This is a rough draft for my application essay to PT school. Any and all advice that can be given which would make the essay stronger is greatly appreciated.
"Describe your decision making process in choosing physical therapy as a career choice versus other health care careers."
In the spring of 2007 my grandfather passed away from Kennedy's Disease, a neuromuscular disease that causes muscular degeneration in aging adults. His battle with the disease resulted in the slow deterioration of his ability to walk and the decline of his capacity to perform functional tasks of everyday life. My most cherished memories of him are the times the two of us searched for golf balls by digging through the bushes that lined the barrier between my grandparent's yard and the golf course they lived on. I remember watching him scour the bushes and removing the treasure hidden within. It was like watching a skilled surgeon perform an appendectomy. Unfortunately, this enjoyable endeavor came to stop as the disease spread through his lower extremities, and the inevitable loss of his ability to walk up the pathway to the edge of the golf course. Despite the fact my grandfather was able to move around on his scooter, the loss of his ability to move independently caused him more pain and heart ache then the disease itself. Watching such an import person in my life struggle with little things like getting into his house and getting out of a chair was extremely difficult.
Although my grandfather's Kennedy's Disease slowly took his ability to execute basic motor skills, one avenue which was available for him to resist the muscular deterioration was physical therapy. I had the opportunity to observe some of my Grandfather's physical therapy sessions before he passed. It was extremely inspiring to watch his in-home physical therapist work with him in an effort to maintain his independence. Seeing the satisfaction on his face when he completed small activities that the majority of the population take for granted, sparked my desire to become a physical therapist.
The desire to become a physical therapist that arose in my early years of high school as a result of watching my grandfather's struggles has remained strong since its inception. The drive to become a physical therapist pushed me to do my best in high school and college which is evident by accolades I received in high school and the honors I have received in college including the Susan Stout Scholarship, nomination to become a student Marshal, and membership of multiple Honors Societies. I took that drive and applied to my career as a collegiate student-athlete studying Kinesiology with a concentration in Sports Medicine. As a student-athlete I was able get an extremely in depth look at the duties and responsibilities of an athletic trainer; a career which peaked my interest for a short period of time. Upon completion of my first year of school I decided that I would rather be the individual helping the athlete, child, senior citizen regain their functional capacity through physical therapy, than be an athletic trainer referring them to more qualified professionals. It was also then, as a result of a few bad decisions, my career as a student-athlete ended, which incited a fervent rededicated to my studies and academic success.
My time spent as an upper level athlete geared my interest in physical therapy towards the sports medicine and the rehabilitation of sports injuries. I have always pictured myself working with athletes as they strove to return to play. Through my time volunteering with a physical therapist working in the public school system, my interest in sports rehabilitation has been somewhat overtaken by an interest in pediatric physical therapy , specifically long term therapy of child with debilitating genetic disorders rather than therapy of acute injuries. I have had the privilege of working with several children struggling with the physical disabilities from genetic disorders, and have been inspired by the desire these children have to overcome their disabilities.
While I have not suffered from any debilitating disease, I understand what it is like to overcome obstacles. Since my rededication to education at the end of my first year in college, life has presented me with several substantial hurtles; all of which I have hit at full stride. The largest of these hurtles, which I am still facing, is the recent birth of my son. When I received the joyous news of his future arrival, I was faced with the hefty decision of quitting school and going to work full time to support my new family or to push forward and work part time while staying at school. I resolved to choose the latter, and unlike typical students, I will be completing my undergraduate degree in three years rather than four. Completing my undergraduate education in this period of time has been an arduous experience, but an extremely rewarding one. My experience overcoming obstacles and the drive I have had in school and all other aspects of my life are some of the traits I wish to pass on to my patients someday.
"Describe your decision making process in choosing physical therapy as a career choice versus other health care careers."
In the spring of 2007 my grandfather passed away from Kennedy's Disease, a neuromuscular disease that causes muscular degeneration in aging adults. His battle with the disease resulted in the slow deterioration of his ability to walk and the decline of his capacity to perform functional tasks of everyday life. My most cherished memories of him are the times the two of us searched for golf balls by digging through the bushes that lined the barrier between my grandparent's yard and the golf course they lived on. I remember watching him scour the bushes and removing the treasure hidden within. It was like watching a skilled surgeon perform an appendectomy. Unfortunately, this enjoyable endeavor came to stop as the disease spread through his lower extremities, and the inevitable loss of his ability to walk up the pathway to the edge of the golf course. Despite the fact my grandfather was able to move around on his scooter, the loss of his ability to move independently caused him more pain and heart ache then the disease itself. Watching such an import person in my life struggle with little things like getting into his house and getting out of a chair was extremely difficult.
Although my grandfather's Kennedy's Disease slowly took his ability to execute basic motor skills, one avenue which was available for him to resist the muscular deterioration was physical therapy. I had the opportunity to observe some of my Grandfather's physical therapy sessions before he passed. It was extremely inspiring to watch his in-home physical therapist work with him in an effort to maintain his independence. Seeing the satisfaction on his face when he completed small activities that the majority of the population take for granted, sparked my desire to become a physical therapist.
The desire to become a physical therapist that arose in my early years of high school as a result of watching my grandfather's struggles has remained strong since its inception. The drive to become a physical therapist pushed me to do my best in high school and college which is evident by accolades I received in high school and the honors I have received in college including the Susan Stout Scholarship, nomination to become a student Marshal, and membership of multiple Honors Societies. I took that drive and applied to my career as a collegiate student-athlete studying Kinesiology with a concentration in Sports Medicine. As a student-athlete I was able get an extremely in depth look at the duties and responsibilities of an athletic trainer; a career which peaked my interest for a short period of time. Upon completion of my first year of school I decided that I would rather be the individual helping the athlete, child, senior citizen regain their functional capacity through physical therapy, than be an athletic trainer referring them to more qualified professionals. It was also then, as a result of a few bad decisions, my career as a student-athlete ended, which incited a fervent rededicated to my studies and academic success.
My time spent as an upper level athlete geared my interest in physical therapy towards the sports medicine and the rehabilitation of sports injuries. I have always pictured myself working with athletes as they strove to return to play. Through my time volunteering with a physical therapist working in the public school system, my interest in sports rehabilitation has been somewhat overtaken by an interest in pediatric physical therapy , specifically long term therapy of child with debilitating genetic disorders rather than therapy of acute injuries. I have had the privilege of working with several children struggling with the physical disabilities from genetic disorders, and have been inspired by the desire these children have to overcome their disabilities.
While I have not suffered from any debilitating disease, I understand what it is like to overcome obstacles. Since my rededication to education at the end of my first year in college, life has presented me with several substantial hurtles; all of which I have hit at full stride. The largest of these hurtles, which I am still facing, is the recent birth of my son. When I received the joyous news of his future arrival, I was faced with the hefty decision of quitting school and going to work full time to support my new family or to push forward and work part time while staying at school. I resolved to choose the latter, and unlike typical students, I will be completing my undergraduate degree in three years rather than four. Completing my undergraduate education in this period of time has been an arduous experience, but an extremely rewarding one. My experience overcoming obstacles and the drive I have had in school and all other aspects of my life are some of the traits I wish to pass on to my patients someday.
