Caroline WestbrookProfessor Elizabeth BergmanSenior SeminarDue: March 17, 2015Intellectual BiographyWhen first attending university I can honestly say that gerontology was something that I had never even considered. I have always been an extrovert and have always had a desire to help others and learn from them. As a teenager I had envisioned myself becoming a physician assistant. A physician assistant is a healthcare professional who is trained to practice medicine as part of a team with a physician. They are able to conduct physical examinations and I liked the idea that I would be able to work one-on-one with a patient. I clearly did not have any real attachment to that path, though, because I attended Ithaca College which does not have a physician assistant program. I entered my freshman year in the Health Sciences and Human Performance Preprofessional Program hoping to explore the health field and research other options.After my first year at Ithaca College I realized I was about to enter my second year of college still not knowing what I wanted to do. Being a phyiscian assistant got swept under the rug and I was at a loss. I knew I could not continue at Ithaca without having some sort of objective or idea of where I wanted my life to go. I decided to take a leave of absence and attend community college to figure it out. I went to Broome Community College for my sophomore year of school, taking classes and trying to find my calling. I took a bunch of different classes like marketing, nutrition, chemistry and others. I wanted to make sure that these classes would transfer so I was slightly limited but I was bound and determined to find something I enjoyed.The following year I returned to Ithaca College still not sure exactly what I wanted to do but knowing I wanted to work with a specific population. That population was the aging. My freshman year I had taken Introduction to Aging and Fieldwork in Gerontology and I enjoyed those classes immensely. As soon as I found out I could major in Aging Studies I knew that that was the route I wanted to take.The Aging Studies major stresses immersing its students in the community and having them engage in experiential learning. Many of the courses are designed to provide students firsthand experience working and socializing with the older population. Two experiences that really further confirmed by desire to pursue a career that would incorporate working with older adults in some capacity was my fieldwork and internship. During my fieldwork at Longview, a retirement community adjacent to campus, I received firsthand experience working and socializing with the elderly. While at Longview I noticed a special room that was called the Ithaca College Room. This room is for the physical therapy and occupational therapy students. In this room, I learned that students were able to get hands-on experience working with the older population. I had never heard of occupational therapy until attending Ithaca College. Occupational therapy focuses on helping people achieve independence in all areas of their lives. Occupational therapists work on motor skills and training clients to perform everyday tasks we take for granted; learning how to write, opening a door in a wheelchair, making meals, and more. You get to be creative to find a way for a client to make the most of their daily living skills. Like Aging Studies the degree focuses on the quality of life of a person versus the quantity. One fundamental concept that has been particularly relevant in shaping my thinking and resonates with me is the activity theory of aging. Throughout my experiences with the older population, whether it be during my fieldwork or my internship I have seen this theory be proven again and again. One particular instance was during my time as an intern when observing the individuals in the inpatient clinic. The activity theory is the belief that activity leads to high satisfaction in later life. The theory proposes that successful aging occurs when older adults stay active and maintain social interactions. In other words, aging is delayed and the quality of life is enhanced when older people remain socially active. When I had the opportunity to shadow an occupational therapist I noticed that those who stayed in their rooms and did not interact with the other residents and did not come to their sessions with the physical and occupational therapists did not progress as quickly as those who remained active. It was amazing to watch how much progression an individual made over just a few days with the therapists. It was clear how adaptable the body is when it is presented with a disability. This summer I had the opportunity to intern with Good Shepherd at Binghamton. Through this internship I learned a lot about myself and about the long term care system as a whole. My internship was an informal rotation of all of the departments in the facility. My first two weeks was with the inpatient clinic where I observed and shadowed an occupational therapist. This experience further confirmed my desire to go into occupational therapy. While I was at Good Shepherd Home, I also spent time with therapeutic recreation, case management, and social services. I had the privilege to spend time with the director of nursing and the executive director (my supervisor). I really enjoyed my time with therapeutic recreation and social services. I noticed that the departments I enjoyed the most were the ones that allowed me to interact with the residents regularly. My internship proved to be invaluable in terms of both exposure and knowledge. Im really glad to have gotten this experience under my belt. Personally along with professionally, this internship really helped me in becoming a better advocate for myself. After graduation, I plan to pursue a Masters Degree in Occupational Therapy. Through everything I have experienced I feel prepared to begin the next chapter of my life and I feel confident that after graduation my education will lead me to where I would like my life to go in the future.