Meet Rachelle Partee 

Rachelle Partee is an occupational therapy student who has known since her freshman year what she wanted to do with her life. Working through SVSU's OT program --- the coursework, the volunteer work, and the clinical hours --- gave her the chance to confirm her suspicions. Leaving the care center where she worked, she realized, "I could do this for the rest of my life and be completely happy."

For Rachelle, the clinical hours required by the program have been as much a work experience as it has been her inspiration. She remembers the first patient she worked with - an 85-year-old woman with a compression fracture who had been incredibly motivated to get better - and she's still grateful to that woman for being so eager to give it her all. "It's important to see that your work does pay off, that you see people get better and go home."

Rachelle adds that one of the best things about the program is the dedication of its faculty. "They're really caring. They want to see their students succeed, and they will do anything in their power to get that done."