Why H20(T)

As a junior in high school, I had absolutely NO idea what I wanted to study in college. I thought about nursing, radiation therapy, teaching, and speech pathology. None of those careers seemed like something I wanted to do for the rest of my life though. I spent hours taking personality tests trying to determine what kind of career I would best be suited for. I even resorted to talking to the dreaded guidance counselors to help solve my teenage crisis. Funny enough, I found the answer to this question when I wasn't even looking for an answer. 

I worked as a lifeguard in high school at a local pool. I LOVED working outdoors in the summer, but HATED working indoors during the school year. I really needed some extra cash though, so I started working every Monday from 4-8 pm. One shift I noticed that there was some sort of therapy going on in the pool. Back then, I had no idea what it was; but I knew it was something fun to watch during an incredibly boring shift. After watching the kids progress tremendously over 6 months, I finally worked up to the courage to talk to one of the therapists one day and ask her what exactly she was doing and why. When she started explaining that she was an occupational therapist conducting aquatic therapy, I was fascinated. The only thought that crossed my mind during that entire conversation was that I wanted to be an OT and work in the pool.  

I went home to research more about occupational therapy and more specifically aquatic therapy. The water in a pool reduces impact while moving and allows patients to move and exercise in a way they can’t on land. Many individuals can benefit from aquatic therapy including with diagnoses of: muscular dystrophy, spina bifida and down syndrome. I will use this blog to dive into specifics on aquatic therapy, and why it is so beneficial.