Physical Therapist Personal Statement

I want to become a physical therapist because good health and mobility is the key to sustaining a happy and independent life as we age. I am a non-traditional student. More than ten years have passed, and I believe that time was necessary. I now exhibit the maturity, patience, and understanding to be successful in this career. I have well-developed communication skills, a desire to acquire new knowledge, a passion for teaching, genuine care for others and perseverance to sustain me through stressful situations. Interest in this field stems from personal experience. Not from an injury, but rather the observation of life. Within that ten years, my health declined. I suffered from chronic headaches, depression, and anxiety that no medication resolved. Proper nutrition and exercise were the solutions to help alleviate my symptoms. I still suffer from migraines, but physical therapy rather than medication improves my quality of life. I understand that physical therapy does not only mean the treatment of significant injuries, such as broken bones but also of the nuances of life such as headaches resulting from stress or tension.

In-patient physical therapists are pulled in many directions. Hospitals are fast-paced environments where decisions are quickly made. I immediately learned the value of a first impression and time management. Physical therapists in hospital settings don't work with a schedule. They see patients on a list and do their best in the short amount of unscheduled time sometimes only seeing patients once during their hospital stay. While I do possess a friendly smile, a genuine attitude of support and care, and an excellent sense of time, I prefer to be able to take my time to see a therapy through from beginning to