I passed the occupational therapy (OT) licensure exams on my first take here in the Philippines. But I experienced what it’s like to be an uncertified OT graduate --- when I migrated to Canada.
I intended to take the board exams in Manitoba, Canada after getting my Philippine license. Unfortunately, I couldn’t sit for those exams because my university had not yet released my diploma. I also did not have the required documents from the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) when I migrated. So for months, I was on the brink of a quarterlife crisis.
That period was agonizing for me. I was an adult, but I couldn’t get a job. I had to depend on my parents at age 22, and therefore could not do what I wanted. I often found myself sitting at home, looking at social media posts of my batchmates working at this reputable therapy clinic or attending that certain workshop that I would have loved to attend. While my colleagues in the Philippines were spending their salaries on weekend getaways and other stuff that they liked, I had to ask my parents for money so I could go around downtown in search of “Canadian work experience” while it was -50 degrees Celsius outside.
Thankfully, that period did not last forever. It also taught me two lessons which prevented me from having a full-blown failure-to-launch syndrome:
# 1 When you feel as if your life has no direction, GO OUT AND DO SOMETHING.
If you’re a BSOT graduate, the chances are that your intellectual capabilities are at least above average given the academic rigor of our training. A high IQ can definitely help you excel as a professional. However, there’s evidence that smart people tend to get paralyzed with anxiety. They’re also inclined to overthink their options instead of taking action. The truth is, you can’t just theorize your way out of a career rut. You have to get out there in the real world and meet people’s implicit and explicit needs. Why? Because what you imagine to be what people want may not actually be what the market demands.
So while I was an unlicensed OT graduate in Canada, I volunteered for a foundation that serves patients who have Cerebrovascular Disease. I also became a volunteer at a non-profit organization that sent aid to marginalized groups in low-income countries.
The stroke foundation was kind enough to let me co-facilitate an exercise group with a Canadian physiotherapist. On the other hand, the non-profit for marginalized peoples gave me opportunities to write for their newsletter, accomplish administrative tasks, and raise funds for a persecuted minority.
I wasn’t working as an occupational therapist in these organizations. Yet, the volunteer experiences made me see that I truly had a gift for connecting with persons with disabilities (PWDs). Moreover, sending aid to a marginalized group fanned in me the desire to serve those who typically cannot afford expensive therapies.
So for the unlicensed OT graduates out there, take a chance at the opportunities that you have right now as long as they’re not unethical, illegal, immoral, or too expensive. The detours can enrich your career in OT later on. For example, working at a call center might develop your interest in office ergonomics. Or maybe volunteering at the Philippine Academy of Occupational Therapists (PAOT) will expand your professional network, which can help you land interesting jobs as a therapist later on. Then there’s also the possibility that working in another field will make you realize that you’ll be happier in a non-OT career. And there’s nothing wrong with that.
# 2 Once you’ve figured out what you need to do, make a stand for it.
I broke my parents’ hearts when I decided not to move to Canada anymore. But I had to make that painful decision not just for my survival but also for the long-term welfare of my family even if it seemed counterintuitive back then to return to the Philippines
And it’s paying off so far. While clinical work here in Metro Manila is far from perfect, I’m able to live comfortably while I help my family and my community.
Part of transitioning to adulthood is accepting the reality that you now know better than your parents when it comes to many aspects of your life. They might also struggle to accept this. But if they raised you well, you will most likely stay on the right path even if your decisions will not be exactly what they had in mind. If you had the misfortune of being born into a dysfunctional family, then all the more you should strive to be independent to break the abusive cycle.
BSOT is a tool. You can use it to become an occupational therapist, and you can also use it to land other jobs. The world is in dire need of occupational therapists. So I hope that you will still choose to be one after the long wait for the boards or despite having failed them previously. If you’ll venture on another path that will make you happier, then kudos to you for that brave decision! What’s important is that you’re doing something that benefits the community, instead of just watching porn in your parents’ basement.
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