We wanted to have some of our volunteers who are accumulating observation hours in order to get into PT school, write us a piece for our blog describing why they wanted to get into physical therapy. Meet Carlos and Becca! 

When I was about 8 years old, I fractured my right elbow
when my entire body collapsed onto it in a sudden fall. Unfortunately, I was
initially mistreated – causing my right arm to have no range of motion for over
6 months. After exploring other various treatments, I underwent 3 surgeries in
less than a 2 year span and spent many months wearing different types of casts
and braces. I then began my healing process of physical therapy – twice a week
for 3 years. My experience inspired me to become a physical therapist, and
fostered a passion to help others get back on track towards their goals, just
as I had. At Results Physical Therapy, I am working on completing my
observation hours in order to apply for DPT school. Overall, I’ve thoroughly
enjoyed getting to know the Results staff and learning from them. The
professionalism and dedication to achieving each of the patients’ goals is
deeply evident in this clinic and they all inspire me to become the best. I am
so grateful for being welcomed to volunteer at this wonderful environment. It’s
been by far, one of the best clinics I’ve been to! – Carlos 

Like so many pre-physical therapy students, I was introduced to physical therapy from sports injuries. When I was two years old, I fell in love with the professional Irish dancing show, Riverdance. I was entranced with the music, rhythm, and athleticism of the performance and knew that’s what I wanted to do. Dance has given me so many gifts such as competing in the world championships in Ireland and the honor of being one of the top 10 dancers in the western region of the US, but most importantly it introduced me to physical therapy. Along the way I’ve had my fair share of injuries, including muscle tears, ankle sprains, and other chronic injuries. I’ve had the opportunity to work with many amazing physical therapists who helped with my rehabilitation and training. I remember being fascinated with the healing techniques they used and also curious about the various exercises they prescribed. When thinking about what I wanted to study in college, I knew that I would love to learn more about sports medicine and athletic training. I’m currently majoring in Kinesiology with an emphasis in pre-physical therapy, and it’s definitely inspired and transformed my love of physical therapy.

I’ve always been interested in health and wellness, and love to spend my free time learning about the mind, body, and spirit. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been intrigued by healing and movement. When I was little, I distinctly remember going to a chiropractor and truly thought it was magical. Just like physical therapy, one of the leading thoughts in chiropractic treatments is that everything is connected. When I learned that the tightness in my hamstrings was affecting my upper back posture, I was amazed. It’s difficult to put into words, but learning about anatomy and biomechanics is incredibly thrilling to me! I’m super interested in the medical side of health and think it’s so cool that physical therapy students get to take classes such as neuroscience and cardiopulmonary therapeutics. I also love learning about alternative medicine such as acupuncture and yoga and want to understand how movement is healing. I think physical therapy is the perfect blend of holistic health and medicine, as it uses movement as a treatment.

I love that physical therapy directly impacts people’s lives. I want to help people improve their quality of life, decrease pain, and accomplish fitness goals, and I believe it is so fulfilling to help others. In high school, I officially represented my school as a student ambassador captain. As a captain, I mentored younger ambassadors, gave tours to important individuals, and assisted with special events. My most memorable event as an ambassador was the Women’s Symposium, where influential women came to share their stories. I was a hostess for the Healthcare Panel and had the honor of meeting Mother Teresa’s cardiologist, Dr. Patricia Aubanel. Hearing her talk was one of the most beautiful and transformative moments in my life because I saw the gift that can be given as a health professional. She expressed that a life serving others is truly fulfilling and it made me realize why I want to be in the health profession. I love how physical therapy is an active and unpredictable job. On my first day observing in a clinic, I was in awe. The physical therapists were up on their feet performing evaluations, assisting with exercises, and creating an environment of healing. My dream is to be a physical therapist and I truly believe it’s what I’m meant to do. I want to have a positive influence on someone’s life and help them overcome challenges they face.-Becca