Stephanie Sienkiewicz, Occupational Therapy Assistant
Why did you choose South College? I am attending South College for their Occupational Therapy Assistant program. I chose this college because the program was accredited and because the admissions staff was prompt, helpful, and thorough with answering all of my questions and sending out the information I needed. Everyone was also very accommodating with me living in Illinois at the time and working with me being out of state during the admission process.
What were the biggest influences on your career choice? I was finishing up my degree in psychology when I hit a standstill with what I wanted to do next. My mom ended up breaking her wrist during that time and received occupational therapy services. What she was doing piqued my interest. I researched what occupational therapy did and loved what it was all about. I also really liked the fact that it had a psychological component associated with it. I observed at a few facilities and knew it was what I wanted to do.
How is South College helping you achieve your goals? South College is providing me the opportunity to be a part of a wonderful program and receive the education and training I need to be a successful occupational therapy assistant. They provide the necessary materials that assist with the learning process and they have supportive, knowledgeable staff.
What advice would you give those wanting to follow in your footsteps to the career you chose? One thing that really helped me decide that being an occupational therapy assistant was the right path for me was shadowing and observing at a variety of different facilities in different settings. This allowed me the opportunity to really see what occupational therapy practitioners did and what it was all about. My advice would be to observe, at least a little bit, to get a better understanding of the profession before making a final decision.
What would you want people to know about South College and your program of study? South College is a college that goes above and beyond with providing the education you need to succeed. I am glad I chose the OTA program at South College because it prepares you in a way that you leave the program with confidence. The small class sizes provide the opportunity to have more 1:1 instruction, and you also receive hands-on learning while simulating scenarios in the classroom. Besides the classroom experience, the excellent fieldwork opportunities give you the chance to apply what you have learned. The OTA department chair and adjunct teachers are all extremely supportive, kind, and able to provide outstanding education due to their exceptional knowledge of the profession.
