The Coronavirus has drastically impacted every sphere of private and public life this year. As a college student, I feel this keenly. Nothing about this school year has been normal. I never would have imagined that Covid-19 would be such a central theme in my life, but I feel lucky to have the opportunity to live off-campus, have a small community, communicate in person with my professors, and make a difference with Afya during this turbulent time.

Sixteen years ago, my father had emergency surgery, and as a result he suffered a minor stroke. He was sent to rehabilitation where he received occupational therapy (OT). I was with him everyday. There, I discovered OT and what it provided to my father in order for him to live a functional life while living with physical, mental and emotional challenges. I realized that I wanted to be a part of the world of OT and provide people with various abilities opportunities to be their best self they can be.

When I first heard about the explosions in Lebanon, my first thought was how awful it must be for all of the victims because of the destruction, death, and injuries the explosions caused. I realized that I wanted to do something to help.

I have always known that I wanted to be in a helping profession where I can empower others to become the best version of themselves. Occupational therapy allows me to fulfill my lifelong goal of helping others on a large scale.

Occupational Therapy Student Intern Blog Reflections Annabel V Paredes, Student at NYU During my undergrad studies at the College of Mount Saint Vincent, I had no idea what I wanted to do after graduation. At the time, I was doing an internship at a nursing home where I was first introduced to occupational therapy. I […]

Occupational Therapy Student Intern Blog Reflections Jessica Taveras Throughout my first couple of years in college, I switched majors regularly. I considered becoming a teacher, social worker and even a historian. None of those choices felt ‘right.’ I was only sure of one thing; helping people realize their full potential is what felt gratifying for […]

Occupational Therapist Student Intern Blog Reflections Luz Garrido I am a Dominican Republic native that came to the U.S. 14 years ago. As a middle school student learning English, I volunteered at the Hudson River Museum. As a junior docent, the museum would offer different career workshops. During one of the workshops, an Occupational Therapist […]

I currently work remotely as a social media intern. During COVID-19, Afya transitioned to providing healthcare facilities with the personal protective equipment necessary to help mitigate the crisis. Afya has delivered PPE to over 150 healthcare facilities and has distributed over 700,000 masks.