Graduate / How will you embody this vision as a future physical therapist? Physical therapy graduate school. [8]

APTA's vision for physical therapy is "transforming society by optimizing movement to improve the human experience." How will you embody this vision as a future physical therapist?

In my experience, it is clear that everyone is affected by what happens within their body. I can recall debating with friends the idea that physical therapy is one of the most universal practices, in the sense that it affects everyone in some way. I firmly believe that whether you're a professional athlete or someone working a day to day desk job; your performance is only as adequate as your body's health. Unfortunately, there is a large proportion of our society that does not understand the importance of movement to our physical and mental health. It has become the standard in America and throughout much of the world to accept any physical dysfunction as normal and uncontrollable. I believe it will be my duty as a physical therapist to change this paradigm that injury and dysfunction are unavoidable and indefinite. I have come to understand the effects of injury and pain through my personal experiences as an athlete, full time student, and physical therapy aide. These experiences have taught me how well-bring improves when injuries are addressed, rather than ignored and allowed to control your life. The knowledge I've gained from therapists, schooling and work experience has taught me valuable information about the human body, which I will continue to use to use in my future career as a physical therapist.

In order to demonstrate how I will illicit these changes in society as a physical therapist, I need to first discuss the experiences that have driven me toward the field of physical therapy. My first physical therapy experience came about due to some knee pain I had been having as a fifth grade catcher for my local baseball team. I cannot honestly say that this experience was all positive. As most people know, physical therapy is often a painful and arduous process. The deep tissue massage and exercises were difficult to bare, but the progress and encouragement from the physical therapist were what really drove me. There is no better feeling in the world than knowing that you have worked through hard times and come out with a positive result. This is what has continuously drawn me towards the field of physical therapy. As a physical therapist I will be in a position to encourage others to reach their movement goals as I have done.

During college, peers knew I was on track to become a PT and often asked questions regarding pain they've experienced. As frustrating as it was to not possess the specific applied knowledge at this stage in my education, this experience drove me to learn even more so that I could help others. My brother reiceived his DPT during the time I was working towards my undergraduate degree in Kinesiology, and I found myself discussing many ideas with him. He has helped me with many injuries and has been a great influence on how to work hard and treat people with respect to improve the quality of life for patients. Another role model I've learned from is Doctor of Physical Therapy Kelly Starrett, who is best known for using his techniques in self mobilization to help populations from NFL players to desk workers. Recently I was able to set up meetings with Dr. Starrett in order to expand my knowledge in the field and address my own injuries.

As a physical therapy aide I found a feeling of accomplishment every day as I helped people with their exercise and mobility programs. It was rewarding to hear patients talk about their improvement throughout the program with the exercises that I was showing them. This directly demonstrated the impact that I was having on other human beings on their road to recovery. Witnessing people's moods and lives shift in a positive direction as a product of addressing their physical limitations, inspired me to work hard every day. I felt as though I was directly making someone's life better by improving their movement, which allowed them to return to their job, perform their favorite athletic activity, or return to playing with their children.

There are many activities that bring joy into my life including climbing, running, and cycling. These pursuits give me a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, but they do not complete me as a person. There is a deeply engrained desire to give back to the world that has been instilled in me through my experience as a student, observer, and physical therapy aide. Many of these experiences taught me that getting people to move is one of the most important aspects of health. The need for movement has never been greater in our society, and we need people to step up and help inspire others to live healthy lives. I strongly believe that physical therapy is the conduit through which I will improve movement and therefore the lives of those around me in the future.