Why I want to become an OTA?
Stacy Williams
Keiser University

My desire to become a healthcare professional began back in 1993, when I was just 14 years old. Every Sunday morning I would be woken up by my grandfather, whom I thought was my father at the time because of our close relationship and the smell of Maxwell House coffee. As I prepared for my day my grandfather waited for me on the front porch to walk to the store where he would by The Florida Times Union newspaper and a treat of my choice. However after I and my grandfather returned home he would cook breakfast for the two of us and as we ate he would read the paper as I read the comic section. On this particular Sunday I noticed that my grandfather was reading the newspaper longer than usually, so I than grabbed another section, in which being the classified ads to read. My grandfather looked at me over the top of his eyeglasses and asks me “Pokey what do you want to be when you grow up” I looked puzzled. I continued to read on and came across the sub title: medical profession. As I read about the different qualifications, educations, skills, and requirements it take to acquire such jobs I immediately became interested.
Over the next few years I’m now 17 years old, about to graduate from high school with a child, and working at Winn Dixie a dead end job I began to look into other options for employment. During my transition to search for employment that offers me growth potential my grandmother became ill and admits her to the hospital. Throughout her stay in the hospital her doctor felt it was best she continued rehab services and discharged her to an SNF. It was an ongoing battle with my grandmother to get her to understand that she needed occupational and physical therapy, and without it it’s a possibility that this would become her permanent home. The healthcare team at the SNF orientated us in