My Major and Career Goals
I am currently a sophomore at IUI. I plan to major in Exercise Science on the Pre-PA route. The decision to major in exercise science came from my interest in learning about the body's way of healing itself after an injury. I have played basketball since third grade, and during my sophomore season, I broke both my ulna and radius which required surgery. Having to go through physical therapy and watching my body heal after such a devastating injury, really peaked my interest in learning about exercise science.
Majors/Minors
and Certifications
Currently, I am pursuing a major in Exercise Science on a Pre-Physician Assistant route at IUI. While majoring in Exercise Science, I have started to learn about the different types of exercise, how the body moves, why nutrition is a key role in day-to-day life, and the biomechanics used by the human body. Currently, I am enrolled in three courses in which I have learned a lot about the human body. These courses are Psychology, Intro to Exercise Science, and Nutrition. Though these are introductory classes, they have allowed me to learn more about the human body while also letting me know that I have chosen the right major. As of right now, I am not pursuing a minor in anything. If I had to choose, I would pick psychology as a minor. I enjoy my psychology class, and it has provided me with knowledge about different aspects of mental health an athlete uses. One certificate that would be helpful in my future career would be Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). This would allow me to gain patient experience, show leadership, and acquire medical exposure. As I continue pursuing a degree in Exercise Science, I hope to be able to become a Physician Assistant.
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Why Did I Choose Exercise Science?
Ever since a young age, I have played basketball along with other sports such as track and field, volleyball, and golf. Basketball became a second nature to me, and I put in countless hours to become a more skillful player. I had pretty successful seasons and was also listed as one of the "Top Players To Look Out For In D-10." However, in a scrimmage during my sophomore season, I suffered a break to my ulna and radius, ending my season. The break required surgery, and I had to go through extensive physical therapy to regain feeling in my nerves and to heal my arm. During this time, I became infatuated with how the body heals from an injury. I was able to see how others were healing using physical therapy as well when I was at the office. As an Exercise Science major, I will be able to learn more about how the body heals, biomechanics used by the body, and the risk factors for different individuals. The list goes on for what I will learn, but I have listed some of what I have learned so far. Furthering my education as a major in Exercise Science will open new opportunities dealing with exercise and also the medical side of the field. I am very passionate about becoming a Physician Assistant. I want to be able to help others heal as I was once in the position that they were.
Career Goals
Exercise Science Physician Assistant
When it comes to career goals, I want to be able to provide exceptional care to patients and give back to the community. I would love to be able to be part of the medical field which is ever-changing, and helping patients when it comes to new illnesses that they are faced with. I am a very compassionate person, and It makes me feel better knowing that I will be able to help people in my future career. As a physician assistant, I will be able to be flexible in a work environment. My knowledge will allow me to change my clinical specialty if I ever choose to do so. After a few years of being a Physician Assistant, I hope to gain experience internationally working with patients from other countries. I will be able to apply my knowledge anywhere that is needed, and that would make me feel better as a person. I am currently pursuing my Bachelor's degree, but after graduating, I plan to be accepted into a Physician Assistant school. With my Bachelor's in Exercise Science, I will use my knowledge to study for the PANCE, and hopefully will pass the exam, allowing me to become a certified Physician Assistant.