I sat down with Nicolina Kristof, recent University of Portland grad, to learn more about her dream job as an occupational therapist.
What made you choose UP?
It was on a whim, I had applied to 17 schools before. It met my size requirements and academic interests. UP also had extra help within the school for academic resources and small class sizes. When I was interviewed at UP, I was told that I was waitlisted. And then I got accepted. I liked the laid-back atmosphere and felt like I really connected with the school. My major was business for 1.5 years, communications for 1.5 years, and psychology for my last year of college.
When did you decide OT was the career for you?
I decided my sophomore year OT was for me. However, at first I wanted a backup plan so I stayed with my communications major but the next year I changed my mind. I was not about to settle for something second-best and to get into an OT program for grad school, psychology was the best entry that UP had to offer. I knew what I needed to do for the most part. I had to complete some biology and anatomy courses. I saw an OT myself for sensory integration and rigidity issue and other spectrum differences. When I was little, my doctor told me I might not graduate from high school. My parents did not settle for that and got together a team of behaviorists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and OTs to help me get to the point where I was successfully able to graduate from high school and get into college.
What type of OT do you want to go into?
I originally wanted to focus on OT for pediatrics but now I want to work with other populations: stroke rehab, hand rehab, and horse therapy. I really don’t want to limit myself as a practitioner. I find research interesting, especially self-pain management. I truly believe we can find a better alternative besides medications and take some strain off rehab centers for self-pain management.
How did it feel to graduate from UP last year?
It felt really good to graduate UP but I wish I had found my major a little earlier. I’m not ready to be done with school. The best thing was I found a job, which took a lot of stress off and didn’t want to fall in that hump between graduation and then the next life stage.
How did you hear about your current job?
I heard about it from a classmate who already worked there part-time. It is the Center for Autism and related disorders. I was interviewed and they wanted to see if you could interact with the kids. I like my job a lot. It is very diverse and never boring. I love the kids. The job definitely is challenging. I really didn’t want a job that was just going to sit a desk.
How are applications going and what is your first choice of grad school?
I just finished number 9 of my applications. San Jose State is my preference for grad school. I wouldn’t have to pay out of state, really qualified professors, close from home by about 30 to 60 minutes, and it does a ton of research. OT programs range from masters or doctorate. All OT practitioners have to get Doctorate by 2025 but I will have grandfathered in. My dream is to eventually be able to teach at a college on top of being a practitioner.