Student News Fall 2023
Convocation Fall 2023
Congratulations to the Dalhousie new Class of 2023 graduates!
To help celebrate Fall Convocation, we chatted with students from the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy and Master of Science in Occupational Science Students, Kelly Stoddard and Catherine Rose Talastas to hear what they had to say about their passions and their journey.
Convocation Q&A: Kelly Stoddard
Pronouns: She/Her
Degree: MSc in Occupational Therapy
How significant is it for you to receive this degree?
This degree is incredibly significant to me - after I finished my undergrad, further education was put on hold when my husband and I started our family and he developed his career. His career took us all over the country where we moved five times in a short 12 years. I always knew I would go back to school and the reality of doing so while managing my own work, two amazing teenagers, and our home was scary. The learning curve was pretty steep as I navigated new technology and research. I am so proud of successfully completing this degree.
What were the highlights of your degree?
The biggest highlight include building relationships with my amazing student cohort who welcomed me with such open arms considering the age gap. Dalhousie School of Occupational Therapy has amazing professors/instructors who showcased their passion and broad scope expertise in what is an incredibly diverse broad scope profession.
What will you miss about your time at Dal?
I will miss the people who I became most close to during my time - everyone is going off in different, exciting adventures. I hope we can create a group effort to utilize our new found skills and lean on each other for professional support.
What was your journey to Dal and to this program?
I finished my undergrad in 2007 and was able to take time to become a Mama to my two amazing kiddos. During that time I became a Yoga Instructor, a Personal Trainer, and a Group Fitness Instructor. I ran two marathons and over a dozen half marathons. Physical function became a passion and working with people to positively increase their function and mobility while decreasing pain was a big part of my practice. I knew I wanted to go back to school and was accepted to Dalhousie’s School of Occupational Therapy.
What topics/research/work did you become passionate about during your education?
I partnered on researching how policies or social influences about adult sex work influence i) participation in sex work, and ii) access to community services? We spent time researching unsanctioned occupations and how OTs have conversations and create non-judgemental spaces.
What’s next for you?
I hope to work in both private and public sectors here in the HRM area. I haven’t decided yet where I will find my flavour and am excited to gain more practical experience and be open to all opportunities!
Convocation Q&A: Catherine Rose Talastas
Pronouns: she/her
Degree: MSc in Occupational Science
How significant is it for you to receive this degree?
As an immigrant adapting to a new country, attaining this degree means a lot for me to see my potential for pursuing something bigger. This degree has taught me that perseverance can make anything possible.
What were the highlights of your degree?
My degree's highlights include gaining a deeper understanding of occupation and engaging in meaningful conversations with students and professors. Occupation goes beyond the objective façade of doing things since it includes the meaning, purpose and factors that influence it.
What will you miss about your time at Dal?
I've gained a lot from discussing occupational science topics with my classmates every week. These conversations have broadened my horizons and helped me develop a deeper understanding of social issues and different perspectives on people and their occupations. I'll definitely miss these valuable interactions.
What was your journey to Dal and to this program?
My journey has been challenging but worthwhile. There were many academic difficulties and life happenings that posed hurdles along the way. However, the journey in surpassing all of these tribulations has been worthwhile because of the growth I have experienced as a student and an adult.
What topics/research/work did you become passionate about during your education?
During my degree, I developed a keen interest in mental health and its connection to occupation. Mental health is often overlooked, but it's a crucial aspect of our overall well-being. This passion led me to explore how mental health affects occupation, and how occupation, in turn, affects mental health and well-being. Additionally, I became intrigued by the experiences of students during the pandemic, as the context has had a significant impact on their occupation.
What does it feel like or mean to you to be one of the first students completing this degree?
Being one of the first students to complete this degree feels surreal. Pursuing this degree has been one of my best decisions, as it has provided me with valuable learnings and motivation to continue learning.
What’s next for you?
At this point in my life, I wanted to continue pursuing higher studies related to occupational science and occupational therapy. It is my dream to become a proficient clinician with evidence-based practice and to contribute to the development of knowledge.
Find out more about our MSc(OT) Entry-Level and MSc(OS) Programs.