Family

Spending time with my two brothers, mum and dad is a major influence on my occupational identity as they have been there for support since birth. I spend a lot of time with my family by eating out, going on walks and shopping when I return home for the holidays.

Travelling plays a role in my occupational identity as I spent over half a year travelling around the United States of America and Bali. I spent majority of my time at Camp Pinewood in America as a waterfront instructor. Through the occupation of travel I spent a lot of time on the road and in planes along with living out of a suitcase for months on end. This helped shape my identity as I became more independent and valued what I took for granted back home.

Travel

Surf Life Saving has been an leisure activity that I have participated in since I was one year old. Through the amount of time I spend training with my surf team and lifeguarding it has given me a sense of achievement and belonging.

Surf Life Saving

Friends

I spend most of my leisure and productivity time with my friends. I enjoy spending time together by travelling, exercising, studying, working, eating and going out to town and to the beach with them.

Throughout my three schools I have participated in the occupation of water polo. I was involved in coaching the junior team at school and lead the seniors, I also played for Canterbury so it helped me build my identity as a sportswoman.

Waterpolo

Tramping

Through the leisure activity of tramping I have learnt a lot about nature and how to push myself. It is a new occupation that I am engaged in which I tend to participate in over long weekends and partake in the activity with my friends.

My high school is a place which is a big part of my identity in my home town. I gives me a sense of belonging as it has provided me with many friendships and opportunities. When living in Christchurch it is how people perceive you and make links or connections by what school you went to. Marian College was a small school but played a major role in my identity as it helped shape who I am today.

Marian College

Picture sourced from: Marian College, 2012

Occupational Therapy Student

It is through this occupation of productivity which is a major part of my daily routine as I attend classes and participate in placements. It is a common question in Dunedin to be asked. What do you study? And when I reply occupational therapy it instantly gives me an identity to go by.

Dunedin Student/Scarfie

Being a Dunedin student also plays a role in my occupational identity as it is how my Christchurch university friends classify me. I spend a lot of my time in Dunedin as a student and participating in events such as University football, Hyde street party, drinking Speight's, living in a cold flat, eating at the cook and relying on study link to get me through another week.

Occupational therapist

Becoming an occupational therapist is a goal that I am currently working towards through studying at Otago polytechnic. I spend a majority of my time working towards this goal by spending time at the library and in lectures or tutorials. The reasons behind engaging in this occupational goal is due to the amount of fun the job brings and the rewarding feeling of helping other people return to occupations that are important or meaningful to them.

Picture sourced from: DegreeFinders.com, 2013

Degreefinders.com. (2013). How to become an occupational therapist. Retrieved fromhttp://www.degreefinders.com/education-articles/careers/how-to-become-anoccupational-therapist.html

References