Originally from Hong Kong, Mary Ng (she/her) notes her most recent, biggest accomplishment would be graduating from the UBC Master of Occupational Therapy program and getting to work at her dream work setting. She aspires to be the stepping stone for her clients by providing support and expertise to help them maximize their potential and propel themselves further in their lives. When Mary is not doing OT, she enjoys reading, taking photos, and being in nature.
What drew you to the Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) degree at UBC?
I was searching for a career that could allow me to use my passion in psychology with practicality. A few seconds after typing down the keywords on the search engine, occupational therapy popped up and the job description has caught my eyes ever since. As I was researching where to get trained, the small class size UBC offers for the MOT program drew me closer to making the decision to apply. I have always wanted a close knitted relationship within a cohort and I am glad the small cohort size gave me exactly what I wanted.
How has studying in the MOT program made an impact on you?
Not only did I acquire different skills that I would be able to use at work, I find that skills that make a great occupational therapist (OT) are also very helpful to personal growth and helps me become a better person in general.
What was something you learned in the MOT program that surprised you?
Although we are privileged to acquire high level education, it does not mean that we are at a higher position than people seeking help from us. As OTs, we work with our clients/patients and we walk alongside them in their journey of recovery. Ultimately, they are the drivers and we utilize our expertise to help them steer towards their goals.
What is your favorite memory from your time at UBC?
Every moment is memorable for me, the happy ones and the tough ones. If I have to pick however, I would say the moments when I was in class with my cohort. Having a shared 2 years of time with them is my absolute pleasure and I miss all those break time conversations, and jokes and struggles we had during and outside of classes.
Where do you find inspiration?
People! From our professors and preceptors to classmates and our patients/clients, I have learned so much from every one of them, and every day I keep learning new things from them. Everyone is an expert in their lives, and they have so much knowledge and experiences to share.
What does a healthy society mean to you?
A healthy society means that people see the importance of both physical and mental health, and that people would not feel ashamed to reach out for help and support for either health issues, and that they would receive sufficient assistance on their journey of recovery.
What are your plans after graduation?
I am lucky to get hired at my dream work setting. I hope that with the addition of me to the team, the department would be able to expand in services that we could provide to our patients. In terms of longer-term goals, I wish that with the support of my team, we would be able to expand the service outside of the hospital I am working at currently, so that the population I am serving who is out in the community could receive better support.
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