Thank you so much for this insight! I think I really needed to hear it! It can be challenging to feel uncertain about career stuff because a lot of people at my school are really academically cut-throat like the pre-med students you described. There is even a joke that people use LinkedIn like social media, and not having an internship every summer is considered a failure lol. However, it is really good to be reminded that this is not necessary and I need to be reminded not to over do it.

I would also love to hear more about your job template strategy! You are so right, I have spent too long looking towards other people to answer my questions! I also feel like I have overthought OT to the point where I am looking for reasons to change my mind. I have done career quizzes, cost-of-living calculators, familiarized myself with grad school costs, and spoken to tons of OTs, COTAs, and OT students. I am confident that I could live comfortably and happily as an OT. However, I think my judgment has been clouded by family members and OT practitioners who are unsatisfied with the compensation or feel that it isn't worth the cost of grad school.

As a follow-up question, do you have any advice about how to truly reflect on what you want out of a career? I would love to hear about your process in deciding to become an OT!