Senior Year
The Full Story
I’m lucky to have had the opportunity to build an undergraduate career by doing what I love. As the focused and goal-driven person that I am, I decided to pursue my dreams and make it happen.
During the fall semester, I had an amazing time in the courses I took. I had the opportunity to work together with my classmates to develop innovative solutions while collaborating with actual clients. I participated in various projects that helped me expand my knowledge on physical health, diseases, disabilities, and goal setting. The School of Human and Health Sciences staff enhanced my experience at IUPUI even further.
Internship in Physical Education
KINE-P443
Over the course of nine weeks, I worked one-on-one with a client to evaluate her current health status, identify her fitness goals, and develop a customized exercise plan tailored to her needs. Our meetings were held twice a week for one hour each at the National Institute for Fitness and Sport, located just outside IUPUI's campus. This program is called INShape, and is offered every semester. It is very popular among clients, many of whom come back for multiple semesters due to their enjoyment of the program.
Exercise Leadership and Program Design
KINE-P420
During the course, I had a semester-long commitment to meet one-on-one with another student at IUPUI. As a wellness coach, my role was to listen to my client's goals and needs, and provide suggestions to help them grow. I had biweekly meetings with my client to discuss their fitness goals, and I offered assistance to help them achieve those goals. These meetings were informal, and we held them on campus through simple conversations. The other part of the course involved writing a potential business plan for a future health industry business. I chose to write about a women's pelvic health therapy clinic, which was inspired by my career aspirations in that field.
Motor Activity Clinic Fall 2023
Physical Activity Programming for Individuals with Disabilities and Other Special Populations
KINE-P410
This course consisted of two parts. The first part was in-class education on various origins, etiology, treatment options, and modifications of exercise for different disabilities. The second part was seven weeks of one-on-one training with a physically or mentally disabled client. This was apart of the Adapted Movement Program called the Motor Activity Clinic. Each week we created a plan of activities to achieve a fitness goal tailored to the person, their tasks, and environment. During the training, I focused on improving my client's ability to follow directions, accomplish multiple-step tasks, and have fun while exercising. Working in the pool and gym with my client changed my perspective on working with people with disabilities. Every day was a new experience, and I was always ready to adapt to provide the best possible experience for my client.
External Internship- KINE P-452
During my internship at Zionsville Physical Therapy, I was eager and motivated as I entered my final semester. While my previous hands-on experiences had been limited, this opportunity allowed me to explore a myriad of new experiences daily. With a sense of curiosity, I enthusiastically immersed myself in the work.
Spring 2024
Responsibilities
At Zionsville Physical Therapy my responsibilities include their mission statement and their goals. My site supervisor has been Elaine Morrison. Firstly, Zionsville Physical Therapy is a privately owned outpatient physical therapy clinic in Zionsville, Indiana. Our mission is to provide exceptional patient-focused care and maintain a clean, safe environment for our patients and employees. Being a small, private clinic allows us to get to know our patients on a personal level. We aim to make each session fun and enjoyable for both patients and employees. Our goal is to provide evidence-based treatments to produce objectively measurable outcomes. Each patient is important to us and we will treat each family as we would our own. We are searching for an energetic physical therapist technician with a passion for providing exceptional care to our patients.
Key Takeaway
I believe I successfully understood the inner workings of a workplace. When coming into a workplace, especially as an intern, my biggest purpose was to help further the progress of the employees and the clinic. This means I found where to fill in the gaps; where I could make someone’s life a bit easier task-wise. At first, I was hesitant to admit when I didn’t know something, I quickly had to become comfortable with the unknown. The best way to learn is to ask, and I had to take that first step many times. During quiet times, I would ask about insurance policies, case details, and thought processes behind treatments. I think I stayed curious my entire internship, easy on busy days, I had time to think about what was going on in the clinic. I always was there to ask questions, add to team meetings, and give my point of view during active conversations with facility staff.
Conclusion
I've spent 16 weeks at the clinic, and during this time, I've developed a deep connection to the Zionsville community. I've come to understand the values and goals of this vibrant community, where people of all ages thrive. The downtown area is bustling with charming small businesses, and the patients at the clinic are not just names on a list; they are an integral part of this community. ZPT has been a truly eye-opening experience in the field of business medicine. Unlike other physical therapy practices that focus solely on numbers, ZPT provides the highest quality service with a personal touch. Every patient who walks through the doors of ZPT is met with caring and friendly faces, and I aim to leave a positive impact on each person who comes in. I am inspired to show that physical therapy is a crucial part of the medical community, and I am dedicated to making a meaningful difference in the lives of our patients.