Doctoral Student, Pitt Occupational Therapy Program
Before coming to the University of Pittsburgh, I knew I wanted to pursue a career with children. My freshman year at Pitt, I enrolled in the course, "Children and Culture," not knowing how much it would inspire me to enroll in the Children's Literature Certificate Program shortly after. As I continued to enroll in the certificate program's courses, I began to feel more confident in my decision in wanting to work with children in my future. The courses I took throughout my undergraduate years at Pitt were so much fun, and they excited me while learning about children's literature. All of the professors that taught these courses were just as excited and passionate about children's literature that it made this certificate all the more rewarding for me.
Without a doubt, enrolling in this certificate program was one of the best decisions I made while at Pitt. I learned so much about the underlying implications of children's texts, which only led me to want to keep exploring and gaining knowledge in this category of literature. My experiences with this certificate program challenged me in a way that enabled me to think more critically, while keeping an open mind. In my opinion, there are infinite ways the texts and materials associated with this certifcate program go hand-in-hand with various career paths involving children.
For me, I am eager and prepared to bring all that I have learned in these courses to graduate school with me. After graduation, I will be a first-year graduate student in the University of Pittsburgh's Doctor of Occupational Therapy program, where I intend to specialize in pediatrics. With all the background knowledge I have acquired thorugh this certificate program, I am confident in my abilities to approach children and think as they do. Without the Children's Literature Certificate Program at the University of Pittsburgh, I would not feel nearly as prepared about becoming a pediatric occupational therapist in my near future.