Paige Oliver: Helping others regain independence with occupational therapy
Grad Profile
From the moment I first applied, to the last day of class on campus, I always felt welcomed and supported by faculty and classmates.
Intro by Sarah Shoaf, Staff Writer
Photo by Isabella Hollingsworth-Sons, Staff Writer
Thinking back to her first day on campus, Paige Oliver remembers that Governors State University (GovState) felt inviting and lived up to the positive reputation she heard about from alumni. Throughout her journey in the Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) program, Paige connected with other students and faculty who shared her passion to help others and now she can’t wait to bring her skills to the field.
Now that she's passed her board exam and become officially licensed, Paige is excited to begin her career in occupational therapy, a long-awaited goal after years of school.
GovState Newsroom: What attracted you to GovState?
Paige: My mom is a GovState alumna and I have heard wonderful things about the MOT program from others I know who also attended GovState. GovState being close to home was also a big bonus and influence in my choices.
GovState Newsroom: Why did you choose your degree?
Paige: I chose to pursue occupational therapy (OT) because when I first learned about the profession, I was amazed at the idea of being able to help others regain their independence with daily activities and be able to live their lives to the fullest with the proper support. Occupational therapy is very unique and stood out to me since many people still do not fully understand what we do, which is why I am proud to be a part of this profession and advocate for our field to continue spreading the word about our services and benefits to individuals.
GovState Newsroom: What are your dreams for your degree?
Paige: My main dream with my degree includes pursuing OT in the acute/critical care setting with the older adult population. I was lucky enough to be placed in an acute care setting during one of my long-term fieldwork experiences and I appreciated every minute of it for all that it taught me, as well as how much it helped me grow professionally.
GovState Newsroom: What can you get at GovState that you couldn’t find anywhere else?
Paige: At GovState, I was able to experience many opportunities to be immersed in various cultures through events that were presented on campus. I enjoyed attending the Chinese New Year celebration, ran by the Cultural Student Organization and Chinese Student Association at GovState. I was able to assist with the event by running a craft table to support the traditions and celebrate with fellow classmates to learn more about the culture.
Having the opportunity to be a part of so many fun events was a really amazing feature of GovState that helped better connect individuals and promote even more learning outside of classes.
GovState Newsroom: President Ester has said that GovState provides a sense of home. What makes GovState home for you?
Paige: What makes GovState home for me is the sense of belonging it brings to everyone. From the moment I first applied, to the last day of class on campus, I always felt welcomed and supported by faculty and classmates. I will never forget my first day when I was anxious about starting and found myself getting lost on the way to the classroom, I ended up running into one of my many wonderful professors, Dr. Frank Czuba. He noticed how lost I appeared and offered to help out, and to my surprise, he said he was also on the way to that classroom. After walking to the room and getting to know Dr. Czuba a little more, I was greatly welcomed by the rest of my professors, all of whom I’d soon be very close with. Every professor made each class period feel exciting and comfortable, letting us know they would always be there to support us on our journey. I could not be more grateful for the experience I was awarded during my time at GovState.
GovState Newsroom: If you had a song play while you crossed the Commencement stage, what would it be and why?
Paige: I would choose the song “Lessons” by Rush to cross the stage because the overall sound has a light, upbeat feel to it with the message of personal reflection.
GovState Newsroom: Any advice for current/future students?
Paige: My advice would be to enjoy the time in school while you're still there. Graduating is such a major and exciting accomplishment, however, it is easy to miss the small moments that eventually become fond memories. It can be very simple to take things such as studying with friends for granted. Though those moments were stressful at the time, it was such a privilege to be surrounded by good friends that were all going through the same challenges and pushing through to success together.