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Brian
D. Swanson, SPT
DPT Class of 2012
MGH Institute of Health
Professions
A couple
weeks after the 2009 National Student Conclave in Miami, Florida, I am still
feeling the high of a life-changing weekend. At Conclave, I had the privilege
of learning life-long lessons from nationally recognized physical therapists.
I made friends with the former and current Student Assembly Board of Directors,
fellow PT and PTA students from around the country, and even some of the APTA
staff. I walked the exhibit hall where nationally known organizations wanted
to tell me about career possibilities, encouraged me to enter into prize
drawings, and handed me more free pens, goniometers, tape measures, and candy
than I knew what to do with. I enjoyed every minute of the weekend, but a
speech from APTA President R. Scott Ward stuck with me more than anything
else. Early on Friday evening, Scott humbled himself and spoke in front of PT
and PTA students about his meek beginnings into the physical therapy
profession. He also spoke frankly about his volunteer position as our APTA
president and that he was simply an “ordinary” PT that was blessed by APTA
with an “extraordinary opportunity.” I couldn’t help but notice that same
theme showing itself in my own situation, as well as within the stories I
heard from former students throughout the weekend.
When I
first heard of NSC, I did not have the resources to make the trip all the way
from Boston. I felt a strong call to go, but I tried to stay realistic about
my situation and put the idea in the back of my mind. Fortunately for me, a
few amazing faculty members at my school believe in APTA and student
professional development. These 3 generous ladies found me a stipend
opportunity through the Massachusetts Chapter of APTA. One wrote my letter of
recommendation for the application and, upon being awarded the stipend,
another instructor even helped me to find a hotel room with some friends who
would be at the conference. I did not do anything spectacular to deserve this
generosity. I am not the smartest or most liked student in our program. But,
like Scott Ward, I was simply an ordinary PT (student) that was blessed by
APTA with extraordinary opportunities.
As I
walked around the convention center, I began to meet former students who had
similar extraordinary opportunities. I spoke with our 2008-2009 Student
Assembly Board of Directors and heard how they traveled to new places
throughout the country to attend more national meetings like the Combined
Sections Meeting, the APTA House of Delegates, and the APTA National
Conference. At these events, they met and learned from the biggest names in
the profession. And as they all finished their respective entry-level
educations, they were offered great job opportunities due to their
involvement in the association.
Weeks
later, I am still seeing the effects of my attendance at National Student
Conclave. Being involved in APTA and attending NSC are probably 2 of
the best decisions I have ever made towards my career. Had I not been
involved in APTA, I would have never received the extraordinary opportunity
to attend NSC. Had I not attended NSC, I would never have met and heard the
“ordinary” R. Scott Ward speak about his life-long lesson to seize those
“extraordinary” opportunities; nor would I have met the Student Assembly
Board of Directors and learned from their most recent experiences.
I now have
a greater knowledge of the world within the physical therapy profession. I
hope to continue staying in contact with my new friends and colleagues, and I
still do not know what to do with all my free pens. Over that weekend one
thing stuck out to me more than anything else: I am an ordinary PT student
that was blessed by APTA with an extraordinary opportunity.
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