Erica Lopez: Non-Traditional Student to Clinical Employment

Erica Lopez
Susque-View Home Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
Non-Traditional Student to Clinical to Employment
The decision to go back to college in my mid 30’s was not taken lightly. My husband and I bantered back and forth for months about it. His argument usually consisting of “why not?” and “you owe it to yourself”, while mine sounded more like “how can I do this with 3 young children”? I decided I could and am so grateful that I had such loving support along the way.
I knew I wanted to study Occupational Therapy. Our oldest child had received OT for fine motor skills and it intrigued me. My return to school started out very part-time. Entering the classroom as a non-traditional student was not as intimidating as I expected due to PA College of Technology being known for its high non-traditional student population. I managed to get through all the prerequisite classes, while juggling family life, and was granted admission into the OTA program. My journey had just begun.
It did not take long for me to realize there is a lot more to OT than fine motor skills intervention! It took me 4 years to complete 4 semesters of classes for the OTA program. I had 2 more babies in the process. When I look back on it all, I think “you really can do this and you did”.  Although, I laugh sometimes at the amount of time it has taken to complete an Associate’s degree!
I am now in the final weeks of my last clinical in a skilled nursing facility. There have been so many gaps between classroom and clinical and I can admit that I was terrified to start this clinical. I felt so unsure of my capabilities and so worried that I had not retained all the textbook and laboratory lessons. I have learned that there is some truth in that. I definitely ask a million questions each week and doubt myself on a regular basis. But OT comes from the heart, not just from what I have studied from a textbook or practiced a few times in lab. I feel 100% confident that I have the heart to be a COTA! It also helps that the director of rehabilitation, my clinical supervisor, and all the staff at this particular facility are committed to being team players and mentors. This clinical, thus far, has been an empowering experience and has shone light on the fact that I really can do anything I put my mind to. Even if it takes a little longer than most to get that end result!

I have been offered a position as a PRN COTA by the director of rehabilitation. At first, I was shocked - cue the self-doubt! But now that I am completing my sixth week, I can honestly say that I am capable. Going from clinical to employment within the same facility is a blessing, especially for a student like myself. I will have received all of my training prior to employment. That is a huge bonus to myself and the therapy staff I will be working alongside; not to mention the residents.  I am so thankful for this entire experience: from non-traditional student, to clinical, to employment. 



About Erica Lopez
Erica is a graduate of Pennsylvania College of Technology. She was a student in our rehabilitation department at Susque-View Home Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She is currently preparing for her licensure test and waiting a temporary license. She will be joining the Susque-View team as a PRN COTA. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her five (5) beautiful children.

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