Vanessa Rivera, ‘22, receives her diploma at the Winter 2021 commencement ceremony.
‘Resilient’ Rivera on Her Way to Becoming OTA BY EMILY KESEL
W
hen Vanessa Rivera began researching colleges she could attend after graduating from Battle High School, she had two main needs in mind: proximity to her family in Columbia and a small school where she could receive a personalized education. She got exactly that at Central Methodist University. “I always figured I wanted to go to a small school where I was able to get that one-on-one relationship between teachers and professors,” said Rivera, who graduated in December with an associate’s degree in occupational therapy assistant (OTA). “I did get what I asked for.” Rivera and her OTA professors, Dr. Rebbecca Fenton and Kelly Rohrbach, developed a strong bond over her time at Central, and both now say they’re proud of the healthcare professional she’s come to be. “I would describe her as extremely resilient during tough times,” said Fenton. “She stuck with her goals and rose to every challenge presented.” Persevering through the tough times was a must for Rivera, who became the first woman in her family to graduate from college when she earned her Associate of Applied Science. Having been born outside the United States and coming to the country under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy, she was ineligible for federal student aid, meaning her parents paid for her education out of pocket. When the OTA program was impacted by the pandemic, with virtual learning and social distancing becoming the norm, it was difficult at times to keep going. But she knew she had to press on. “It was a great feeling [to graduate] because I know I don’t just do it for me. It’s for my parents, for my mom and dad who’ve killed themselves to pay
30 The Talon | Spring 2022
for my school,” said Rivera. “The times that I did want to quit, I remembered that it wasn’t just for me but for them and even my family in Mexico.” Rivera says she couldn’t have done it without both her family’s support and that of Fenton and Rohrbach, adding that the professors’ “holistic” outlook as occupational therapists was crucial to helping her achieve her goals. “I don’t think I would have been able to complete the program without them,” she said. “And I know that they’re going to continue helping kids, and that makes me glad. It makes me very happy that when a kid wants to go [to Central], they’re going to have the professors I had, and it’s a great feeling.” As for her future, Rivera completed her boards exam in May and as of press time, was hoping to return to where her interest in healthcare began, at a nursing home in Columbia. “I would like to stick with the nursing home setting because I really enjoy working with the elderly population, and I feel like I understand them a little better,” she said. Rivera’s teachers are confident that she’ll succeed wherever she ends up working. “Her fieldwork educators commented frequently on her ability to develop rapport with the clients and flexibility with patient care and daily schedules, which are two extremely important traits in a healthcare professional,” said Rohrbach. “Vanessa has natural strengths that make her very client-centered; she is polite, respectful, and empathetic,” Fenton added. “I feel great pride in her successes. She deserves the best in life.”
