Graduate scholarship Carrie Field

Hi Dear Friends and Clients, I’m returning to school midlife in order to serve a greater population. I lovingly ask for your assistance with my scholarship goal of $15,000.  Every tiny donation helps!! I am so excited that I’ve been accepted to the University of New Mexico’s, Occupational Therapy (OT) Graduate Program in the class of 2019! The request of $15,000 is one third of my total tuition of $45,000. I will fund the remainder with student loans and living expenses will be earned working part time. As the daughter of a single mom who worked three jobs to feed her family, tuition for my bachelors’ degree, twenty years ago was earned with scholarships, grants, work study and some student loans. I was disappointed to find no grants, scholarships, TA-ships or instructor graduate positions available for my program of entry. Being a small business owner has had its challenges. Let’s just say, I am not financially where I thought I would be at this stage in my life. Any and every size of donation is wildly appreciated and will bring me closer to my goal.

As a Pilates instructor since 1994, my continuing study of the moving body has bloomed into a fascination with neuroplasticity. This is the brains ability reroute neuropathways when function is impaired. This is my opportunity to learn about functional neuroplasticity. And in my future career as an OT, I will be helping people return to quality of life from experiences like; traumatic brain injury (TBI), parkinson disease, alzheimers disease and other dementias, stroke, brain tumor, MS and physical disabilities. I am extremely proud about being accepted into UNM’s Occupational Therapy Graduate Program. It is a competitive program and the competition is fierce!

It is my goal to enter a career of clinical work as an OT working in a hospital, clinic or assisted living home. As an OT I plan to set up programs that offer new learning environments while enlivening and integrating communities. Below are services I am passionate about implementing:

·      Dance, Exercise, pilates, and yoga classes for chair bound individuals

·      Training and exercise home program videos for stroke recovery

·      Programs that bring volunteers into assisted living facilities to teach art, singing and music

·      Adapted tango, social dance and movement modality classes for people who are balanced challenged due to: parkinson disease, MS, TBI, stroke, or physical disabilities

·      Visiting programs, where volunteers do home visits and outings for elderly and homebound, similar to meals on wheels or Big brother, Big Sister.

·      Integrating rhythm, music and movement into neurological recovery

Volunteer programs are lacking that facilitate interaction for people who need community stimulation and support. There is passion and life experience we can gain from each other given the opportunity. My lifelong desire to learn and grow has driven me to return to school. I hope to incorporate my knowledge and past experience into occupational therapy. And to bring some serious joy and spirit into helping individuals heal their mind and body.

My community of students in Taos is dear to me and since 2002 I have benefited from kindness and support that is shared with me daily. I greatly appreciate your ongoing support with this giant leap I am about to take, emotionally and financially! My mom taught me to follow my heart and so here I go.

With abundant deep gratitude,
Yours truly,
Carrie Field