the best of my ability. For example, I will evaluate each patient’s needs, abilities, and interests by talking, observing and recording assessments, and decide if the patient will need treatment that will cover multiple areas like ranging from muscle strengthening and self-care, to social-emotional adjustment and use of adaptive …show more content…
I guided and helped individuals with disabilities perform adapted resistance training based on their needs and personal fitness goals. As a home care aide, I have enriched my sister’s life. Recently, my sister Christine was denied critical services. I took legal action to have the decision overturned, which secured lifetime personal assistance and care for her. Today, I continue collaborating with Christine’s support staff to ensure transportation, class registration at West Los Angeles College, one-on-one assistance, and tutoring are all taken care of. The determination and diligence I have delivered over the past fifteen years to improve my sister’s life is the same mentality I will bring to the profession of occupational therapy. I will always be an advocate for my sister and for others in similar situations to make sure they receive proper treatment and stay involved within our