CTK Alumna Figures Out her Best Career Fit in Occupational Therapy

Leilani Figgers, CTK ’20, says her friends would describe her as a “caring person who gets things done,” making her chosen career path of occupational therapy a great fit for her. After graduating from Indiana State University with a degree in kinesiology in 2024, she enrolled in a 3-year Occupational Therapy (OT) doctorate program at Midwestern University, and is on track to graduate in May 2027. She said, “Working in occupational therapy is really rewarding, especially with kids. To see how the work they are putting in helps to give them the independence to do those things on their own in their daily lives.” She recently shared insight into her journey through CTK, college, and her current doctorate program, as well as her career aspirations.   

Leilani was the first in her immediate family to attend and graduate from college. Her parents mapped out her path of attending a college prep high school and then going to college. Her CTK experience helped to prepare her for college, her eventual career, and to grow as a person. She is thankful for the support and encouragement of CTK teachers like Mr. Hyatt, Mr. Guo, and Ms. Abrams. She cites the growth of her leadership skills from being a 3-year captain of the softball team, which required her to lead older students. Her 4-year CWSP experience working in the downtown offices of Wintrust Bank helped prepare her professionally. In particular, she credits the mentorship of  Wintrust executive Kandace Lenti. “While I wasn’t interested in a finance/banking career, I still gained valuable professional skills – communicating effectively, time management, turning in work on time, and staying organized. Kandace took me to business lunches and meetings to get me out of my comfort zone. Observing how she interacted and connected with people has had a lasting impact on me.”    

The Covid outbreak prevented her from going to visit the colleges to which she was accepted. She chose Indiana State after a self-guided tour with her stepmother. It was the most affordable option, and her parents didn’t want her to take out student loans. She experienced a bit of culture shock in her move from Chicago to a rural area three hours away in Terre Haute. She didn’t know anyone at first, but establishing a few lifelong friendships helped make her time in college a positive experience. She made friends through her involvement with MAPS– Mentoring Assistance for Prospective Students at the African American Cultural Center. She also worked at the multicultural center as a student assistant, giving students and visitors information on upcoming events.

Leilani entered ISU as a nursing major but discovered quickly after taking a few classes that it was not for her. She met with her advisor to discuss other major options and determined that kinesiology would open up a lot more career options. Part of the reason she was eventually drawn to OT was her younger brother, who has autism and received OT services when he was younger. “An occupational therapist would come to our house. I didn’t realize at the time what she was there for. I thought she was coming to play with my brother. She worked with him to develop skills that he hadn’t developed or wasn’t at the level of his peers – using play to engage him.”  That early exposure drew her in and solidified OT as a career choice – so she could help children who were like her brother. Towards the end of college, she applied to and was accepted at various master's and doctorate OT programs and selected Midwestern.  

She feels it is incumbent on the occupational therapy profession to educate the public on what OT is. She described OT as looking at the person as a whole. “How can we help this person to do the things that they need to do and want to do in their daily lives – brush your teeth, get dressed, use the restroom. OT also enables them to continue to do the things they are passionate about – gardening, for example. Those things are then incorporated into their individualized therapy sessions.” To her, part of the reason OT is a rewarding career is that it encompasses the whole lifespan – from babies to the end of life. She will be trained in all populations in her OT program, but would like to focus on pediatrics for her career.

Her doctoral program is year-round with a cohort group of 20. Her first year in OT school focused on foundational OT courses and labs with cadavers to learn about anatomy. In addition to classroom learning, her 2nd year has included clinicals starting in February 2026. Clinicals allow the student to get real-world experience, which helps them to understand what working with a specific age group will be like and if it’s a good fit for them. Leilani’s first 12-week placement is with a suburban school district, primarily at an elementary school. She works with a full-time OT who is a Midwestern graduate. Leilani has advanced from a shadow/observation role to running her own therapy sessions. Her days include rewarding and challenging moments, but she enjoys her work and feels like she’s making a difference. Her 2nd 12-week clinical session will be in the fall. Her assignment will be early intervention, engaging with babies in people’s homes. 

Over her last few years in the doctoral program, Leilani and her classmates will work on group research projects and an individual Capstone. Earlier this year, she started a research project in partnership with an adult care center for individuals with dementia.   Their research centered on using virtual reality to impact the patients’ emotional and overall engagement vs. regular activities. There haven’t been a lot of studies done using VR with this population, and early indications are promising for its impact. Her program will culminate with her individual Capstone project write-up and presentation in spring 2027. She is still finalizing the specifics, but anticipates working at a recreation facility in Western DuPage, providing support to individuals with disabilities.

The OT doctorate program is expensive, requiring her to take out student loans and live at home. To help cover the costs, she also accepted an occupational therapy scholarship focused on implementing mental health in school settings. The scholarship requirements include additional coursework (completed) and her agreement to work for two years in a school setting, with 50% of her casework being children with IEPs (individualized education plans). This could include kids with autism, cerebral palsy, or down syndrome diagnoses. She wants to work with children and is on board with providing the OT support and individualized attention these students need to help them participate better at school.

After she graduates, Leilani will begin studying for the National Board of Occupational Therapy exam. Once she passes, she will be eligible to practice as a licensed occupational therapist. As for her career plans, she intends to work in pediatrics. possibly in a school setting. Initially, she plans to move to and work in Dallas to be closer to her significant other. She has a goal of eventually becoming a travel OT to experience different parts of the world by signing short-term work contracts in various locations. Wherever she works, she is confident in her OT career choice. “I like what I am doing, and it is really rewarding to see how, as an OT, I can make a positive impact in people’s lives.”

Leilani shared the following advice from her post-CTK experiences with our current seniors: “Don’t be afraid to take risks, and step out of your comfort zone. That’s what college is for: to learn about yourself and what you might want to do later on. Use that experience as a learning opportunity and be open to different things. You’ll have some successes, but it’s okay to not always do so great or have it all figured out.”

Best of luck to Leilani as she continues to learn, grow, and make an impact on people’s lives.