Today I’m going to tell you all the story of my dog, Ella. And you’re probably already thinking, “what do this have to do with OT?” But hang with me.
Back when I was in high school, I was scrolling through Facebook and saw a post someone had shared of a dog in need of a new home. Ella’s family worked long hours and didn’t have the time to dedicate to her. My family already had a dog (Buddy) but Ella was the same breed, past the puppy stage, and just so cute.
So I did what anyone who desperately wants a dog would do. I crept into my parents’s room and begged my mom to call the phone number. And eventually I wore her down and she did! So Ella’s owner brought her to meet us and we loved her.
So here’s how OT is connected. Ella’s previous owner ran the activities department at one of the nursing homes nearby. After meeting her, I signed up to volunteer there. So every Saturday morning, I went and did bowling with the residents and would show Ella’s previous owner pictures of her and we would catch up on all things Ella.
Through these Saturday mornings of bowling, I realized how much I liked working with the geriatric population. And how much I loved helping them participate in a fun activity. I had so much fun at bowling and saw how much it meant to them just to have people come visit. They didn’t care that we were bowling in the TV room or that they might have missed every single pin. They were just having fun, and so was I!
So that’s the story of how 1 Facebook post led me to my dog, the best volunteer experience I ever had, and a love for working in geriatrics.
My family had 8 great years with Ella before she crossed the rainbow bridge. And while I didn’t end up taking my first OT job in geriatrics, that population still holds a soft spot in my heart.
Becky B OT 