My occupational identity

1. Libby’s
Occupational
Identity
Component 1-
part 2

2. Playing Touch
The game of touch rugby has been a very popular sport in my family since I was little. Every member
of my family have been involved in playing touch at some stage in our lives. My mum even played
touch while she was pregnant with me- maybe that’s why I enjoy it so much. I have played for several
years now, playing both competitively and socially. I play any position but usually stick to wing or link. I
love the way the game itself is played and all the different skills each player brings to the game. My
family and I often play games out in the paddock which makes me feel so included and is another
way that I can feel part of the family and get closer to my brothers.

3. Athletics
Athletics was an occupation that I was involved in when I was younger. I used to be involved in an
athletics club called Phoenix which I used to attend for training and competitions on a Saturday at
QE11 stadium- as seen in the picture below. My mum was a very good athlete-still holding records at
her school today which is where people say that my brothers and I got our natural ability from. I
competed for school, Phoenix and Canterbury receiving so many different placing's (medals/ribbons)
it would be hard to remember them all. My main events were 200m, 400m, 800m, 1200m and long
jump but running was probably my strongest event.

4. Playing Netball
The occupation of playing netball
has been a big part of my life for so
many years. I began playing at the
age of 10 (year 6). When I was at
primary school I played for a club
called Springston and when I
attended Villa Maria College, I
played for school. I love playing
competitively and socially as each
game has a different vibe to it. My
main positions are WA, C, WD
(midcourt). When I left school, I
made sure I signed up to any
netball team I could whether it be
social or competitive- I just love the
game. I prefer playing it rather than
watching. With a great occupation
comes with its difficulties and for
netball that was my several injuries.
I really disliked being
injured/standing on the side line
watching my team play, I just
wanted to get back out there as
quickly as I could. I think I will
continue to play Netball in the
future until my body tells me not
too. I think it would be cool to take
my daughter to netball too.

5. Farming
I have grown up on a farm basically my whole life and I have loved every minute of it. I have lived on
the West Coast for 6 years in a very remote area, surrounded by mountains which in my opinion is the
best way to live. We now have a few farms located in north Canterbury which I love helping out on
whenever I can. I think farming has really taught me a lot of new skills that I can use later on in life and
teach my own children. The work is quite physically demanding such as mustering stock, fencing,
tailing but you learn to cope with it. My family continues to teach me new skills which I think has made
me the person I am today. I love to learn new things which can be shown in the picture below of me
shearing my first sheep. Even though I may not take over the family farms- due to me eventually
becoming an OT, I still see myself with some land and teaching my kids what I have learnt. A quote
that sums this up is “you can take the girl out of the country but you cant take the country out of the
girl”.

6. Being a Sister
Having the occupation of being a sister is a big part of who I am as a person. My brothers and I are so
incredibly close and I wouldn't’t swap them for anything in this world. We get along like any normal
siblings do- we have our ups and downs but when it really comes down to it, we are there for each
other 100%. My brothers have almost shaped part of my occupational identity due to me being a bit of
a tomboy and going out and playing touch rugby or going hunting with them.

7. Camping
Camping has been an
occupation that we
have always done as
a family. I remember
as child we went to
several different camp
sites with our good
family friends- lake
brunner, gore bay,
harvey bay etc. We
had the big tent (as
seen in the picture)
where all of us could
sleep in. We would
always have fruit loops
for breakfast when we
went camping- it was
our camping
treat/tradition. I don’t
get to do this
occupation as much
but I do miss it. It is an
occupation that I want
to continue to do in
the future- whenever
the weather is nice.

8. Hanging out with
friends
This is an occupation that I have done all my life and will continue to do as I am a very social person
and enjoy peoples company. I have a wee network of friends back home and have made new ones
since moving to Dunedin to study. As friends we get along so well and are there for each other all the
time. It is fun going out and doing things together- eg going for walks, movie nights and shopping as it
means you get to know them that bit more and brings your closer as a group of friends. I think your
friend group makes you who you are and continues to want only the best for you which is evident in
my friendship with the girls in this picture.

9. Watersports
This occupation has been a part of my life for a wee while now and I will continue to engage in it in
the future. I love going on the biscuit, boogie boarding, snorkeling and driving the boat. Because I like
to try new things I will continue to find other water sport occupations to be involved in, in the future-
for example water skiing, knee boarding, wake boarding, surfing. My family have always been
involved in water skiing whenever we go to the bach or camping so I have the knowledge and skills
around me for them to teach me new watersport occupations.

10. An Animal Lover
I have loved animals ever
since I was little. I have a
numerous amount of pets
through being off a farm- for
example lambs, calves, cats,
dogs etc. Through having pets
in my life it enabled me to
take more responsibility of
looking after them which gave
me a role to form my identity
in a way.

11. Student
Studying at Otago
Polytech has given my
the occupational
identity of a student.
Studying OT is continuing
to teach me knew skills
and teaching me new
things about myself as a
person/student. I have
been a student for
majority of my life by
attending Springston
school, Maruia School,
Villa Maria College and
now Otago Polytech.
Learning new things at
each of these places
has definitely made me
who I am today and I will
continue to grow in my
occupational identity of
a qualified OT.