Occupational Therapy News July 2020 | Page 24

FEATURE EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY Occupational therapy and me © GettyImages/nadia_bormotova Somia Elise Jan, an occupational therapist of dual heritage, reflects on her own personal journey to becoming a practitioner Since global events in June compelled occupational therapist Somia Elise Jan to reflect more deeply on her own experience of coming from a minority background, she is urging the occupational therapy profession to be more open, and for others enduring similar hardships to share their experiences. ‘I am absolutely devastated by the current events around the world with regards to race,’ she says. ‘I simply cannot comprehend how, in this day and age, you can still be brutally murdered, or targeted and bullied, all because of the colour of your skin. ‘Unfortunately this is not a one off incident, it is just one that has fortunately been caught on camera. And I do say fortunately, because I think it is forcing the world to open their eyes to racism that is happening everywhere and every day.’ Somia is of a dual heritage: English on her mother’s side and Pakistani on her father’s side. She stresses: ‘I do not want to take anything away from this powerful and overdue #BlackLivesMatters movement, however it has forced me to identify with some of my own experiences that I have perhaps suppressed, both the positive and negative. ‘I think that this suppression is part of the problem minorities face, and an important aspect of this movement. We often accept that in some situations we will be treated a little differently, but why? Why do we accept this? ‘I’m sure that, if we are more open with our experiences, we would be welcomed. Or maybe not. But, if we aren’t, we can address this and challenge and implement change.’ Somia has made the decision to push herself out of her comfort zone and share her journey into becoming an occupational therapist, as an attempt to spread awareness of both a culture and a profession she is immensely proud to be a part of. In sharing her story, she hopes to reach others who are struggling on their journey and to remind them they are not alone. ‘I hope it helps attract more minorities into this wonderful profession, because we need you and your uniqueness more than you know,’ she says. 24 OTnews July 2020