The OT Student Journey — Pinning to Graduation
Follow occupational therapy students at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) as they transition from classroom learning to clinical fieldwork and, ultimately, graduation. The video highlights the milestones along the occupational therapy student journey, beginning with the pinning ceremony that marks the completion of didactic coursework and the transition into clinical fieldwork experiences. Students and faculty share their perspectives on this transition, including the challenges, personal growth, and continued faculty support that accompany hands-on clinical training.
Through student experiences in settings such as pediatric occupational therapy and neurorehabilitation, the video explores how classroom instruction, simulation labs, and practical training help prepare future occupational therapists for clinical practice. The journey concludes with graduation, as students reflect on their accomplishments, increased confidence, and transition into the occupational therapy workforce.
Transcript
The OT Student Journey — Pinning to Graduation
[00:00:00] Erin Schwier (USAHS OT): Today we had our pinning ceremony for the group of students that are going out on their fieldwork. [00:00:07] Maureen Johnson (OT Faculty): It’s a moment of excitement, and they’re scared, and they’re nervous. [00:00:12] Erin Schwier (USAHS OT): And the pin represents that the faculty is still going to support them even though they’re out at clinical internships and out of our classrooms. [00:00:19] Kristin (OT Student): Today we got our pins, which signifies we’re at the end of our didactic education, and we’re moving on to our fieldwork placement. [00:00:25] Yanni (OT Student): We can really go out there and refine our skills and really make a difference in people’s lives. [00:00:32] Maureen Johnson (OT Faculty): We do a lot of emails. We do a lot of texting. We do a lot of FaceTiming to support them. [00:00:39] Adrian (OT Student): And they kind of encourage you to contact them so to make sure you get everything right and become the best therapist you can be. [00:00:49] Yanni (OT Student): Everybody always asks me, what’s fieldwork really like? This past six months has been such a self-growth experience. [00:00:58] Kristin (OT Student): You’re learning how to learn in a lot of ways. [00:01:00] I’m spending 12 weeks in outpatient pediatrics, um, with a focus in sensory integration therapy. [00:01:06] Kristin (OT Student): The Center for Neuro Skills is for people who’ve experienced traumatic brain injuries or strokes, and there’s all kinds of different disciplines, including speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, counseling, and education. And it provides that holistic approach to the patient. [00:01:21] I feel like my school did a really, really good job preparing me for fieldwork. We had so much practice in simulation for the inpatient settings. I’m prepared for this pediatric setting too, because children actually come into our school before we left on fieldwork. [00:01:35] Kristin (OT Student): And we have everything that we need to then go out into the facilities and dig deeper and learn more. You’re jumping in and just trying to get as much as you can out of the experience. [00:01:44] Yanni (OT Student): I have to say that it’s been a huge change in my confidence level. [00:01:52] Erin Schwier (USAHS OT): Graduation is always a really exciting time for me. [00:01:55] Kristin (OT Student): And it’s a lot of excitement knowing that we’re done and we’re moving into the workforce now. [00:01:58] Adrian (OT Student): Both my parents are here. My wife’s here. Her parents are here. [00:02:01] Kristin (OT Student): I’m the first in my family to graduate college. The commemoration of everything that we’ve worked hard for. [00:02:06] Erin Schwier (USAHS OT): When they come back to graduation, they just seem different. They seem ready. They seem prepared. I love to hear that they already have job offers. [00:02:12] Kristin (OT Student): I’m jumping right into the workforce. [00:02:15] Erin Schwier (USAHS OT): And I can’t wait to see what they continue to do with their lives. [00:02:18] Yanni (OT Student): So it’s just such a happy day.
Discover the Flex Format – OT Programs, University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
OT student shares her experience in the OT Flex format.
Discover the Residential Format – OT Programs, University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
OT student shares her experience in the OT Residential format.
Discover the Hybrid Immersion Format – OT Programs, University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
OT student shares her experience in the OT Hybrid Immersion format.