Keiser University West Palm Beach Campus Occupational Therapy Assistant program valedictorian Samantha Curtis recently shared details of her motivations to serve patients.

“Ultimately, my main goal is to give people hope and the validation they deserve, especially when faced with the obstacles that life likes to throw our way. I aim to be the type of therapist that truly makes a difference in my patients’ lives,” she said while adding, “Luckily, for me, I have the experience to say, ‘I know what it’s like’ as I can empathize with them physically, mentally, and emotionally. This alone, I feel, puts me at an advantage to build a stronger rapport, which is vital in our field,” shared Curtis.

As a lifetime athlete, Curtis said she wasn’t surprised when mishaps on the field from playing travel and middle, and high school soccer introduced her to the profession of physical therapy.

“Throughout my life, I’ve dedicated my heart and soul to playing soccer. For those who play competitive sports, injuries are prone to happen. Safe to say I was injured a good amount of times and was in and out of physical therapy offices, which sparked a heavy interest for me,” said Curtis of the potential career choice.

After being diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a group of inherited disorders that affect the body’s connective tissues, primarily impacting skin, joints, and blood vessels, in 2020, Curtis inadvertently gained an appreciation for the field of Occupational Therapy’s focus on accomplishing daily living tasks. She shared details of the journey with her ‘fab four’ group of friends and other classmates as part of her Keiser University Occupational Therapy Program’s address to fellow graduates.

“I was born with a condition that has resulted in more surgeries than I can count. It took a toll on me physically, mentally, and emotionally, and I never understood why God put me in the position until I started this program. I knew from early on that my goal was to help people. However, God not only put me in a program to do that but also gave me the lovely gift of experiencing surgeries firsthand so I can relate to adults who have had both their hips replaced,” she said.

After learning that she needed both hips reconstructed, Curtis experienced a long recovery, which included immobility for months. As part of the difficult experience, she became immersed in the field of Occupational Therapy and was able to gain a deep appreciation and understanding of the field that can only come from being a patient.

While reflecting on her journey and all it has revealed, Curtis thanked professors Candice Young, Stephannie Nie, Deborah Bojan Zachman, and Raina Rivera.

“From the bottom of mine and our cohorts’ hearts, thank you for instilling the knowledge of each facet of this profession and teaching us to be ‘one of a kind OTAs.’ Thank you for putting up with our rants, our tears, and our nonsense for the past year. Without you four, we wouldn’t be where we are now. Although each of these women taught us everything we needed to know about the classes we took, they also taught us important life skills that we will all use throughout our lives,” she said.

Curtis also encouraged fellow graduates to seize each moment without unnecessarily concentrating on what the future could hold. “Take one day at a time, don’t worry about the past or the future, and never give up,” she said while adding, “Don’t focus too much on the ‘what ifs’ and take things one step at a time. Learn from your mistakes, think outside the box, and take advantage of the gift life has to offer.”

Keiser University’s Associate of Science degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant prepares students to work as occupational therapy assistants under the direct supervision of a licensed occupational therapist. Occupational therapy is the art and science of helping people gain skills needed to become independent in daily living activities. Students learn the therapeutic use of occupations which include self-care, work, and play/leisure activities to maximize independent function, enhance development, prevent disability, and maintain health. Intervention strategies may include adaptations to a task or environment or compensatory approaches to facilitate clients’ achievement of maximum independence.

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