#ottobe

As I stand here at the top of the Valley of a Thousand Hills, arriving at my second and last fieldwork block for third year, I stop and reflect on my journey thus far.

I gaze behind me at the long, steep hill I’ve just climbed, and cannot help but feel proud of how far I’ve come. I stare deeply into the midst of the valley and notice how some parts are rough and some are smooth, just like my journey so far. Some days have been good, positive, and productive, others have been tough, stressful, and dark. The houses alongside the dirt path, a symbol of all the people who support, love, and ground me. Like these houses, these people nourish, comfort, and provide me with safety. I see cows roaming around the streets along the way, making cars stop in their tracks – which reminds me of all the obstacles I’ve faced throughout this course so far, that have stopped me in my tracks; COVID, fieldwork, online learning, the riots – you name it. However, these cars seem to find a way around the cows, just like I found a way to overcome my obstacles. I see the Umgeni River down below flowing rapidly, like my determination, resiliently flowing against the upstream - a pure representation of my ever-growing passion for the field of OT.

I must admit, at the beginning of this OT journey, I had a very basic and shallow understanding of what OT was. I thought “occupation” just meant someone’s work, and that OT’s mainly work with children who have learning and writing difficulties. Looking back three years later, I was so wrong! I now have a deeper and fuller understanding of what OT is, what we do and how rewarding it is. Despite the rocky terrain and slippery slopes, there has been so much reward and growth for me. In the wise words of Rachel Thibeault, “we don’t fix people, you see: with them, we simply try to find a way to meaning, balance, and justice”. This quote encapsulates why I am studying OT.

Shifting my gaze from behind to what lies in front of me, yet another mountain. Another steep, rocky path, symbolising the remainder of this degree. An area of untouched beauty, waiting to be explored. Knowledge and information waiting to be learnt, relationships waiting to be made and memories to be cherished – this mountain climb will shape the future OT I am going to be. From the end of this mountain range, I do see obstacles blocking my destination, however I’m not feeling deterred. Rather, I feel excited about the climb and what the future mountains contain.

The famous singer Miley Cyrus once said in her lyrics; “there’s always gonna be another mountain, I’m always going to want to make it move”, and this is my inspiration with my future journey in OT. She emphasises the fact that there will always be mountains, and sometimes you will lose, but it’s all about “the climb”. It isn’t always about reaching the top of the mountain. It’s about the people you meet along the way, the rich knowledge and experiences you have, and the person you grow to become. This really resonates with me and reminds me not to focus so much on the future, but rather about what is happening in the present; the journey.

Over the past three years, I have learnt more about myself than I thought I ever would. I have found a passion for influencing the lives of others and become confident in who I am and what I stand for. Rachael Adams once said, “we cannot become what we want by remaining who we are”, which is spot on. Growth is required to become the person we want to be. How can we expect to grow if we remain in our comfort zones?

I leave you with a quote by Valerie Pena; “Occupational therapy. Hopeless into hope. Can’t into can. Impossible into possible”

Keep growing, keep learning and keep climbing your mountain!

References

14 Quotes to Encourage and Inspire Growth - JOURNEYSTRENGTH. (2022). Retrieved 21 August 2022, from https://journeystrength.com/14-quotes-to-encourage-and-inspire-growth/

Cyrus, M. (2009). The Climb.

Rachel Thibeault Quotes. (2022). Retrieved 21 August 2022, from https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/17337856.Rachel_Thibeault