Today we’d like to introduce you to Meghan Brewster.
Hi Meghan, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
It all started when my parents put me in dance classes at three years old in Madison, AL at The Dance Company Inc! That is where I did my dance training and had so many amazing opportunities and teachers that pushed me and shaped me into who I am today. I loved helping the younger classes and thought I wanted to be an elementary school teacher when I grew up! I also was on the Dance Line at my high school where I performed at football games. When auditioning my senior year, the judges mentioned I should dance in college, which I had not given much thought to. Then came the tough decision of majoring in dance and studying it, or doing a dance team. I chose to major in dance at the University of Alabama, which was a tough decision considering my dad went to the University of Tennessee for a year and my brother was at Auburn University (those familiar with the SEC understand). At Alabama, I started out as dance and “undecided” since I was not sure what I wanted to double major in. I knew I loved dance and it was something I was good at, but not something I wanted to do professionally. I began volunteering with a dance major who taught a dance class for kids with disabilities. During my dance studies, I was exposed to dance therapy, which I loved the idea of, so I picked up a psychology major. Still not sure, I then took a semester to work for Walt Disney World in their college program. Well, that didn’t last long since that was the beginning of 2020. I was sent home and spent a summer working at Freddy’s Steakburger and Custard and catching up taking online classes. Back on campus in the fall, I started dating the boy I had put in the “friend zone” the year before, Ben. Sadly, he did graduate/transfer that semester (long story) to The Ohio State University to finish his finance degree. But we were crazy and up for long-distance love.
Finally, in the second semester of junior year, I was told about occupational therapy (OT). I was so amazed! It combines everything I was passionate about and loved into a career. Studying dance is to study movement, and OTs break down tasks you take for granted, life’s dance, into steps that are achievable or offer ways and equipment to accommodate. I decided OT is what I wanted to pursue, so then I was taking prerequisite courses such as anatomy and physiology as a senior, and dove into any opportunities to work with the disability population, mostly which came from the dance department. I fell in love with teaching dance to kids and adults with or without disabilities. Then came time for the next step, I graduated and decided to move closer to Ben in Columbus, OH for my gap year.
In Columbus, I had the amazing opportunity to teach adaptive dance classes at Dublin Dance Centre, along with other dance classes, and work as a therapy aide at a physical therapy clinic while applying to OT programs. Not to mention also dancing for Columbus Modern Dance Company! The Ohio State University was at the top of my list, and I got in and accepted!! I then took on the role of directing the adaptive dance program and began my OT program. It was a lot to take on, but it was full of things I loved. I began programming adaptive dance outreach with the studio, helped train high school interns, and educated other staff on ways to adapt the dance classroom and movement for other populations. Ben popped the big question on one knee and I said yes! He was offered a great job opportunity in Cleveland, and took it! More long-distance love (temporarily).
Fast-forward to now, Ben and I are married and reside in Cleveland together. I am doing my occupational therapy fieldwork through OSU in Cleveland in the school system, and then in an acute care hospital setting. I just moved to the area in January! I was also connected with DancingWheels through an Alabama connection. DancingWheels is a physically integrated dance company and school. I spend my Saturdays there helping out and learning more about physically integrated dance. Learning how to be a “sit-down dancer” in a wheelchair is more challenging than I was expecting. I will do my Capstone with them, where I will do community programming and other things to be determined. It is so beautiful to see the community they have at DancingWheels. Adapted sports are so beneficial and I absolutely love combining my knowledge of movement, task analysis, assistive technology, and modifications aka the “book knowledge” from my OT brain with my extensive dance background, training and the “artist” part of my brain. It is a special skill I would like to do more of in the future.
I would literally not be where I am today without the support of my parents to help me chase my dreams across the country, and Ben for being the reason I am live in Ohio.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been a tough road. Luckily, I have a great support system with my parents, in-laws, and my husband (and our cat). It was really tough to balance everything I was doing with school and work with being in a long-distance relationship (and planning an out-of-state wedding). The biggest struggle was honestly my health. I have a long history of stomach issues — being diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome, which is kind of a catch-all. There were several times in undergrad I spent throwing up or crying on the toilet, but still made it to my dance classes and other commitments. I would have lower abdominal pains frequently. When Ben flew into Birmingham, AL for my college graduation, I was in the airport bathroom throwing up in pain when I was picking him up. After lots of convincing, I finally went to urgent care the next day, then sent to the ER for a CT scan. It ended up being an ovarian cyst, the worst pain I have ever experienced! I missed the dance major senior brunch the next day. I then continued to have pains on and off cyclically with really bad nauseating menstrual cycles. I finally sought out a gynecologist, did a year in pelvic PT, and then finally decided to get more answers because I was still in so much pain, had bowel issues, and was fatigued.
I finally decided to have endometriosis laparoscopic surgery last year, which is needed to officially diagnose it. My mom flew in to help take care of me. Honestly, recovery was awful. I also did this about 3 months before our wedding. I felt horrible off and on for months. I was so nervous about our wedding and my OT fieldwork placements. Thankfully, I was feeling a lot better for the wedding and honeymoon! I was just so happy and relieved to finally have the endometriosis diagnosis after being brushed off by doctors for years. It is something that will have to be managed.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
This is a hard question to answer, because I am just getting started! I am currently in school for occupational therapy. I do not know what area I really want to go into but I am enjoying the neurodivergent population, working with kids with autism or with older adults with cognitive deficits. I love learning about assistive technologies. I also love teaching and helping with adaptive dance. The benefits of moving to music are real! Combining functional and fun exercises with the social piece and music benefits everyone.
I am most proud of my work with adaptive dance. I am able to combine my healthcare OT knowledge with my extensive dance background.
I am definitely known to strike up a conversation with most people. I love hearing other people’s stories or lives. As my friends say I was “born to yap”.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I think of success as creating a life that brings you joy. For me, success is not something defined by monetary value or materialistic things. It can also be considered as fluid. For now, I feel successful in my OT fieldwork and studies. Then, I will move on to be an OT and hopefully dance teacher. Then, hopefully, start a family. So for now, being with my husband and both of us striving to work hard in the beginning of our careers is a success. Long-term, success may look like having our friends and their kids over at our house while we sit by a fire pit. A specific dream job may not be what it is cut out to be. Success does not have to be defined by a career achievement or a job, although it can be if that is fulfilling.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @meggymovess
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghan-alkire
- Other: meghanbrewster24@gmail.com
Image Credits
Katy Weske Photography Krista Suzanne Photography
