In recent years, students in Southwestern Community College’s Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program have been working with Sylva resident Wanda Mills to help her find ways to be more independent as she lives with cerebral palsy.
At the program’s pinning event on May 13, Mills read a poem she’d written for those students – describing what a difference they’d made in her life.
Mills’ poem was part of an inspiring ceremony that celebrated 14 OTA graduates who’ll soon join the workforce or continue their education.
“The students in our program have grown extremely fond of Wanda, and we were all very moved by her poetry,” said Anna Walls, Southwestern’s OTA Program Coordinator. “I’m personally very thankful to Wanda for allowing our students to work with her. Because of what they learned in those interactions, they have even more confidence about their abilities to serve those they come into contact with in the field.”
Graduates are eligible to take their national certification examinations for practice as certified occupational therapy assistants. They may find employment in hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, long-term and extended-care facilities as well as other agencies and programs.
For more information about the OTA program at SCC, contact Walls at 828.339.4334 or a_walls@southwesterncc.edu.