Graduate / 'Rewarding experience' - My dream of Becoming a Physical Therapist [3]

"Which personal characteristics and motivating factors have led you to pursue the profession of physical therapy?"
Please provide feedback as to effectiveness, grammar, overall feelings of my essay! This is my first time applying.

Medicine and helping people have always been my passion. Even as a young kid I was fascinated by cuts, bruises, and the like. When I was about six years old my mother cut her thumb nearly completely off and I was standing right there demanding to see it. I do not know many kids who would want to see that and I knew early on that I wasn't squeamish about those sorts of things. So naturally, when deciding which career path I wanted to take, I chose a medical based field. I decided to pursue an animal science degree so that I may choose upon graduation whether I'd want to work with people or animals. I decided after I graduated that I really wanted to work one on one with people since I am a people person. That is when I began thinking about physical therapy as a profession.

I was twelve years old when I was first exposed to physical therapy. My grandmother had moved in with us and had undergone invasive neck surgery due to a genetic disorder called Neurofibromatosis. After surgery, my grandmother needed to learn how to walk again. She had been participating in weekly physical therapy regimens to regain normal functioning. Physical therapists would come to the house to work on her. I was very fascinated by the therapists and would sit at the end of her bed and watch as they carefully explained each exercise. I watched as grandma performed her routines, encouraging her to do as many reps as she could. After many months of both my father and therapists working with her, she was making laps around the house with her walker. To the disbelief of her doctor and medical staff, we got her walking again! It was an amazing feeling knowing I played a part in her rehabilitation. It was then that I got my first glimpse into what a career in physical therapy might be like.

Several years after grandma passed, my aunt became debilitated by the same disease. First her arms became weak, then her legs. She underwent surgery on her neck and entered rehab shortly after. She had to learn how to feed herself and perform her daily routine. Unfortunately, the disease progressed very rapidly and she could only move her arms and right thumb well. It was heartbreaking seeing her in that condition. I wondered why physical therapy wasn't doing anything for her. I later realized that she couldn't afford the best medical care. My aunt did not have a lot of time left and the use of her hands would have greatly improved her last few years. After seeing my aunt suffer, I knew I wanted to take an active role in helping others like her.

After graduating college, I took an active role in physical therapy by shadowing at an outpatient clinic that treated a wide variety of injuries. I examined a diversity of patients with varying ethnicities and backgrounds. I saw firsthand the challenges in treating patients with complicated diseases as well. For instance, an elderly woman with Alzheimer's disease came in to work on balance and muscle weakness in her legs. She only spoke Spanish and was not very aware of what was going on around her. It was difficult working with the patient as she could not comprehend what we were doing. This experience reaffirmed that a dedication to the field requires working with patients under all different circumstances.

My experiences shadowing have been extremely rewarding, which is confirmation that this is the perfect career for me. I met many patients who told me that I would make a great physical therapist based on my interpersonal skills, outgoing personality, compassion, and knowledge within the medical field. One patient even went so far as to say that if I was going to be at the clinic again, so would she! It is moments like that that make me realize my importance within the field. I am dedicating my life to a career that is fulfilling and I will do whatever it takes to make my dreams come true. It is with this passion for helping people that I am applying for this physical therapy program and I look forward to the opportunity to succeed in attaining my life's goals.