Miquela Hampton

I attribute my success to really seeing it through in every aspect of my life. I've been able to go to school for 7 years straight without having to retake a class, fully dedicating myself, and now I'm getting ready to reap the benefits in less than a month. But it's not just about academics - I didn't lose myself in this process. My mental health is stable, and yes, I have a therapist. My pastor often says 'Jesus and therapy,' and I believe in it wholeheartedly. I've kept my physical health strong too, with no major health challenges, and I even co-lead a workout group. The biggest thing has been remaining fully devoted to my relationship with God throughout this entire journey. I've learned that nothing fits if that doesn't fit first. Once I make space for that and dedicate time and energy to it, everything else flows from it. I've done this with no expectations of what's supposed to come or what needs to happen - just doing it because that's really my passion, that's really my heart. Seeing every single area of my life through, while staying grounded in my faith, has been my most notable achievement.

One of my really good friends told me, 'Go where your passion is.' I've never regretted a day since I heard it. Initially, I didn't know if I could do occupational therapy all day because it felt like a lot to me emotionally. But when my friend gave me that advice, it changed everything. I followed my passion, and the longer I stayed in this field, the more I realized this is ministry. It's an honor to serve God by serving His people in those very critical, life-changing moments. That advice to go where my passion is has guided every decision I've made in my career path.

One of the biggest challenges I'm facing right now is adapting the didactic coursework to our constantly changing healthcare system. There's a foundation for a reason, and I'm so grateful for all my educational learning and programming, but trying to reapply it when different things are changing - like we don't offer certain things anymore, or we used to do it like this but now we're doing it like that - that's challenging. It's about really taking it out of the classroom and bringing it into a healthcare system that's very transformational. But it's also a beautiful point, a rose and a thorn, because you get to try new things and really see it all come to life. Looking ahead, I'm very aware of clinician burnout and compassion fatigue. The healthcare world shows you a lot, and the needs and demands from the healthcare system are still growing as we learn more about humans and our bodies. I'm taking conscious steps to ensure I stay grounded in my faith and continue therapy, because you never know what kind of day you might have. Being realistic about the kind of person I am and how I care for people, while managing those growing demands, is something I'm very aware of going into the field.

The most important value to me is my relationship with God and my faith. I've learned that nothing fits if that doesn't fit first. Once I make space for that, make room for that, and dedicate time and energy to it, everything else flows from it. I'm Christian by faith, and the more I'm involved in healthcare ministry, the more I realize how much of an honor it is to serve God by serving His people in those very critical, life-changing moments. My faith grounds everything I do. Beyond that, I value staying mentally and physically healthy - I believe in 'Jesus and therapy' as my pastor says, and I'm committed to preventing burnout by staying in therapy and maintaining my wellness. I also deeply value community and being around my people. I love when we go and do things together, and I pour into one-on-ones with people I meet with and want to learn more about. Passion is another core value - I go where my passion is, and I do things because that's really my heart, with no expectations of what's supposed to come. I just do it because it's meaningful to me.