In the “Why I Chose OT” series, we highlight the motivations and career paths of OTs and OTAs in the field.
Tehya James, OTR
I Chose OT…
after working as a recreational therapist at a skilled nursing facility. I enjoyed what I did, but I wanted to do more.
Like most skilled nursing facilities, there were physical therapists, speech therapists, and occupational therapists. All amazing professions, but there was one particular therapist that was different. The patients who were often thought of as the “most difficult” loved working with her. She turned negative situations into positive, enjoyable experiences. She made those who felt small feel loved. She was an occupational therapist.
After seeing her in action, I knew what I wanted to do—I wanted to make everybody feel like somebody in a world that tries to make everybody feel like nobody. And with OT, I knew I could accomplish that.
My Impactful Experience Working in OT
I currently work in home health and acute care. Through my home health job, I facilitate an Active Living group with older adults in a community. My first time facilitating the group, I introduced myself and called them humans and asked them to introduce themselves. They asked why I call people humans. I responded and said as a society, I feel we often forget our humanity. We are entitled to our feelings, our emotions, opinions, and experiences. That’s what makes us human.
A few weeks later as I was doing individual visits, one of the group participants thanked me. She said she felt as though older adults are overlooked or forgotten, but going to my group and being in an accepting environment where she knows she’s loved and appreciated was something she looked forward to every week. This interaction reminded me why I chose to become an OT—to make everybody feel like somebody.
Tehya facilitates an Active Living Group in an older adult community.
My Favorite Occupation
My favorite occupation is work. I get to wake up everyday and be the somebody that makes everybody feel like a somebody! I see a lot of geriatric humans and they often feel like they’re not productive members of society, or they feel forgotten. Just taking 10 minutes out of my day to remind them they’re human and are loved and allowed to feel feelings provokes the smallest smile or “thank you.” I know my job is meaningful because of that.
Tehya, working in acute care with her colleagues, Christa Lawler, OTR/L (left) and Abbey Paige, MOTR/L, CLT (right).
School:
Florida A&M University for OT school; Indiana University for Post-Professional OTD
Work:
In multiple settings: home health, skilled nursing, and acute care. Currently doing PRN (“pro re neta,” which translates to “as the need arises”) at multiple locations to gain as much experience as possible for my goal of working in travel therapy.
Occupational therapy practitioners are needed everywhere!
Want to find out how to join this amazing profession?
