Caroline Westbrook

Professor Elizabeth Bergman

Senior Seminar
Due: March 17, 2015
Intellectual Biography
When first attending university I can honestly say that gerontology was something that I
had never even considered. I have always been an extrovert and have always had a desire to help
others and learn from them. As a teenager I had envisioned myself becoming a physician
assistant. A physician assistant is a healthcare professional who is trained to practice medicine as
part of a team with a physician. They are able to conduct physical examinations and I liked the
idea that I would be able to work one-on-one with a patient. I clearly did not have any real
attachment to that path, though, because I attended Ithaca College which does not have a
physician assistant program. I entered my freshman year in the Health Sciences and Human
Performance Preprofessional Program hoping to explore the health field and research other
options.
After my first year at Ithaca College I realized I was about to enter my second year of
college still not knowing what I wanted to do. Being a phyiscian assistant got swept under the
rug and I was at a loss. I knew I could not continue at Ithaca without having some sort of
objective or idea of where I wanted my life to go. I decided to take a leave of absence and attend
community college to figure it out. I went to Broome Community College for my sophomore
year of school, taking classes and trying to find my calling. I took a bunch of different classes
like marketing, nutrition, chemistry and others. I wanted to make sure that these classes would
transfer so I was slightly limited but I was bound and determined to find something I enjoyed.

The following year I returned to Ithaca College still not sure exactly what I wanted to do
but knowing I wanted to work with a specific population. That population was the aging. My
freshman year I had taken Introduction to Aging and Fieldwork in Gerontology and I enjoyed
those classes immensely. As soon as I found out I could major in Aging Studies I knew that that
was the route I wanted to take.
The Aging Studies major stresses immersing its students in the community and having
them engage in experiential learning. Many of the courses are designed to provide students
firsthand experience working and socializing with the older population. Two experiences that
really further confirmed by desire to pursue a career that would incorporate working with older
adults in some capacity was my fieldwork and internship. During my fieldwork at Longview, a
retirement community adjacent to campus, I received firsthand experience working and
socializing with the elderly. While at Longview I noticed a special room that was called the
Ithaca College Room. This room is for the physical therapy and occupational therapy students. In
this room, I learned that students were able to get hands-on experience working with the older
population.
I had never heard of occupational therapy until attending Ithaca College. Occupational
therapy focuses on helping people achieve independence in all areas of their lives. Occupational
therapists work on motor skills and training clients to perform everyday tasks we take for
granted; learning how to write, opening a door in a wheelchair, making meals, and more. You get
to be creative to find a way for a client to make the most of their daily living skills. Like Aging
Studies the degree focuses on the quality of life of a person versus the quantity.
One fundamental concept that has been particularly relevant in shaping my thinking and
resonates with me is the activity theory of aging. Throughout my experiences with the older

population, whether it be during my fieldwork or my internship I have seen this theory be proven
again and again. One particular instance was during my time as an intern when observing the
individuals in the inpatient clinic. The activity theory is the belief that activity leads to high
satisfaction in later life. The theory proposes that successful aging occurs when older adults stay
active and maintain social interactions. In other words, aging is delayed and the quality of life is
enhanced when older people remain socially active. When I had the opportunity to shadow an
occupational therapist I noticed that those who stayed in their rooms and did not interact with the
other residents and did not come to their sessions with the physical and occupational therapists
did not progress as quickly as those who remained active. It was amazing to watch how much
progression an individual made over just a few days with the therapists. It was clear how
adaptable the body is when it is presented with a disability.
This summer I had the opportunity to intern with Good Shepherd at Binghamton. Through
this internship I learned a lot about myself and about the long term care system as a whole. My
internship was an informal rotation of all of the departments in the facility. My first two weeks
was with the inpatient clinic where I observed and shadowed an occupational therapist. This
experience further confirmed my desire to go into occupational therapy. While I was at Good
Shepherd Home, I also spent time with therapeutic recreation, case management, and social
services. I had the privilege to spend time with the director of nursing and the executive director
(my supervisor). I really enjoyed my time with therapeutic recreation and social services. I
noticed that the departments I enjoyed the most were the ones that allowed me to interact with
the residents regularly. My internship proved to be invaluable in terms of both exposure and
knowledge. Im really glad to have gotten this experience under my belt. Personally along with
professionally, this internship really helped me in becoming a better advocate for myself.

After graduation, I plan to pursue a Masters Degree in Occupational Therapy. Through

everything I have experienced I feel prepared to begin the next chapter of my life and I feel
confident that after graduation my education will lead me to where I would like my life to go in
the future.