Assignment 7 - Grace Payne

College is a topic I'm very concerned with. When I get older, I want to be an occupational therapist that works with special needs children. I've worked quite a bit with special needs kids over the past few years, through multiple camps and activities, and it's something I really enjoyed. After the first time I volunteered at the Special Olympics Basketball Camp I knew that was what I wanted to do with my future. I then discovered occupational therapy, which allows me to help kids with special needs live their lives they way they want. OT provides personalized help, so I would be making a direct impact on these kids's lives.
In order to be an occupational therapist, you first have to have an undergraduate degree in some kind of field relating to occupational therapy. After that, there are two options. By 2025, every occupational therapy program offered by a university must lead to a PhD, instead of the traditional masters degree. Because of this, option 1 is simply to get the masters degree, but option 2 is to get a PhD in occupational therapy. Most universities are in the process of making their occupational therapy programs lead to a PhD.
This is why university is so important to me. I already know that I'll have to go to school after undergrad, so getting a good scholarship is very important to me. So, when it comes to college, I'll probably end up going wherever I get the most money, which is likely to be at an in-state school. But I don't have a problem staying in-state, because I don't feel any urgent need to leave.
However, college isn't just about the money and the future career for me. No matter where I end up going, I'm really excited to get the opportunity to be independent and to get to meet new people. If I do end up leaving Lexington, it will be really exciting to get to live in a different city. I'm also excited to get learn new things with new teachers, because learning has always been something I've enjoyed.
My overall goal throughout my time in university, however long that is, is to leave with as little debt at possible, to get the skills to properly help kids with special needs, and to have a good time (but not TOO good of a time.)