CSU-OT 2020 Graduation Slideshow

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES

“Class of 2020! I am very proud
of all your accomplishments over

the past two years. You have
endured some hardships with the

COVID-19 pandemic related to
your education. However, I hope

that having these unique
experiences will make you a
stronger person and give you
more empathy and a broader
perspective as an occupational
therapist. I wish you the best as
you finish your final FW, take your
national certification exam, and
embark on your new career as an

occupational therapist.”
All my best,
Patti Davies

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES

This is your new opportunity!
The opportunity to be an
agent of change. Believe in

yourself. Know that I believe
in you!

Remember, the answer
is.........It depends.........

"Good actions give strength
to ourselves and inspire good

actions in others" –Plato

-Natalie Perkins

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES

WE WOULD NOT
BE THE

OCCUPATIONAL
THERAPISTS WE
ARE TODAY IF IT
WASN’T FOR OUR

CONTINUOUS
SUPPORT OF ONE

ANOTHER.
CHEERS TO YOU
CSU-OT CLASS OF
2020, THANKS

FOR ALL THE
MEMORIES!

-
BEST OF LUCK
AND STAY IN

TOUCH!

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES

CONGRATULATIONS COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES
TO THE
COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES
GRADUATING PH.D.
STUDENTS!

REBECCA LASSELL, PH.D.

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES

BRETT BERG, PH.D.

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES

JULIE SILVER SEIDLE, PH.D.

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES

CONGRATULATIONS
FROM THE FACULTY

AND STAFF!
-

BEST OF LUCK AND
STAY IN TOUCH!

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES

STUDENT SPEAKER
NATE HAINES

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES

Well, here we are, graduation. The end of a long path that has brought all of us here together to celebrate the obtaining of our master’s or
PhD in occupational therapy. A goal that all of us have worked so hard for years to achieve. And now that we’re here, it doesn’t feel real. It
has been such a long journey that now that I’m at the end, I don’t know how to feel. So, in true CSU OT spirit, I figured I’d do some reflecting
of the last two years. Starting with moving out Colorado from Minnesota and getting to know all of you over the many orientations, team
building exercises, classes, and other activities. To be honest, at the beginning I was incredibly nervous and even a little intimidated by all of
you. This is because as I got to know each of you, I realized how awesome each of you are. And while that may sound a bit cliché, I don’t’
really care because it’s true. My nervousness and intimidation started to turn into excitement as the weeks went on and I got to know each
of you a little bit better. Whether it was struggling on an assignment together, working on group projects, or doing activities outside of
school, we got closer and closer as a class. And then the next thing I knew, we were all heading off for our first fieldwork over the summer. I
was very excited, not only for my own experience, but for the fall when we all got to get back together to catch up and talk about our
experiences.
I don’t think I have ever been so excited to come back to school as I was that first day. Now we were the big dogs in the building. Acting like
we knew so much even though we only had about 14 weeks of actual OT experience under our belts. I felt like so much had changed over
the last year that when I saw the new first year students, I couldn’t believe that was us only a year ago. School continued, and we all left for
winter break, knowing that when we came back, we only had one semester left of being with together. And, at least for me, the first half of
the first semester flew by. And then spring break came. I left class the week before spring break excited for my own adventures, but also
excited to come back and finish my last semester of school with a group of people that I had gotten to know so well. And then, as we all
know, class was moved online for the rest of the semester. I was devasted, I realized that I didn’t know when the next time would be that we
would all be together. I couldn’t help but reminisce on the weekend nights in old town, having game nights, or if I was really lucky, getting to
bounce on the trampoline in the back of Michael, Susan, and Kendra’s backyard. And then the next thing I knew, those 6+ weeks of online
class flew by. Graduation came closer and closer, yet it didn’t feel like it because I wasn’t able to see my classmates other than on online
classes.
And now we’re finally here. The moment that all of us have been looking forward to for many years, graduation! Before we know it, we’ll be
able to have that R/L for registered and licensed and we’ll be spread out throughout the country working as occupational therapists. But,
before we get to that, I want to encourage all of you to do your own reflection.

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES

I want each of you to take some time, either today, or in the next few days to reflect on your personal path. Reflect on what it was that made
you want to become an OT. Reflect on the long nights of studying, the grueling process of applying to schools, the excitement of getting your
acceptance notice, and finally, the last two years of being at CSU, trying to learn as much as you can about a profession so diverse and
complex that there’s no way you could learn everything in two years. Don’t just reflect on the good times, spend some time and thought on
the difficult times, what was it that helped you persevere? Because what ever it was that you were struggling with or that was holding you
back, you were able to persevere, that is why you are here now a graduate of the CSU OT program, regardless of how difficult it may have
been.
This reflection is especially important during these times. Even though this graduation ceremony, or the final months of the semester, or
your final fieldwork are likely not how you expected them to be, you will continue to persevere. And I can say this because I have had the
pleasure of getting to know each of you over the last two years. And for the PhD graduates, this is especially true as I think about the
process it must have taken you to get to this point as well. Each and everyone of you has worked incredibly hard to get to this point in your
life.
And now it’s time to celebrate! Don’t let the current times let you forget how special of an occasion this is! You’re here, you’re finally at the
end of this path with 50 some other graduates, and I think I can speak for all of us when I say that I wouldn’t want to be here with anyone
else. How ever many years you have been working towards this moment, you’re finally here! We’re finally here!
So, the last thing I want to say is thank you.
Thank you to the professors at CSU OT. It was an honor getting to learn from some of the best professors I have ever had. Your knowledge
and love of the profession has inspired so many of us to be the best occupational therapists that we can.
Thank you to those of you who have been the support system for all of us students, whether you’re family, a significant other, or a friend,
your support of each of us has helped us get to where we are today, we couldn’t have done it without you.
And finally, thank you to my classmates, I consider it an honor and a privilege to have gotten the chance to be a part of this program with all
of you at my side. You are all genuinely incredible people and even though our paths are now diverging from each other, you all will hold an
incredibly special place in my heart.
-Nate

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CONCLUDING REMARKS
DR. SHELLY LANE

Professor and Program Director, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES

CONGRATULATIONS!!

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