Map of learning showcase featuring Julia Dayman

Every year, fourth-year therapeutic recreation students showcase their creativity, art and passion in a map of learning assignment that illustrates their learning journey at the University of Lethbridge. Students captured trends within the profession in various ways — by composing a song and playing it on the piano, crocheting a blanket to represent issues in the profession, creating a series of paintings and crafting a Recreational Therapy Cookie recipe.

Julia Dayman created a project using her clothing to reflect the issues and trends that have shaped her learning throughout the class, calling it her TR Closet.

“Anyone who knows me knows that I love clothing, and I always have,” she said. “I have always connected clothing with memories – so I decided to use clothing to represent my journey through the class.”

A big, beautiful dress represented the profession as a whole.

“TR is a dynamic and adaptable field, and the varied fabrics in this dress reflect the diversity and versatility. The dress, like our profession, is multifaceted, impactful and unforgettable.”

A bold outfit with red pants symbolized the risk that recreational therapists may need to take when advocating for the profession.

“The striking red pants represent not only the potential impact of advocacy, but also the caution that must accompany it,” she said.

Dayman loves integrating the bright colours of Brazil into her wardrobe. Sporting a shirt made by a local seamstress in the country she calls home represented the idea of stepping into a client’s shoes for Dayman and reminded her of a quote that impacted her — “A day of work for you might be a life-changing event for your client.”

“I wore this shirt on my first date with my now fiancé; for me, it’s tied to an unforgettable, life-changing memory,” she said. “It serves as a reminder that as recreation therapists, the impact we have can be equally profound.”

She also hopes to continue to integrate her background into the profession.

Dayman’s mother got her interested in therapeutic recreation as a profession. She was working as a physiotherapist in a long-term care home when she mentioned the idea to her daughter. Dayman decided to shadow the recreation therapist in the care home and fell in love with the profession. Her schooling fueled her passion, especially once she started the program at ULethbridge and connected with fellow students.

Dayman envisions her future working within the field of pediatrics, and she hopes to get her master’s in that area. She says recreation therapists bring life to whatever facility they work at. She sees engaging with children as an opportunity to allow them to know their life is not over just because their dream may have been impacted.

“Our job is to show our clients that their life is not over, we may just have to look at things a bit differently,” she said. “Our job is to bring the life back to our clients.”