Gianna Maria Bates, a 2023 graduate of Arcadia University and a current occupational therapy student at Salus University in Elkins Park, was recently featured in a Salus “Students at Leisure” article.

Bates was a double major in psychology and ceramics at Arcadia and wanted to continue her love of art while she started out in the medical field.

“I realized that I can always be an artist while having a career and I don’t necessarily have to make that my only career,” she said. “I can’t be a full-time artist and an OT on the side. But I can be a full-time OT and always be an artist.”

OT is hands-on, much like the sculptures she creates.

“If it wasn’t for art, I don’t think I would be doing OT. I don’t think I would be doing anything,” she said. “It completely transformed my brain to be OK with happy accidents and failing and succeeding sometimes, letting things be flexible. Art taught me to move on, and I feel like in grad school, that’s a very useful tool. I’m not very far into it yet, but with grad school, I assume there are going to be times that I fail in knowledge or action. My mindset now is that failing is OK. You can slip without sliding.”

For the full story, you can click here.

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Photos: Salus University