Pathways to Success

Garden Spot High School

Janae Benedick – Occupational Therapy Internship

Hello, my name is Janae Benedick, and I am a senior at Garden Spot High School. Ever since middle school, I have been volunteering with students with disabilities. By being in that environment I found different therapists that work with disabilities. I then learned more about these therapists and found that these therapists are in schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and other home care services. I started shadowing these therapists and found a passion for Occupational Therapy. So, I decided to do an internship this fall because this is a huge opportunity to get firsthand experience. My internship is at the Garden Spot High School and New Holland Elementary School with the Occupational Therapist.

Occupational Therapy is basically working to get the hands stronger, get better with fine motor skills, and get extra help with everyday activities. This can look like practicing zippering, buttoning, snapping buttons, working with pegboards, putting puzzles together, and writing. With this internship, I mainly get the chance to observe. Occasionally, I organize folders with worksheets or organize a file cabinet where the students completed worksheets go to keep track of their progress. I also had the chance to make kindergarten screening packets. A project that I am currently working on is creating a fun pumpkin craft that the students can make to hang up in the office.

Throughout this experience, I have grown connections with the students. Every day I get to see their growth, and it makes me excited for their future. I also get to experience different types of disabilities, and this helps me realize that every student is different and every student needs help in different ways. With this experience, I also get to see different techniques and skills the Occupational Therapist uses to get the students to succeed and grow. As well as seeing growth in these students, I see growth in myself by coming out of my shell and interacting with all the students and feeling comfortable doing so.

This internship has helped me realize that this is the environment I want to be in, and I want to help students with their fine motor skills and become more confident in their everyday activities. Every day I know I will have fun and learn something new. Overall, I am very grateful for this experience and I am grateful for the relationships I have made.

 

educationoccupationaltherapyphysicaltherapytherapy

jhackman • November 15, 2021


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