Purpose

This week, I had the opportunity to facilitate the very last in-person class for Northern Arizona University’s Occupational Therapy Doctoral (OTD) Class of 2020. At the time the lead instructor asked me to teach one session of the course titled Inspired & Emerging Practice through Visionary Leadership, it didn’t register for me the timing of my assigned session. Once I realized it though - I knew I had to do something that honored where these students were in their journeys to become occupational therapists. The NAU OTD program is a three-year full time learning experience that takes a lot of drive, commitment and passion to complete. The students spend close to two full years in coursework and then launch into their last year which consists of six months of fieldwork and four months of a self-driven individualized doctoral project. So basically, this was their last class together as a group before they head off to places all over the state and beyond as individuals to begin experiencing what life is like as an OT in practice. Knowing they would benefit from some self-reflection as to why they wanted to be OTs to begin with, I roped in a guest facilitator with me that I knew could engage them in exploring their personal connection to the profession. Collectively, @ChadWilliamson and the students shared personal stories, discussed the power of stories & vulnerability, and defined (in 12 words or less) their purpose statements for being OTs. Attached to this blog post is an image of one student, who was so enthusiastic to share his purpose statement that he ran to the front of the classroom and performed it in song. It was clear that all of the students in their hearts and minds could easily define their purpose for becoming an OT. As one of their NAU OTD instructors, it was really great to hear their stories and I look forward to reconnecting with them to celebrate their successes when they graduate in May 2020!

Purpose.jpeg