Jesse Vallera

Leadership Reflection
Leadership is a key aspect of who we are to act as an occupational therapy
practitioner. Occupational therapist must lead by example, to educate families,
caregivers, and patients to be confident in our abilities. In the occupational therapy
program for the cohort of 2016, there were many opportunities to take a role for
numerous positions and environments. In my first semester, I wanted to become involved
in the pediatric population so I enroll and coordinated the Lucky Duck Family Festival.
This was an opportunity to interact with children and their parents. The second semester
I was involved in Nevada Occupational Therapy Association and I could network with
new exciting occupational therapists and other occupational therapy students. In my third
semester I could finally implement my skills in practice at Health South and I educated,
demonstrated and encouraged clients using assessments and treatment tools. The most
important leadership role and the culmination of my practice was in my fieldwork II, I
once again educated and demonstrated two new assessments for registered occupational
therapists and physical therapists. This was important to act as a teacher and bestowed
new knowledge for our profession and as rehabilitation as a whole.
In my future I will continue to take an active role for students, peers, clients, and
faculty members. In addition, I will become a fieldwork educator to teach new students
and collaborate with their knowledge. I now know the importance of leadership and I
will continue to lead by example in my profession.