Welcome OTD Students, Michaela and Maya!

Hi there! My name is Michaela and I am an Occupational Therapy assistant student in my last Fieldwork Placement before I graduate. I grew up in the Northwest suburbs and completed classes at College of DuPage and transferred to Wilbur Wright in 2021 to join the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program. My journey as an OTA student has been filled with so many great learning experiences, lessons and growth. I loved being a part of a field where we help others grow and gain/improve the skills they need for everyday life and their overall emotional, mental, physical and spiritual well-being. Here at GiGi’s, I have been tutoring Math and Literacy and aiding in several groups. In my free time I love reading books (fantasy and horror are my favorites), traveling, and visiting and trying new food places around me. I love to spend time with my family and friends and watch all kinds of movies and tv shows. I am so grateful for the opportunity to join GiGi’s community and build friendships and get to know everyone here.  It has been such a joy so far and I appreciate everything the staff, volunteers, participants and GiGi’s as a whole have done for the community!

Maya is in her final semester of the OTA program at Wright College and is so excited to be completing Fieldwork II at GiGi’s Playhouse! Maya was born and raised in St. Louis, MO and enjoys going back to visit family when she can. Some of her favorite things to do when visiting St. Louis are attending performances at The Fabulous Fox Theatre, eating delicious barbeque from Salt+Smoke, and taking long walks in beautiful Forest Park, one of the largest public parks in the United States-even bigger than Central Park in New York! Maya moved to Chicago in 2009 and attended Loyola University, earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. After graduating in 2013, she decided to call Chicago her second home and has been here ever since! Maya has been working at Lurie Children’s Hospital Chicago for almost 8 years and loves her current role of Activity Coordinator because she is able to develop fun, enriching, and diverse programs for patients and their families. Her love of working with people and helping them to reach their full potential made the transition into Occupational Therapy a natural choice. During her fieldwork experience at GiGi’s, Maya will be providing 1:1 Literacy and Math tutoring, supporting Fantastic Friends, and helping to lead Teen Tastic and Gigi’s Kitchen programs! She is looking forward to learning more about the Down Syndrome population, making new connections, and widening her occupational therapy lens within community-based settings.