Why Biomedical Science? by Jessica

Why Biomedical Science? by Jessica - February 2024 Scholarship Essay

Since I was young, I have grown up in a family that has deep roots in the medical field. My uncle has been a licensed veterinarian for decades, and my mother has been a registered OR nurse since before I was born. I always knew that I wanted to work in the medical profession, though I had no specific idea of what field. All I knew for certain was that I had no interest in being a nurse after hearing all of the stories my mom would tell my sister and me. My interests have also always gravitated a lot more toward the post-operation and recovery process of medicine, rather than the gore of the operating room. Throughout high school I wanted to go into pharmacy for many reasons, but mostly for the salary. The idea of learning about medicines and how they work was and still is very intriguing to me. This idea did not last, however, because I then found the world of physical therapy.
My senior year of high school, I participated in an internship program to get experience in my desired field, so I spent ten months shadowing at a local PT clinic in Florence, KY. Right off the bat, I knew that I wanted to make this my career. Throughout my intern experience, I was able to meet many amazing physical therapists that were able to give me guiding advice for my next steps in education, as well as what I need to focus on to make PT a career. More importantly though, I got to know some incredible patients that were incredibly supportive of me and that wanted to see me succeed. I had never felt so supported in a professional setting until now. There is also something so special about being able to help and heal a patient who is in such a vulnerable state. When someone goes from being fully capable to fully incapable after an injury, it is very discouraging. What I’ve learned is that one of the biggest responsibilities that a physical therapist has, is to be supportive of patients on their journey to recovery.
It is for these reasons that I have chosen to major in biomedical sciences (pre-PT) at Eastern Kentucky University. My experiences interning at PT clinics, have brought me a long way a person, and have made me into the woman that I am today. As a bio-med major with a pre-PT concentration, I will be able to apply to DPT programs all over the country. Having a good background in STEM is important to graduate school admissions and makes me a great candidate for a myriad of programs nationwide.