Sweeta Rasiyan, Class of 2023
Graduate Student
“Penn State prepared me professionally and personally. I’m more comfortable in interviews, giving an elevator pitch, and networking with people I don’t know.”
Sweeta Rasiyan began her college search with a clear career goal in mind: to become a pediatric occupational therapist.
“When researching programs that could help me become an occupational therapist, I came across psychology and saw that I could complete all four years at the Penn State York campus.” In addition to earning the B.S. in psychology, she also received a minor in human development and family studies.
Rasiyan is enrolled in the occupational therapy graduate program at Messiah University in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and can already tell that her undergraduate experience has provided a strong foundation for her master’s degree.
“A lot of the content in my first few classes felt familiar, so I came in with a good understanding of the material that I can build on.”
The research and observation hours required of the master’s program will also build on some of the work Rasiyan began during her time at Penn State York.
“The program at Messiah requires a minimum of forty observation hours. I found out that I can use some of my experience working with professionals in the field toward those observation hours, which gives me a head start toward earning my master’s degree,” she said. Rasiyan had also conducted some psychology research with Penn State York faculty, which provided a good basis for scientific studies.
In addition to the skills she gained specific to her field of interest, Rasiyan gained confidence in public speaking and meeting new people.
“I was part of Lion Ambassadors, Student Government Association, University Programming Board, Multicultural Club, and the Graham Fellows Program for Entrepreneurial Leadership. Being a leader in these groups helped me feel more comfortable asking for help, which was something I struggled with before,” she stated.
“Staying busy makes the college experience more worthwhile,” said Rasiyan. “People come together at all the events because it’s open to everyone at Penn State York, not just the club running it. Sometimes a person you wouldn’t expect to be interested in an event would join in and it created a feeling of family.”
Rasiyan took advantage of many travel opportunities during her time at Penn State York, including a trip to Capital Day in Harrisburg, a women’s leadership conference in Philadelphia, and an alternative spring break trip to Puerto Rico where she volunteered to do disaster relief work and community building efforts.
“I’m looking forward to becoming a pediatric occupational therapist, so I can help kids complete their daily routines independently. Whether they need to work on getting dressed, tying their shoes, or talking with other kids and learning how to be more social, I think this will be a rewarding career for me,” Rasiyan said.
