Pursuing My Goals As A Physical Therapist

The field of physical therapy requires the ability to relate to people and the ability to look beyond the patient in order to see the unique individual and their personal needs. This profession aims to restore movement and function, relieve pain, and prevent illness and injury. APTA’s vision for physical therapy “transforming society by optimizing movement to improve the human experience” has a different meaning for every future physical therapist. Personally, this vision means changing society by addressing each patient’s needs differently than the next patient. I can achieve my goals as a physical therapist by striving towards that vision.

To begin my journey as a physical therapist, I volunteered at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center in the Lymphedema/Orthopedic Center. While working with patients and physical therapists, I gained first hand experience in the warm-up exercises for orthopedic patients, as well as wrapping garments for lymphedema patients. More importantly, I gained a better understanding of the patient-physical therapist relationship. . One particular patient that I worked with at the Lymphedema Center had undergone a mastectomy with axillary node resection for her breast cancer, which had led to localized fluid retention in her arms. Full recovery was not expected due to the extensive lymph node resection. However, her willpower and perserverence was inspirational. I had a meaningful experience with that …show more content…
Becoming a physical therapist would be a continuation of pursuing this dream. I have built a strong foundation with my education and volunteer work. I believe I can succeed in the field of physical therapy and become a vital asset to the therapy and rehabilitation community. My motivation and passion for this field will help me achieve what I enjoy