My journey into occupational therapy began during my junior year as an undergraduate student at Coastal Carolina University. During a class, the professor brought in different professionals who work in different healthcare careers. At this point on my life, I wanted to be a physical therapist. One of the professionals who spoke was an occupational therapist, who was now a professor at an university. When I heard occupational therapy, I thought to myself, “What’s that? Little did I know, that question would change the entire direction of my career.
I graduated from Coastal Carolina in the spring of 2022 with a degree in Exercise and Sport Science. I took a gap year to work, get more rehabilitation experience, complete a couple prerequisites in order to be eligible to apply to an OT Masters program, and make money for graduate school. I then found my place at Iona University in the fall of 2023, where I have been pursing my occupational therapy Master’s degree for the last 2.5 years. 
My first Level II fieldwork placement was at a skilled nursing facility in Rye, NY, where I spent three months working with older adults in rehabilitation. I loved it, helping someone regain their independence after a stroke or supporting them as they recovered from surgery felt deeply meaningful to me.
Then came my second placement here at Building Blocks, and suddenly I was in a completely different world: the vibrant, unpredictable, joyful world of pediatric OT.
My Experience Here
Working with children and young adults ages 2 to 25 (and even up to 35!) opened my eyes to aspects of occupational therapy I wasn’t too comfortable with. Every single day brought something new.
Through writing these blogs each week on topics like fine motor development, sensory processing, and gross motor skills, I didn’t just educate others, I educated myself! Each post required me to dive deeper into the research, think critically about how these concepts apply in real life, and consider how to explain complex OT principles in ways that made sense to families. This process has made me a better therapist.
Lessons from Justine
I cannot write this post without highlighting the person who made this entire experience so transformative: Justine. To say she’s an amazing supervisor feels like an understatement. Justine challenged me in the best possible ways, she pushed me to step outside of my comfort zone, trust my clinical reasoning, encouraged me to try new approaches, and created a safe space for me to learn, make mistakes, and grow. She taught me about the nuances of working with autism, ADHD, sensory processing disorder, developmental delays, and so many other diagnoses I encountered.
What’s Next for Me?
I’ve now officially graduated from Iona University, and my next big challenge is studying for and passing the NBCOT exam to become a licensed occupational therapist. I’ll be pursuing opportunities in geriatric rehabilitation, where I hope to make the same kind of difference in older adults’ lives that I’ve watched Justine make in children’s lives here.
With gratitude and excitement for what’s ahead,
Kassandra (Kit Kat) Scott 😊
OT Student
