Sarah Vanyo '17

SarahVanyo

Name: Sarah Vanyo                                    

Graduating Class: 2017

Major: Psychological Science

Story:

I became interested in occupational therapy at a young age. At nine years old, I was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in my fingers, wrists and toes. Thus, I worked with an occupational therapist who gave me daily exercises to increase range of motion and reduce the stiffness in my affected joints. Over time, she instilled in me the importance in caring for others that I would later go on to explore as a career choice. Through my experiences with various volunteer work and shadowing experiences during my time at Gustavus, my urge to choose a career in caring for others intensified. I felt very passionate about occupational therapy and knew it was the right career path for me. I ended up getting accepted into four different occupational therapy programs.

Top Five Activities/Experiences: 

  1. Being a part of Greek Life (Theta Xi Gamma Sorority)
  2. Volunteering for Camp Cambria, a week long camp for children with juvenile arthritis and other rheumatic diseases
  3. Volunteering in the occupational therapy department at Hennepin County Medical Center
  4. Big Partner Little Partner
  5. Being a part of the Gustavus Dance Team

Advice:

  1. If you are interested in occupational therapy, start shadowing EARLY! Freshman year is not too early to start getting those important experiences.
  2. Take the GRE. Not all OT programs require it, but you will really limit your options for where you are able to apply if you choose not to take it.
  3. The summer before your senior year, start your applications as soon as possible. They usually open mid-July. A lot of the programs require multiple supplemental essays so getting these done before the stress of all your classes come up would be a wise decision.

Future Plans:

I will be attending the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, MN to get my Master’s degree in occupational therapy, starting in June of 2017!

                                                                                                                                Updated 5/2/2017 TN