Success Matters Welcomes Jiyea Park

Jiyea Park, Occupational Therapy Student and intern for Success Matters at Beatitudes Campus

Hello! My name is Jiyea (pronounced Gia) Park. You may have seen me strolling around campus with Jessica Meyer, the Director of Success Matters, but I wanted to formally introduce myself. I am an occupational therapy student who will be interning with Jessica for the next 12 weeks. As it turns out, April is National Occupational Therapy month, so this is a timely opportunity to share, not only a bit about myself, but also touch on the role of Occupational Therapy. I decided to get my masters in Occupational Therapy because it is a medical profession rooted in promoting the fullest quality of life and engagement at any age, and at every stage, by understanding each individual holistically.

When I am not working at Beatitudes, I spend my time hiking, painting, and exploring different restaurants and coffee shops in my neighborhood. I was born in South Korea but moved to Eugene, Oregon when I was 12 years old. I went to the University of Oregon for my undergraduate degree, where I studied journalism and business. I am a huge Ducks fan and love college football.

By interning with Jessica, who is also an occupational therapist, I will not only be learning more about Beatitudes and the Success Matters program but will also gain a better understanding of how Occupational Therapy can help to improve the lives of older adults. I hope to be an additional pair of ears and eyes working on behalf of the residents on campus. If you have any concerns or ideas regarding how we can better serve you to promote healthier and happier lifestyles on campus, please feel free to share those ideas with us.

I am very excited to be part of the Success Matters program, which is committed to empowering seniors to reach their fullest potential, by providing a variety of possibilities for staying active, stimulated and fulfilled and ultimately improving one's overall quality of life. I am very pleased to have this opportunity to learn from Jessica, things from program development to how to better cater towards the needs of the elderly. In the next three months, I hope to help Jessica in helping the residents to have improved quality of lives here on campus. To do this, I will need your help, so if you see me around campus, feel free to say hello and share your ideas. I am thrilled to meet and get to know you better. *

By Jiyea Park, Occupational Therapy Student and Intern to Jessica Meyer, Director of Success Matters

Author Info: Beatitudes Campus

At the foundation of Beatitudes Campus is the vision of church of the Beatitudes pastors and congregation members to create a better alternative for older adults than the nursing homes of the early 1960s. The type of community they imagined was the first of its kind in Arizona. Beatitudes Campus is proud to continue the legacy of our founders, by being a leader in the field of aging services for over 50 years.