Dreams of Success by Ryan

Dreams of Success by Ryan - August 2020 Scholarship Essay

Since beginning my University studies in 2015 I have always had the ever-present dream of becoming a physical therapist. Although many barriers have presented themselves in my path, this dream is still very strong in my vision. My bachelor's studies started strongly with robust determination at the beginning of every new semester for my first two year at university. During my third year however, I was beaten down by blow after blow to my optimism of attaining this goal.

After a semester of sub-par performance my GPA began to dip below the expectations of most physical therapy graduate programs I was interested in. This was followed by a sobering meeting with my school counselor in which I discovered that I hadn't been taking the necessary courses required by these programs as prerequisites. I was so focused on getting my bachelor's degree and enrolling in the necessary courses for my major that I failed to fit in these graduate program prerequisites that weren't part of my major's course work. I was delivered the somber news that if I wished to get into one of these physical therapy programs, an additional year and a half would be added onto my already dragging bachelor's degree. Around this same time I was seeing many of my high school friends begin to graduate and happily begin their respective careers.

I was mad. I was mad at my friends for finding success earlier than me. I was mad at the education system for being so difficult and confusing. I was mad at the universe for not being perfect, but most importantly I was mad at myself for creating my own failures. This anger was quickly followed by grief and confusion. I felt lost. I began to wonder if I had made a mistake in being so optimistic about my ability to succeed and become a physical therapist. I began to wonder if college was even a good fit for me. After a very difficult winter break of soul searching and researching options I came to a strong conclusion. I would continue. I would succeed. I would get into a physical therapy program and become a physical therapist.

The University of Washington's physical Therapy program, although more difficult than most of it's contemporaries, is my dream graduate program. This choice stems from many attributions of the school, program, and location. To begin, I was raised in suburbs of Seattle and all of my immediate family still lives there. I have spent the past four years in the state of Utah at college and have only been able to visit home a handful of times. I would be ecstatic to continue my education at a place where going to see my parents would require only a 20 minute drive instead of a $600 round ticket. In addition to the local location, this campus is beyond beautiful. Between the historic themed architecture and the blooming cherry blossoms during spring this campus cannot be beat.

Beyond just the location, this school's psychical therapy program has much to brag about. The University of Washington's Department of Rehabilitation Medicine is prestigious to say the least. According to the U.S. News & Word report, This program boasts the fourth leading department for rehabilitation care in the United States. Students are set up for success by completing coursework that that provides the combination of interdisciplinary classes and diverse clinical experiences. This program also succeeds in it's goal to adequately prepare it's students to sit for the national psychical therapist licensure examination. This programs succeeds in this goal so well in fact that of the students who graduate (an impressive 97.8%), all 100% of graduates pass the licensure exam and these graduates have a 100% employment rate. What's more is that the class of 2018 boasted an insane 97.7% pass rate on their first attempt.

If you would have told me a year ago that I truly believe that I will become one of these success stories from the University of Washington's psychical therapy program, I would have told you that you're crazy. These days however I truly understand that one can do anything if they set their mind to it. The glass really does look better half full. Shoot for the moon and if you miss you'll land among the stars. Whichever allegory or analogy you wish to use it all means the same thing. I am a dreamer and I'm proud to say it.