Becoming A Physical Therapy Student

Physical therapy is my calling because it relies on two of my deepest passions: health and serving others. Becoming a PT would give me the power to help others become improve their health by helping them become more physically independent. However, I believe, in the words of comic book writer Stan Lee, “With great power comes great responsibility.” Becoming PT gives you authority over your patients, which you cannot take lightly. Having a strong sense of professionalism is a way to balance the power you have and the responsibility it brings. Professionalism has many components in the context of being a doctor of physical therapy student. The combination of the following attributes makes an individual, such as myself, a great candidate for a PT program.

It is imperative for a PT student to communicate clearly. When you are working with a patient, I believe one should explain every step of the therapy process to that patient and explain therapy activities clearly to avoid confusion. A PT must be able to answer a patient’s questions in a way the she is able to understand. When I work with a patient, especially the first time, I make a point to greet the patient and introduce myself. I then explain her treatment progression and …show more content…
Working with people with disabilities has demonstrated to me it is vital to see patients as individuals. People are more than just their diagnoses, and a PT must be able to empathize with what each patient is facing. Additionally, a great PT student needs to understand her experience in a clinic is not for her own comfort; it is about the patients'. When I worked with disabled patients, sometimes I wanted to avoid a certain patient because I knew I would not be able to help that patient improve and become more functional. Yet, I always held the sentiment that my volunteer experience is not about me, and even passively stretching a patient can make him feel more