Emily, a 2011 Bethany graduate, is working toward her doctorate in physical therapy at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU • • • Working in the medical field gives me the opportunity and the responsibility to be a lifelong student. I am able to research the latest treatments and rehab equipment in order to stay ahead of my field and give the best treatment to my patients. I also get the opportunity to help clients/patients work toward and accomplish their mobility goals. I love to move and be active and helping others get back to functional movement or a healthier way of life will be so rewarding.
HOW YOU WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE • • • I’m hoping to use my degree and expertise in health and wellness as a way to get involved with health promotion. The biggest tool we have for treating disease is prevention, and the best way to help people prevent a disease is to promote healthy living. People need to know that they are in control of their own health, and there are manageable ways of achieving a healthier lifestyle.
HOW BETHANY HAS PREPARED YOU • • • Attending a different college for the first time was a little bit of a shock. It was an adjustment to integrate into a bigger school system (I actually have to KNOW my student ID number?). However, I felt right in stride with the challenging curriculum I was facing, and in some cases ahead of the curve. For example, in one of my lab classes we were taking a patient’s blood pressure. Thanks to one of my Bethany classes (exercise testing), I had taken blood pressure many times. I was one of only three students in a class of 50 who knew how to do it, and I felt confident with my accuracy. All of the classes I took at Bethany have been incredibly relevant to my program. I frequently use books from my undergrad as reference for my graduate classes.
WHAT YOU REMEMBER MOST • • • What I miss the most about Bethany are the memories and great times I had during class. There was an intimacy between the students and the faculty that made the environment so uplifting. I always felt comfortable asking questions and enjoyed sitting in class and having open discussions with my classmates and professors. This made the material much more relevant to me and fun to learn. There were also many jokes and tangents, which made the days much more fun and memorable.
ADVICE FOR CURRENT STUDENTS • • • Take as many classes as you can, because you never know what kind of influence a new class or a new professor may have on your future vocation. Also, never sell your books. They are a wealth of knowledge and information—read them, cherish them, keep them!