Maddie Everson with her client.
Author: Erin Wilson Ph
Before switching to a pre-occupational therapy track, student Maddie Everson was pursuing physical therapy for her undergraduate degree in exercise science at the University of Wisconsin LaCrosse.
“I just like the idea of helping people in their everyday lives and making their days easier, rather than rehabilitation from an injury,” Everson said.
Now, she’s an occupational therapy graduate student on the University of Minnesota Rochester campus and a personal care assistant (PCA) for Minnesota’s PCA College Service Corps Pilot Program, which recruits college students to assist seniors and people with disabilities in order to aid them in maintaining independence in their communities. The Star Tribune wrote about her role as part of an article on the state’s PCA shortage.
“Helping my client every day, doing hands-on things, and creating more independence for him has helped me apply what I'm learning in school right now,” Everson said.
A highlight of her experience as an OT student, in addition to befriending peers in her cohort and building a support system, has been the field work opportunities, allowing her to work and learn “hands-on.” The most challenging element, she said, has been navigating the transition from undergrad to graduate schooling and finding a balance with having a life of her own.
Everson has previously worked in group homes and with individuals with disabilities and her PCA experience has grown her love for working with and caring for that population. She enjoys “making people feel heard, able to live in their environment and do the activities they want…and meeting the goals they want to reach.” Though she’s not yet sure what she’ll pursue after graduation, she’s open to staying on this path once she’s an occupational therapist.
“Just be open minded— you never know what you're going to learn. I've learned so much from this experience,” she advised. “If I went back [in time], I would have never thought I'd be working within this program. But I'm really grateful for it.”