Health science major
Fremont, Ohio

Linda Edmonds will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in health sciences, a milestone on her journey to earn a master’s degree in occupational therapy in 2012.           

As a wife, mother and full-time COTA (certified occupational therapy assistant), Edmonds is pleased to be one step closer to her goal of becoming an occupational therapist. “This milestone is greatly welcomed,” she said. “It is not an easy task to juggle working full time, going to school full time and being a full-time wife and mother.”            

Edmonds chose to attend The University of Findlay because the OT program allows her to continue working full time to help support her family, which includes her three sons. “I am leading by example for my children, and they get to witness firsthand that hard work does pay off.”            

UF is the only school in the state of Ohio that offers a weekend master’s OT program. Edmonds says the schedule was the best fit for her busy life.            

“The weekend program is most definitely challenging, but the program is set up in such a way that all of my educational needs are being met … I feel very confident that I will be well prepared to be a competent entry-level occupational therapist once I have completed the program,” she said.            

As a nontraditional student who is on campus every other weekend, Edmonds has been pleased with the support she receives from UF faculty and staff members.            
“All of the instructors take a personal interest in each student and are always available to answer questions and assist students during classes and after hours,” said Edmonds. “All my instructors are inspiring because they use their clinical experiences and apply it to the course material.”            

Edmonds also appreciates the helpfulness of University staff members.

“The Student Technology Center is very helpful and accommodating to schedule their staff during the evenings and weekends to meet the weekend students’ needs. I appreciate the fact that I have access to the same services a traditional student has, regardless that it is the weekend,” she said.            

After working for 12 years as a COTA, Edmonds is confident in her decision to pursue a master’s degree in occupational therapy. “Not only did I take on this task for self-betterment, but also as a service to my clients,” she said. “I wanted to provide them with the best quality of care, and increasing my knowledge in OT was a sure way to accomplish this.”