My PT notes

Hello there!

I'm not sure if I should introduce myself, but in case you don't know my name is Louise. I am a licensed physical therapist in the Philippines. But on the internet world I am just another aspiring writer and content creator- well sort of? 

I guess I should start on why I am writing here today.

I have to take you back to my childhood years where teachers, parents and even relatives would always ask an innocent child on "what do you want to be when you grow up?". Back then I'll always have a generic answer of I want to be a doctor, even though all I knew about them is they wear white jacket and a stethoscope around their neck, asking a patient to inhale and exhale.

But as I grew up I was exposed to the medical world through my mother who is a midwife. We do not have baby sitter, so if no one is available to take care of me and my brother, our mom would usually bring us to work at let us stay in the nursing station, at the locker room, at the delivery room or at the recovery room of the operating room complex. Basically, since I was "behave", I could just sit in the corner and watch the professionals do their thing. 

That was the realest experience I can get to see real babies get delivered with loud cries and heard pregnant mother's screams. So I guess I have a real life exposure than those who have watched tv shows on the lives of doctors, nurses and other medical professionals. Which made me believe that someday I'm going to be like them.

Fast forward to teenage years, senior year in high school and everyone was preparing for college entrance exams and deciding on which school to go and what course to take. At that point, I didn't really have time for preparation as I am somehow 50% decided to go to DLSHSI, because of scholarship. Though one thing I didn't realize was that I have to choose the right pre-med course for me. 

The decision making just came down between Nursing and Physical Therapy for my first choice. And maybe a factor for consideration was that I wanted to be different, cause most of my batch mates were taking nursing and so I decided to choose PT. All this decision was also made with the help of few stories from my parents, and a little search on our slow dial-up internet. But I was completely clueless for what is to come. But I was definitely excited for the journey. 

Since the day that I have made a decision, the journey has been amazing. And although it is not completely smooth, the roller coaster ride was fun and exciting. I don't know if I can survive if I have to do it again, but I would like to cherish to moments that made me who I am now.

And so I would like to continue my story by saying that. I did not become a doctor. Almost 9 years after I passed my licensure examination, I am still a loud and proud physical therapist. 

I have experienced the journey of being a student, the hardships of trying to keep a passing grade, the struggles of completing our thesis, the chances of meeting patients and feeling the separation anxiety. I went through sleepless nights of reviewing for board exam and eventually making it. I was shocked to be introduced to the real world. The struggle of finding a job, staying in the job, working for a small salary, to look for better opportunities. For the past 8 years, I also had to experience being on the other side of the coin as a clinical instructor and a college professor. And also pursuing specializations and interest to improve practice. And maybe, if opportunities and resources come my way, I can still be a doctor of physical therapy.

Basically, I want to say that I have learned a lot from my experiences. The memories were priceless and hardships were worth it. And I feel like one story is not enough to share it other aspiring PTs, or to my fellow PTs and even to my patients.

So I would like to open up this little world of mine. Put words into my thoughts and memories and share tips and advice to those that might need help.

Through this.

My PT notes.