WCU MSOT Grad Drawn to Creative Elements of Occupational Therapy

Returning to school is a challenge for anyone, especially for parents who are juggling big responsibilities. But West Coast University MSOT alumna Briana L. didn’t choose to study occupational therapy despite her responsibility to her kids; she did it for them.
“Going through a full-time master’s program with two little kids was a challenge, to say the least,” Briana said. “But one I would do over again a million times to be here today.”
Briana first learned about the occupational therapy field after her son Charlie was diagnosed with autism at age 3. OT was part of his therapeutic journey, and as soon as Briana got to know the field, it was like a bright light went off in her mind. “His OTs helped him by looking at him as a whole person, as a holistic being, and not just trying to fix him but trying to figure out a way actually to make him thrive as Charlie. It was really amazing to see, and it’s what drew me here.”
Briana loved that OT was a field that combined creativity with evidence-based science. With a background in dance, Briana has always considered herself a creative person. “I was like, ‘Oh my goodness, I can do both!’ I can be a scientist and a creative person, and I can help people live their best lives.”
Inspired, Briana chose to go back to school for a career change even though it had been almost 20 years since she’d last been in a college classroom.
“Four years ago, I started doing my prerequisites that would let me apply to grad school, and it was so scary,” she said. “But I just kept telling myself, ‘In four years, I’m going to be four years older anyway.’ These years are going to pass by anyway. What you do with them is your choice, and this is a really good choice.”

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