I am applying to a Physical Therapy Assistant program (Associate's-level), and a personal statement is required, answering the following questions:
1. Why did you choose to pursue the profession of physical therapy?
2. What are your perceptions of the profession of physical therapy?
3. What are your personal strengths and weaknesses and how do these relate to your ability to be successful in the PTA program? Be specific.
4. What added value do you offer from your life experience, prior education or in relationship to cultural diversity (bilingual, etc)?
5. Online Program applicants only: Incorporate information about your scores on the SmarterMeasure survey including how the results reflect your preparedness for the Online PTA program.
Here is my draft statement:
I have had a passion for helping people to improve their quality of life since I was thirteen years old. I began as a volunteer in a program for children with disabilities, and by the time I reached college, I knew I wanted to continue toward a career helping others. I chose to major in Therapeutic Recreation in order to make a difference in people's lives by improving their physical, psychological and social functioning through activities that are meaningful to them. I was excited to embark on this career path, but unfortunately, I found that the field is under-recognized and job opportunities are few. For the past seven years, I have been helping adolescents improve their quality of life by facing their mental health challenges, but now I am ready to move in a different direction. As a Physical Therapy Assistant, my focus would shift to addressing physical functioning, but with the same ultimate goal of "improv[ing] the human experience" (APTA Vision Statement).
Another common thread among my academic, professional and most of my leisure pursuits is that they all have a strong active component and provide a constant variety of challenges and opportunities for growth. While I am capable of sitting and focusing on documentation or schoolwork, I don't think I would be happy in any career that would keep me tied to a desk all day, or one that would be highly repetitive. In physical therapy, each patient and each day is different and offers new challenges, which is exactly what I want.
As a lifelong athlete and outdoor enthusiast, my first perceptions of physical therapy have come from my experiences as a patient, and those of my peers. As a roller derby player, I have seen many people return to full functioning after disabling injuries with the help of physical therapists, recoveries they would not have been able to achieve on their own. Since I decided to pursue physical therapy as a career, I have gained experience that has broadened my perspective and made me more confident of my decision. I have shadowed with a therapist who works primarily with ballet dancers and other athletes, another who sees mostly middle-aged and older adults for a variety of injuries and disabling conditions, and another who works in the intensive care and neurological units at a major hospital. For some of these patients, simply lifting a limb a few inches or sitting at the edge of their bed is a major victory, while others are preparing to return fully to intense training, but for all, the role of the physical therapist and/or PTA is vital to improving their functioning, and thus, their quality of life.
Though I have been out of school for several years, I was an excellent student throughout my academic career. I have matured further since then, and I am highly motivated to do well in school and make this career change. My SmarterMeasure test results show that I am a strong reader with excellent recall, and I performed above the average on all technical knowledge and competency scores. I am strong in several learning styles, which will serve me well as a student and a PTA. Help seeking and persistence were identified as minor concerns in the assessment. While I prefer to figure things out on my own (and am usually able to do so), I am not afraid to seek help if I need it. My weakness in persistence comes when I get involved in too many activities or projects in my leisure time. I have never been one to give up on something that was really important to me. In fact, I have a goal to hike the entire 2,650 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail in sections, even if it takes many years. While my weakest learning style is Solitary, according to the assessment, I have spent weeks at a time hardly seeing other people during my hikes, and I am quite comfortable being on my own. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Social was identified as my strongest learning style, and even though most coursework will be done away from others, I can use my strength in social learning to contribute and learn from others through online discussions and hands-on experiences.
I believe my prior education and my experience over the past seven years working in a residential psychiatric facility have taught me important things that will allow me to add value to the PTA program and profession. As a student of Therapeutic Recreation, I learned the importance of recreation and leisure in people's lives, and I believe I can bring that value to physical therapy by relating each patient's therapy to something that is important to them, which will improve their motivation to participate in therapy and follow their exercise program. I also minored in Spanish in college, and though I am a bit rusty now, I could resume my studies in order to be able to better communicate with Spanish-speaking patients. In my work with mentally ill clients, I have learned the value of validation and building rapport. When people feel heard and understood, they place more trust in the people caring for them, resulting in greater motivation and stronger outcomes.
For all these reasons, I feel confident that I would make a very good student and Physical Therapy Assistant, and I hope to have the opportunity to study and contribute to the Online Hybrid Physical Therapy Assistant program.
1. Why did you choose to pursue the profession of physical therapy?
2. What are your perceptions of the profession of physical therapy?
3. What are your personal strengths and weaknesses and how do these relate to your ability to be successful in the PTA program? Be specific.
4. What added value do you offer from your life experience, prior education or in relationship to cultural diversity (bilingual, etc)?
5. Online Program applicants only: Incorporate information about your scores on the SmarterMeasure survey including how the results reflect your preparedness for the Online PTA program.
Here is my draft statement:
I have had a passion for helping people to improve their quality of life since I was thirteen years old. I began as a volunteer in a program for children with disabilities, and by the time I reached college, I knew I wanted to continue toward a career helping others. I chose to major in Therapeutic Recreation in order to make a difference in people's lives by improving their physical, psychological and social functioning through activities that are meaningful to them. I was excited to embark on this career path, but unfortunately, I found that the field is under-recognized and job opportunities are few. For the past seven years, I have been helping adolescents improve their quality of life by facing their mental health challenges, but now I am ready to move in a different direction. As a Physical Therapy Assistant, my focus would shift to addressing physical functioning, but with the same ultimate goal of "improv[ing] the human experience" (APTA Vision Statement).
Another common thread among my academic, professional and most of my leisure pursuits is that they all have a strong active component and provide a constant variety of challenges and opportunities for growth. While I am capable of sitting and focusing on documentation or schoolwork, I don't think I would be happy in any career that would keep me tied to a desk all day, or one that would be highly repetitive. In physical therapy, each patient and each day is different and offers new challenges, which is exactly what I want.
As a lifelong athlete and outdoor enthusiast, my first perceptions of physical therapy have come from my experiences as a patient, and those of my peers. As a roller derby player, I have seen many people return to full functioning after disabling injuries with the help of physical therapists, recoveries they would not have been able to achieve on their own. Since I decided to pursue physical therapy as a career, I have gained experience that has broadened my perspective and made me more confident of my decision. I have shadowed with a therapist who works primarily with ballet dancers and other athletes, another who sees mostly middle-aged and older adults for a variety of injuries and disabling conditions, and another who works in the intensive care and neurological units at a major hospital. For some of these patients, simply lifting a limb a few inches or sitting at the edge of their bed is a major victory, while others are preparing to return fully to intense training, but for all, the role of the physical therapist and/or PTA is vital to improving their functioning, and thus, their quality of life.
Though I have been out of school for several years, I was an excellent student throughout my academic career. I have matured further since then, and I am highly motivated to do well in school and make this career change. My SmarterMeasure test results show that I am a strong reader with excellent recall, and I performed above the average on all technical knowledge and competency scores. I am strong in several learning styles, which will serve me well as a student and a PTA. Help seeking and persistence were identified as minor concerns in the assessment. While I prefer to figure things out on my own (and am usually able to do so), I am not afraid to seek help if I need it. My weakness in persistence comes when I get involved in too many activities or projects in my leisure time. I have never been one to give up on something that was really important to me. In fact, I have a goal to hike the entire 2,650 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail in sections, even if it takes many years. While my weakest learning style is Solitary, according to the assessment, I have spent weeks at a time hardly seeing other people during my hikes, and I am quite comfortable being on my own. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Social was identified as my strongest learning style, and even though most coursework will be done away from others, I can use my strength in social learning to contribute and learn from others through online discussions and hands-on experiences.
I believe my prior education and my experience over the past seven years working in a residential psychiatric facility have taught me important things that will allow me to add value to the PTA program and profession. As a student of Therapeutic Recreation, I learned the importance of recreation and leisure in people's lives, and I believe I can bring that value to physical therapy by relating each patient's therapy to something that is important to them, which will improve their motivation to participate in therapy and follow their exercise program. I also minored in Spanish in college, and though I am a bit rusty now, I could resume my studies in order to be able to better communicate with Spanish-speaking patients. In my work with mentally ill clients, I have learned the value of validation and building rapport. When people feel heard and understood, they place more trust in the people caring for them, resulting in greater motivation and stronger outcomes.
For all these reasons, I feel confident that I would make a very good student and Physical Therapy Assistant, and I hope to have the opportunity to study and contribute to the Online Hybrid Physical Therapy Assistant program.
