Beth Rickman MSc Occupational Therapy, 2021

This course is a steppingstone to my career in Occupational Therapy and hopefully it’ll guide me to an area within Occupational Therapy I can be successful and make a difference to people’s lives

Why did you choose to come and study at Southampton?

I choose to study at Southampton, for its global reputation as a prestigious Russell Group University which conducts leading-edge research. Furthermore, Southampton has a beautiful campus with lots of greenery and the city is nearby to explore.

Can you tell us what led you to pursue Occupational Therapy?

I have always loved helping people and empowering others to help themselves, through encouraging them to try new things, discovering strengths and gaining confidence in their own abilities, and Occupational Therapy gives me the opportunity to do this as a career. 2021.

What is it like studying here?

I am really enjoying my time at the University of Southampton so far and my course MSc (pre-reg) Occupational Therapy. Our cohort is very mixed which is really useful as we are learning so much from each other as well as from our individual studies. The academic staff are excellent, they have a variety of clinical backgrounds and the real-life examples they provide are invaluable. They are hugely supportive of our studies, very approachable and they are always willing to take extra time out of their days to help in any way they can. I am really looking forward to applying my learning on placement, having my own experiences, and working within a multi-disciplinary team in the near future. I would encourage anyone considering a career in Occupational Therapy to study here at Southampton.

Can you tell us about your experiences on placement so far? Why are they important? How did your placements to compare to each other?

I haven’t been on placement yet, but I’m really looking forward to applying the knowledge and skills I’ve learnt in the last three months when I have the opportunity.

What are you most proud of from your time at Southampton so far?

I’m most proud of my role as a student representative, which is a role that pushes me outside of my comfort zone as I’m naturally quite shy. I am representing my cohort in front of our academic staff which carries responsibility and requires me to be professional, organised and communicate effectively with all. The feedback I’m receive is very positive which gives me confidence in my ability to do the role.

What are your plans for the future?

This course is a steppingstone to my career in Occupational Therapy and hopefully it’ll guide me to an area within Occupational Therapy I can be successful and make a difference to people’s lives.