What are your career goals / academic goals?

My career goals are to eventually open my own practice. I do not yet know if there is a certain population of patients I would like to specialize in. As of right now I have a big interest in athletes’ rehabilitation as well as pediatrics. Fortunately, Marist offers a variety of options for my clinical rotations. Through these experiences, I will have the opportunity to see which of these areas will allow me to be the best therapist possible. As for my academic goals, I would like to continue to learn as much as I can from the teachers here at Marist.

Why did you choose to pursue your graduate degree at Marist? Why did you choose to pursue this degree program?

I chose Marist because I knew how great of a place it is from attending Marist for my undergraduate education. As well as this, through the interview process it was very evident how much the professors cared about this program and the students who were in it. I was also able to continue my athletic career of playing lacrosse during my first year of my graduate degree which was important to me after losing 2 seasons while I was an undergrad due to Covid. I chose to pursue a physical therapist degree because of the relationships I will be able to develop with my patients. Physical therapy separates itself from other health care professionals as we have the opportunity to meet with our patients’ multiple times a week for long periods of time. This allows us to see the improvement in our patients and really see the difference we are making in improving our patients’ lives.

Tell us about a project or course that was particularly meaningful to your professional development / academic development.

One project that was particularly meaningful to my professional development was when we had the opportunity to perform a mock initial intake on patients who came into our class. It is one thing to learn how to talk and interact with patients, but actually doing it is a skill that must really be developed. This project was the first time we were able to interact with patients and put what we were learning to work. This first-hand experience gave us exposure to important skills that can only come from experience. This type of exposure with patients is what makes this graduate degree here at Marist special.

Tell us about a meaningful experience you had at Marist as it pertains to your degree (whether that be with a Professor, Marist service, Scholarship opportunity, etc.).

One very meaningful experience I had at Marist was volunteering at a local Special Olympics event. This was an incredible event for many reasons. As a student, it was a great opportunity for me to practice the hands-on skills we are learning in class out in the field with patients. At the event, we had the opportunity to test the strength, range of motion, balance, and endurance of the participating athletes. On top of this, we were able to educate the athletes on different stretches or exercises that could help them improve their overall health based on the evaluations performed. Being able to have a positive impact on others in the community was such a great experience.

What advice would you give to a student considering pursuing this degree at Marist?

I would advise a student considering pursuing this degree at Marist to pursue this degree if you want a rewarding career in which you make a positive impact on others every day. While going through the degree I think it is important to fully commit to the process of learning. You are going to be presented with the opportunity to gain so much knowledge throughout the three years here. Do all you can to enjoy this process. I would advise all students to take advantage of the great facilities Marist has to offer as well as collaborate with their fellow peers while study. I would advise all students to take advantage of the incredible volunteer opportunities the faculty present.