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Journey to Becoming a Physical Therapist: Setting the Stage

Photo by David von Diemar on Unsplash


Becoming a physical therapist is a long and unwinding road. But, if it is your passion and dream, the journey could be fun and exciting. 

So let me share my story of becoming a physical therapist which started almost 15 years ago.

When you reach your senior year, sharing your plans (ie. College) is mandatory. Your parents, friends, and teachers would ask you the dreading question "What course would you like to take in college?", "what school are you going to apply for?", what plans do you have after graduation?"



Back then I considered myself a happy-go-lucky child, who just goes with the flow with whatever is happening around me. So, when I was called at the guidance office for career counseling my only answer was, I'm not sure which school to go to but I am considering a pre-med course to take so I can eventually be a doctor. My counselor gave me a few lists of courses and schools that I could consider, and I went out of the office questioning myself and my future.

I didn't really know that preparations for college must start early-basically before the senior year. After that encounter, I started asking my friends about their plans. But just like me, they weren't so sure of it too.

So, I tried asking my mom about my options and asked for her advice on what course should I decide to take, she simply said if I want to take up medicine, I should pick a pre-med course that could possibly be my fallback in case I didn't want to continue. 

A few weeks after that, my friends started their applications and were already preparing for entrance exams and interviews. Unfortunately, my circle of friends was so into math and calculus that they have all decided to take an engineering course, I on the other hand have simply decided I want to help other people in whatever means I can and so I still pushed through with an allied health course. 

I got an application form from the two schools I am planning to go to. I have also narrowed down the courses into four, which are as follows:

1. Nursing

2. Physical Therapy

3. Medical Technology

4. Pharmacy

I did a little pros and cons table of these courses based on my searches and some basic knowledge so I could arrive at the best course I would like to take. 

Until one day, I could vividly remember, I sat in our living room with my parents while filling up the application forms that I have, with one question in my mind "What should be my first choice?". Right at that moment, my parents gave me the assurance that I can choose whichever I like, taking off the pressure from my decision. These are noble professions after all and it is all up to me. 

I remembered I only had one goal and motivation in my decision and that is to be of service to other people and to help them in any way that I can. My first choice was physical therapy because I have discovered that the profession entails one-on-one sessions with patients while helping them in their recovery. I also had a little information that it does not require graveyard shifts and usually has an office hour schedule in the clinics. In a way, the physical therapist goes on with their lives in a bubble and that kind of fascinated me. 

So, if there is anything that you may take away from this story, is to ask yourself - why? What is the purpose you want to live in the future? There is no wrong answer to this because only you will know what is right for you. And with this way, you can use it as your daily motivation and drive to keep on pushing and keep on going despite the challenges that you might be facing.

The decision process I had was a set up for me to prepare for what is to come ahead. It was not an easy decision because my future depends on it. But now I can say that it goes the same for the journey of becoming a physical therapist. It is not easy. It takes time and it requires a conscious effort to make it. But if you do find and know the purpose you want to live, you will do your best to endure and fight to reach your destination. 

I don't want to end my story with you thinking that it is a challenging path because it is actually fun, I believe difficulties are all part of the process to test our faith and desire to achieve our goals. All I want to say is, through years of experience being a student and a teacher I have learned that it is a mountain to climb to achieve the dream of being a physical therapist, there are no shortcuts, but there are better ways to go through it, so just enjoy it because I know it will be worth it. 







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