"Teach what you know, Reproduce who you are" by Whitney

"Teach what you know, Reproduce who you are" by Whitney - February 2014 Scholarship Essay

A respected coach told me to “teach what you know, and reproduce who you are.” Since that day, I have viewed this statement as my personal mission statement. The importance does not lie in knowledge, but how that knowledge is used. I strive to reproduce my best qualities or knowledge in my future and my career opportunities.

Striving academically has always been a personal goal of mine; some said that would change in college when there was no pressure from my parents. Contrarily, I have taken more personal pride than ever before in my work. I have always wanted to do something in the medical field which is why I am majoring in biology and kinesiology in the honors program. After I graduate, I want to pursue a career being a Physical Therapist. This career stands out to me because I would get to have personal interaction with the patients multiple times a week rather than a five minute appointment where I write a prescription for the patient. It may not be the "spotlight" jobs, but being in the background is where I get to understand and form relationships with patients. From my own shoulder surgeries, I know how difficult it can be to have no choice but to depend on other people to undress or brush your hair so I have a unique perspective when it comes to understanding what a patient is going through. Still, I was always told if I was going to do extra schooling, why not go after a job that makes a lot more money. Personally, getting to interact with patients and see my work impact them outside of physical treatment is enough for me to never want to be a surgeon or something of that nature. Because of my passion to help and impact others, I am currently a note taker in my classes; this is how I like to give back to the university and reproduce my passion to make a difference. The greatest part is that I enjoy knowing I am helping another student be successful in his or her academic goals and fulfilling my passion that I plan to pursue in my career after college. While completing a double-degree program is difficult, I am hoping I will be able to use it for the betterment of others in the future.

My career goal to be a Physical Therapist was first inspired by my numerous injuries and visits to the doctor’s office. I have had two shoulder surgeries and spent nearly two years in physical therapy and orthopedic care so I know plenty about it from the patient side; however, I had never seen medical care from the other side. I built a good relationship with my orthopedic doctor and often questioned him about his schooling and why he chose orthopedics. He would brief me with advice on choosing schools, etc. and gave me the opportunity to shadow him for two days. One day I spent observing surgeries and the second day I spent doing a clinical with him. I was afraid observing the surgeries would scare me or I would not handle it well, only to find out that I was even more interested in the medical field than I was before. The second day in the clinic gave me utmost respect for doctors because everyone that wants to see you has a problem and wants to talk about it; nonetheless, I have always had a special gift of wanting to help others and that is what I want to reproduce. This opportunity provided reassurance that taking such difficult classes through high school will serve me very well in my post-secondary education which it has through my first semester.

My first semester was difficult because there is so much going on with class and outside of class, yet I did not fall into the “freshman trap” of getting behind. I was able to take all honors classes, be in a sorority, water ski competitively through the school, have extra community service hours, and still be able to keep my grades up. Yes, this was an awesome thing and I am grateful to be able to manage time, but I feel like it was just another reassurance that the medical field is where I need to go with my career. A career being a physical therapist would allow me to reproduce in my patients the willingness to go the extra mile.

Certainty cannot be promised with my future and career goals; however, I can do everything within my power to assure that I will come out on top. While my actions are important, help and support from my family, coaches, friends, teachers, and scholarships give me the encouragement that is necessary to be successful. Applying for a scholarship is the first step in trying to stay ahead so that I can succeed; it allows me to focus more on my studies and not worry about the financial burden on my family. I feel obligated to try and give back to my parents in any way for the continuous support they have provided the past eighteen years. I am fortunate to have a family that will make sacrifices for me, and now, I am trying to make it worth their sacrifice by having a job I love in hopes of being able to take care of them should they ever need it.