Master of Occupational Therapy
Hometown: Van Wert, Ohio

Miranda Tippie, who will graduate with a master of occupational therapy degree in December, experienced firsthand that a positive attitude can make all the difference in getting a good education.

“As I became more positive as a student, I chose to embrace every opportunity presented to me and sought out additional opportunities to further enhance my learning,” she wrote in an article published in OT Practice, a publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association.

Choosing to be positive, passionate and engaged has helped Tippie to be a better student, and in the long run, a better professional, she says.            

Her passion for occupational therapy – and especially for pediatric and mental health patients – is evident. Tippie’s first clinical rotation in UF’s OT program was at Century Health in Findlay, where she had the opportunity to work with the adult mental health population. “I really enjoyed that because I could be in their environment … and bring meaning to their lives,” she said. “Just playing music for somebody can make her day. I like to see those small things.”            

As part of Tippie’s clinical rotation, she helped patients learn how to complete daily tasks, such as grocery shopping, and how to interact with others in a variety of social settings.            

Tippie volunteers for Gliding Stars, where she helps a little girl learn to ice skate.

On Sunday afternoons, Tippie volunteers for Gliding Stars, where she helps a girl with a disability learn to ice skate. She also has volunteered at Focus on Friends, a community drop-in center, and Chopin Hall, a local organization that provides food and clothing to people in need. In addition, Tippie is a newlywed, a certified yoga instructor and a tutor for special-needs children.            

On campus, Tippie has been actively involved in the Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA). Through SOTA, Tippie was instrumental in collaborating activities with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and doing additional volunteer work within the community. She also had the opportunity to attend the American Occupational Therapy conference in Houston, Texas, earlier this year with other members of the group.            

In addition, Tippie was a graduate assistant in the Office of Disability Services on campus. Among other things, she tutored and mentored students, helping them get and stay organized to develop good study habits.            

Tippie pinpoints a class taught by Rosalie King as a pivotal point in her education. “The class was all about getting to know yourself and your culture, so that as a therapist, you can be better,” she explained. “Ever since that class, I’ve changed as a person. I’m more aware of my strengths and weaknesses. … It helped me have confidence in myself.”            

She encourages others students to be positive and open. “You’re taking classes for a reason. Get involved as much as you can not only on campus, but also in the community. It’s very important.”            

After graduating and completing both her master’s thesis presentation and board exam, Tippie hopes to begin her career in a position working with either mental health or pediatric patients.