Laura Thomson describes her various occupational identities. She values her role as a sister, daughter, niece, and aunt in her family, which provides her with a sense of belonging and support. She has many friends from different parts of her life that she enjoys socializing and participating in activities with. As a student, her main occupation is studying to become an occupational therapist. She also works as a support worker, enjoys traveling, exercising, art, babysitting her nephews, and socializing with her flatmates.

1. MY
OCCUPATIONAL
IDENTITY
Laura Thomson

2. FAMILY
MY FAMILY IS IMPORTANT TO ME. I AM A SISTER, GRANDDAUGHTER, COUSIN, DAUGHTER,
NIECE AND AUNTY. MY FAMILY SUPPORTS AND GUIDES ME, WHICH I HOPE I CAN DO THE
SAME BACK AT TIMES. THEY PROVIDE A SENSE OF BELONGING AND A PLACE WHERE I WILL
ALWAYS FEELS COMFORTABLE.

3. FRIENDS
I HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT FRIENDS, FROM PRIMARY SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL, COURSE,
WORK AND THROUGH MEETING NEW PEOPLE. I VALUE MY ROLE AS A FRIEND AND AM
REALLY THANKFUL FOR ALL OF THE FRIENDS I HAVE. WITH MOST OCCUPATIONS THAT I
PARTAKE IN, I HAVE MY FRIENDS ALONGSIDE ME, MAKING IT MORE ENJOYABLE. I HOPE
THAT I AM ALWAYS THERE AS A GOOD FRIEND, BEING SUPPORTIVE AND ENCOURAGING
WHENEVER THEY MAY NEED A BIT OF HELP.

4. FLATTING
MY FIRST YEAR FLATTING HAS GIVEN ME MORE INDEPENDENCE AND RESPONSIBILITY. MY
ROLE AS A FLAT MATE IS TO HELP WITH THE COOKING AND CLEANING.

5. TRAVELLING
I HAVE BEEN OVERSEAS TO ARGENTINA AND CHILE BUT I REALLY WANT TO EXPLORE
OVERSEAS MORE. I ENJOY SEEING AND EXPERIENCING OTHER CULTURES.

6. EXERCISE
I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN INVOLVED IN SOME SPORT GROWING UP. EXERCISE IS A LEISURE
OCCUPATION THAT I REALLY ENJOY, ESPECIALLY SPORTS. IT IS A WAY OF EXPERIENCING
NEW ACTIVITIES AND FINDING OUT WHAT I AM GOOD AT AND NOT SO GOOD AT

7. SOCIALISING
SOCIALISING IS SOMETHING I FEEL I AM ALWAYS DOING, EVEN IF I AM AT WORK OR IN
CLASS. I AM CONSTANTLY AROUND PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT I AM FLATTING AND
LIVING WITH MY FRIENDS.

8. WORK
I HAVE WORKED AT MCGLYNN HOMES FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS, PART TIME, AS A
SUPPORT WORKER. RESIDENTS IN MY HOUSE ARE ALL IN WHEELCHAIRS AND HAVE HAD A
BRAIN INJURY OR MS. PART OF MY OCCUPATIONAL IDENTITY IS A SUPPORT WORKER AND
I TAKE THIS ROLE SERIOUSLY. MY WORK HAS TAUGHT ME TO HAVE A LOT OF PATIENTS
AND NEW SKILLS IN RELATION TO COMMUNICATION AND MANUAL HANDLING. I AM
LUCKY THAT I CAN TAKE THESE SKILLS AND APPLY THEM TO OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY.

9. BABYSITTING
THE FOUR CHILDREN I BABYSIT ARE MY NEPHEWS AND ALTHOUGH I DON’T GET PAID, IT IS
A CHANCE FOR ME TO SPEND TIME WITH THEM. I ENJOY BEING AN AUNTY AND TEACHING
THEM A LOT OF THINGS AND ALSO HAVING FUN WITH THEM. THEY CAN BE A BIG
RESPONSIBILITY AND I AM LUCKY BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY I CAN GIVE THEM BACK
TO MY BROTHERS.

10. ART
I HAVE BEEN INTERESTED IN ART SINCE I WAS ABOUT FIVE. IT IS A WAY FOR ME TO RELAX
AND ENJOY SOME TIME BY MYSELF.

11. STUDENT
I AM IN MY SECOND YEAR OF STUDYING TO BE A QUALIFIED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST. I
REALLY HOPE I DO PASS AND I WILL TRY HARD THIS YEAR TO DO SO. BEING A STUDENT
AND STUDYING IS MY MAIN OCCUPATION AS IT TAKES UP THE MAJORITY OF MY TIME.

12. REFERENCE
 McGlynn (n.d.). McGlynn live life
[Photograph]. Retrieved from
http://mcglynn.co.nz/