MA Alumni SpOTlight: Meet Precious Luis

What was your background in occupational therapy before coming to NYU?

I got my bachelor’s degree from the Philippines four years ago and have been practicing up until the month before I flew out to New York for graduate school. I worked in an outpatient clinic for children with special needs and also do school-based practice.

What inspired you to pursue your MA in Occupational Therapy?

I have always loved the idea of pursuing studies to widen my perspective of the profession, but the programs I searched did not really click with me. However, when a friend shared her experience at NYU, it encouraged me to check the website. I found that the program was aligned with my interests and goals of improving my knowledge of the OT profession and would give me the freedom to pursue related courses that I strongly believed to be vital to my career growth. I loved that the program had an array of interesting core courses along with elective courses that I could take from different NYU departments.

Do you have a favorite memory from your time in the program?

My favorite memory during the whole program would have to be being able to make my own "frame of reference" (FOR) with one of my classmates as a requirement for a class with Dr. Howe! We studied a variety of FORs in our different core courses and almost all of our OT books discuss them. I just could not believe that I was able to achieve making my own FOR with its own concepts, supporting theories, and guidelines for treatment.

What is one of the most important lessons you learned during your time as an MA student?

One lesson I will take with me is to enjoy the process of every task I do and to acknowledge victories, even small ones. Although challenges in class may present themselves, consciously stepping back and reminding myself of my strengths and the overwhelming resources NYU has given me always helped me to refocus and work toward finishing my degree. Don’t forget to also enjoy your time at NYU with friends because the program goes by so fast and you barely notice it is graduation day already!

What are your research interests? What kinds of research projects were you involved in as an NYU student?

As an NYU student, I was part of a research group that focused on identifying the factors associated with the occupational balance of the "oldest-old" population (80 years old and above).

Where are you working now and what is your role?

I've passed my OTR (registered occupational therapist) exam and I am currently working as a pediatric OT here in the Philippines.

What advice would you give to a student currently in the MA program?

Always speak up! I realized that asserting yourself with your classmates and instructors is better than quietly going in and out of class. By speaking up, I realized that my voice is as important as anybody else’s. You will realize that these interactions help you build your self-confidence and also serve as a stepping stone to establishing important relationships with your future colleagues.