Interest in Physical Therapy

Why am I interested in physical therapy?

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I first became interested in physical therapy when I went to a physical therapist my senior year of high school. I had sprained my ankle pretty bad in one of my soccer games and after a few weeks of thinking it would heal itself, I finally gave in, went to a doctor, and was referred to a physical therapist. The PT and I worked together to figure out how I could speed up my recovery as much as possible. It was my senior soccer season after all and I wanted nothing more than to get back on the field. After visiting the PT only a few times, I was able to finish out my last soccer season on a healthy ankle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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As I reflect on that time, I really appreciate the collaboration between the therapist and myself, the patient. This was one aspect that really drew me to physical therapy as a career path. I like the idea of having a creative, consistent, and hands-on approach when helping my patients better themselves and their health as they seek treatment. Working together with someone in order to reach a particular goal of theirs is something I have developed a great passion for over the past four years. While at IUPUI, I have been a PLTL leader for General Chemistry II, as well as an ePortfolio Studio Consultant. Both of these positions let me work alongside students as they pursue a goal, whether that be a specific grade in chemistry or polishing up their ePortfolio projects. As I spend time working with students to reach their goals, I am constantly reminded that I am pursuing a career that will challenge me and leave me fulfilled at the end of each day.

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How do my experiences inside and outside the classroom prepare me?

 

Academically, I have performed well during my time at IUPUI. I am capable of managing my time well and efficiently studying for rigorous coursework, so I feel prepared and ready to take on the challenges that come with the DPT program I attend. I have gotten a small taste of what is to come in the graduate program through the anatomy and physiology courses I have taken as prerequisites. Both these courses provide a heavy workload and fast-paced timeline, something to expect as I continue on to a DPT program in the next year. With these courses, I was able to better understand topics that came up while I shadowed Dr. Brad Penning, DPT. If he referenced a muscle or tendon, I would be able to locate it and have a better idea of what its main function was to start thinking about what the problem might be and how it could be treated. Of course, I have little to no clinical experience right now, but the courses I was taking prepared me to start thinking like a physical therapist and engage more in my shadowing. This allowed me to take away a lot more from the experience than just simply observing.

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Outside the classroom in my role as a PLTL leader and in my job as an ePortfolio Ambassador, I am improving the interpersonal skills that are so crucial as a healthcare provider. I help students from all different backgrounds, just as I will treat patients from all different backgrounds as a PT. My experience interacting and helping these students have given me a level of understanding as to what effective communication looks like. In both my roles on campus, one important skill I have learned is how to help a student when they cannot quite find the words to explain how they need help. If a student in my PLTL group just does not understand a chemistry topic and does not even know where to begin to ask for help, it is important to start from the beginning and start asking probing type questions to see where the lapse in understanding is coming from. I feel like a similar process is needed as a physical therapist; sometimes a patient may know they are hurting but cannot effectively describe the pain or know exactly where it is coming from, so it would be my job as the PT to troubleshoot and pinpoint where it is that needs treatment. Overall, I feel as though I have had many experiences outside of pure academics that have helped prepare me for a career in physical therapy.

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What skills do I have and what skills do I need to succeed in this field?

 

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