Christina Taylese Singh Memorial Scholarship

I am an aspiring occupational therapist currently enrolled at Georgia State University in the OTD program. I am 26 years old and I am maintaining a GPA of 3.5. I am beginning my third year this summer! I have found such a passion in occupational therapy that grows and grows as I expand my knowledge of this field. OT is about so many things that just make sense to me. It is all about maneuvering and finding that just-right fit for each individual with the intention for that fit to improve their quality of life. Although I do love learning, graduate school has been quite draining financially, especially reaching this last year of classes. I believe I am the perfect candidate for such a scholarship, as it will aid me in completing my degree to be able to uphold the memory of Christina through the work she so wanted to do. My particular interest in occupational therapy sprung from a change made in my life while in undergrad at Florida State University. I was pursuing a pre-medicine pathway, however, after several classes down this route, I found myself drowning. At the time I was devastated, thinking I wasn't going to be good enough to follow my dreams. Now, I see it as the best thing that could have happened to me. Like the many patients we see as occupational therapists, something throws a wrench in life's path and we have to adapt and make the most of it. My change of direction at this pivotal time in my life led to me pursuing occupational therapy more seriously (it was always a second choice), and it led to me finding a passion like no other. Growing up, I was always the problem solver. If you need to know anything about occupational therapy it is that the career is all about adaptation and problem-solving. We find ways to work within the world around us, with what we have been given. So many people have difficulties finding an answer or an alternative to changes in life, however, this has always been my strong suit. I have just completed my first level two fieldwork and throughout the experience I found myself strengthening my practical skills while bringing in my natural born skills of problem-solving. I don't think I fully understood how useful this skill would be until I was able to put it into practice and... WOW. Occupational therapy is essentially all about problem-solving; finding that little quirk or unusual solution that can make all the difference for someone to live their life independently. As an OT, I will have the opportunity to do what I love every single day. I love helping people. I love solving problems. I love making a difference.

“Get dressed. Make up bed. Use the bathroom. Eat breakfast. Brush teeth. Hair. Shoes.” Before kindergarten, my mom and I made this “get ready list” to hang in my room. Making this list meant that I could get ready for school all on my own, giving me my first sense of independence. Every morning since, I have followed this same routine; these actions became habits ingrained within me. My list has grown to include skincare, vitamins, and a chai tea. By the time I started college, “exciting” was no longer my first choice of words to describe my morning routine. At most, these items were chores that cut into time I could be asleep. Then one day, I couldn’t get dressed. I couldn’t get out of bed. I couldn’t use the toilet. I couldn’t swallow breakfast. I couldn’t brush my teeth. I couldn’t do my hair. And I couldn’t put on my shoes. I was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome on March 21, 2020. Not being able to feel my body, I went to the hospital, and by the end of the day, I was fully paralyzed from my neck down. Nothing moved. Everyone around me did, but I could not. I was stuck, frozen, and terrified. My days and nights in the ICU were filled with medications, IV-IG treatments, doctors, nurses, food through an NG tube, my parents holding my phone for me so I could FaceTime my friends, having my parents turn my head for me, and hearing about the outside world going into lockdown because of Covid. My world and the world were falling apart at the exact same time. After a few days in the ICU, a woman came into my hospital room and changed my life. She walked in with a red foam toothbrush gripper and said, “You are brushing your teeth today.” With much confidence, she put the toothbrush in the foam and placed my fingers around it. I was surprised that the foam and extra diameter allowed me to grip the toothbrush. I used the little amount of strength I had recovered to run the toothbrush back and forth across my teeth. I cannot put into words how much joy I felt being able to brush my teeth again. The excitement that I once felt at five years old flooded back over me as I held the toothbrush. This woman helped give me my independence back. This woman was an Occupational Therapist. This woman showed me my future. Before she left, I told her, “I’m going to be an OT too.” 3 years later, I was accepted into Georgia State's Doctorate Program of Occupational Therapy. As I have almost completed my first year, I am learning much of the foundational knowledge to become an OT and working as a graduate research assistant for stroke rehabilitation. I was accepted into the OT honors society, hold leadership positions, and provide therapy services to children at the Atlanta Children's Shelter through one of my fieldwork experiences. This scholarship would allow me to continue to fulfill my passion as a student and become an occupational therapist. I would also love to uphold the memory of Christina through my work as she did not have the opportunity to live out her dreams. Upon graduation, I want to find the resiliency in my patients and show them hope after their own accident, illness, or injury. While the healthcare team at the hospital kept me alive during my time in the ICU, the Occupational Therapists showed me how to live again. I hope to do the same.

My journey to becoming an Occupational Therapist began at a young age as I witnessed my mom, a special needs teacher, have a profound impact on the lives of the students and families who she worked with. Observing her dedication and the influence she had on her students' lives served as a powerful source of inspiration. I decided to follow in her compassionate footsteps, aspiring to become an occupational therapist and make a genuine difference in the lives of others. My ultimate goal is to become a compassionate and knowledgeable OT and to empower my future clients to achieve their goals and lead fulfilling lives, just as my mom has done for her students. On my path to becoming an occupational therapist, I have encountered significant challenges, including financial burdens and the unexpected loss of my sister, with whom I shared an incredibly close bond. These adversities taught me resilience and the value of perseverance, making me even more determined to continue my pursuit of making a difference in the lives of others. To honor my sister's memory, I felt a strong desire to turn my pain into purpose and make a meaningful impact on the lives of others who encounter similar struggles. This led me to become a volunteer at Kate's Club, an organization devoted to supporting children in the Atlanta area who are dealing with the loss of a parent or sibling. I have embraced the opportunity to offer hope and understanding to children going through the grief process and support them as they find their own paths of healing. As a volunteer, I have also had the opportunity to apply some of the knowledge and skills I acquired during my occupational therapy education. Working with these kids brings me immense fulfillment. It is also my way of keeping my sister's spirit alive, as she was deeply committed to volunteering and helping others in need. As an aspiring occupational therapist, my future goal is to provide support to individuals as they navigate through the challenging process of coping with loss, whether it be the loss of a loved one or the loss of an ability. By offering empathy, compassion, and evidence-based interventions, I aim to help them reclaim their sense of purpose and rediscover joy in life. With the inspiration of my mom's dedication and the memory of my sister's compassionate spirit, I am resolute in my purpose to make a lasting, positive impact in the lives of those I will serve. Receiving a scholarship would be incredibly beneficial in helping me achieve my future aspirations. My current situation requires me to work part-time on top of a demanding course load, which is stressful and limits the time I can allocate to studying. While my family provides unwavering support, they are unable to offer any financial assistance, leaving me to navigate this path independently. Obtaining financial assistance would relieve the stress of balancing work and academics, allowing me to wholeheartedly focus on my educational and career goals. It would also open the door for me to dedicate more time to volunteer opportunities, fostering a well-rounded education. I believe that this scholarship would play a pivotal role in my success within the OT program, empowering me to become the best possible OT and ultimately supporting my mission to help my future clients achieve their goals. Thank you for your consideration.