Evan Stuart G'09
Master of Occupational Therapy
After completing my bachelor’s degree in psychology, I worked in a variety of behavioral and medical fields while I contemplated graduate school. As a job coach working with developmentally disabled and physically challenged adults and teens, I saw firsthand the impact occupational therapists have on individuals with physical and mental impairments, and I was intrigued. I explored Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) programs and the options available to me, and I found Bay Path College. The accelerated program and small class sizes appealed to me, but it was my visits to Bay Path and my interactions with faculty, staff, and students that led me to apply and enroll in the MOT program.
From the moment I stepped on campus, I had a feeling that I would be learning with family instead of fellow students, and this sentiment became a reality. We supported each other in our educational endeavors, and we were encouraged on a regular basis by MOT faculty, who are amazing people with interesting and vibrant personalities. They engage you in lectures and discussions, and guide you in achieving your goals. They also motivated me to pursue leadership opportunities within the Student Occupational Therapy Association, where I served as president and oversaw such activities as wellness fairs, backpack awareness, and Bay Path’s annual OT conference. The MOT professors have been the highlight of my Bay Path experience, and never in my college career have I had professors as committed to my success as I had at Bay Path.
The MOT program at Bay Path College taught me more than I anticipated. Due to the large number of labs and hands-on activities as well as fieldwork appointments, I advanced my professional skills far beyond my expectations. My personal goals were altered dramatically by my experiences at Bay Path as well. I enrolled in the MOT program with the goal of working in a stroke and brain injury rehabilitation clinic, but when my eyes were opened to the joy of working in the pediatric field, my career plans shifted. I never considered working in a school system before, and now I couldn't be more excited about it. I am confident as I embark on the next phase of my career—teaching fundamental skills to children and teens with developmental and physical disabilities, giving them an opportunity to grow and prosper.