“Knowing who I am and knowing my purpose in life is a piece of knowledge I will take with me and keep with me forever once I leave,” said Perley.

She became a mentor to a sophomore in the OT program this past year.

Watching her grow and create a bond with someone who was in her shoes just two years earlier is something she said she cherish for years to come.

After discovering that her grandmother was diagnosed with brain cancer, the support and love that her professors gave her was unmatched, she adds.

Perley said the support and experience that her professors gave her has given her the confidence to make a positive difference in the OT field right away.

“The occupational therapy program is a little family that I am truly blessed to be a part of,” said Perley.

She also has participated in events, such as QTHON, which has raised more than than $1 million for the Connecticut Children's Medical Center over the past decade.

“Seeing that I was making an impact in kids' lives who needs the support and encouragement was such a rewarding feeling,” said Perley. “The smiles on their faces will forever be imprinted in my memory and I already wish I could go back in time and relive that day again."

She said she appreciates the life-long relationships she has formed throughout the university.

“We are such a tight knit group full of intelligent and beautiful people who will make an impact on the world in one way or another," she said.