My first year as an OT was much different than I expected.
I went in thinking I’d be just in a clinic and have tons of mentorship.
I was actually split between a school, homes, daycares, and clinics. And the mentorship was much less than I had expected.
I’d be lying to say that I thrived. It was a tough year. There were a lot of tears. A lot of stressed out calls home. And a lot of googling.
But, at the end of my first year, I can say that, without a doubt, I’ve made a difference. I touched the lives of my kids and it breaks my heart knowing I won’t get to see my sweet kids every week anymore. But I also know that I need to move on to a job opportunity that is a better fit for my personal and professional needs.
But here are some of the highlights from my first year as an OT:
Every single time a parent said “look, it’s Miss Becky!”
When I realized (after a solid 3 months) that my teen’s MORO reflex was retained and her mother thanked me profusely for finding this.
Every single hug I got from one of my kids.
When a mom told me she could take her son to the playground because I helped him.
When one of my kids drew a vertical line for the first time after 6 months of practice.
Every time I was able to get one of my babies to stop crying.
Every single moment I got to tell a parent what their kid accomplished for the first time.
All the laughs I shared with my kids.
Every single time I walked in the waiting room and my kid ran to greet me.
When my kid’s mom brought cake.
And when another mom gave me masks during COVID-19.
My first year wasn’t what I expected. It was far from ideal. But despite all of that, there were so many incredible moments that made me fall in love with OT even more.
I am so grateful that I got to be a part of these kids’ lives, even if just for a short time.
Becky B OT 