黑料吃瓜网

Why did Brenna McLaughlin plunge into the accelerated occupational therapy assistant program at 黑料吃瓜网?

鈥淚 wanted to start the next chapter of my life.鈥� 

After high school, the Danville, New Hampshire resident tried a four-year school but decided it wasn鈥檛 for her. Following her passion for working with children, she worked for several years as a paraprofessional at an elementary school, where she supported special education students. She didn鈥檛 want to be a paraprofessional forever, however, and after shadowing the elementary school鈥檚 occupational therapist, she set her sights on a new career.

As an occupational therapy assistant (OTA), McLaughlin will have a hands-on career that helps people set and achieve their goals. OTAs work under the supervision of an occupational therapist to help those with physical, developmental, or emotional disabilities participate in daily life through meaningful activities. By focusing on the individual, occupational therapy professionals help patients achieve their unique goals.

After completing the prerequisite courses online, fitting in classes between work at the elementary school and at a restaurant, McLaughlin enrolled in the College鈥檚 accelerated OTA program in fall 2025.

OTA Program Director Shauna Manthorn (left) and Brenna McLaughlin (right).

The College鈥檚 OTA program offers three paths. Students can choose from a traditional program, part-time program, and an accelerated program. In the accelerated program, students are prepared to graduate and take the certification exam in only 14 months. 

"I knew the accelerated program would be the best and quickest way to get to my end goal. I feel confident in what I've done so far, and I'm only going to learn more,鈥� she said.

The OTA program suits McLaughlin because she gets the most out of hands-on learning and directly seeing 鈥渞eal life鈥� applications.

"When my professors demonstrate these concepts or when I see them in fieldwork, what I've been reading or listening to really clicks,鈥� she said.

McLaughlin says that organization is key to juggling the demands of the fast-paced program, life, and working part time. The OTA faculty support her all of the way, and she often meets with the program鈥檚 dedicated OTA tutor.

"The professors we have are wonderful. They want you to succeed, and you can feel that,鈥� she said. 

OTAs work in a wide variety of settings, and the program mirrors this with its fieldwork experiences, which allow students to observe and practice in different settings and with different populations. 

McLaughlin joined the program determined to work with children, but in her first week, fieldwork at a senior center opened her eyes to working with the elderly and with people with dementia. Now, she is considering studying and working in a variety of settings in order to take advantage of the field鈥檚 flexibility. 

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 think that I wanted to work with the elderly, but they really touched my heart,鈥� she said. 鈥淥ccupational therapy can be used in so many different areas of practice, so I'm going to lean into that.鈥� 

Next October, McLaughlin will finish the accelerated program, sit for her National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy exam, and start her new career鈥攁nd her new chapter.

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