Program: Master of Physical Therapy
Class of 2018
Hometown: Burnaby, British Columbia
What attracted you to your field of study or research?
My pursuit to study physical therapy was in large part planned, but also accidental. As part of my high school grad transitions program in grade 11, I had to complete a one week work placement in a field of my interest. The only problem was that I didn’t know what my field of interest was. After many bitter attempts at online career assessments and long conversations with my career guidance counsellor, I took a random shot at a physiotherapy placement. The week-long placement opened my eyes to a career I had a feel for – one that aligned with my interest in human movement and health care. I left high school with a “vision” that grew throughout my Bachelor of Kinesiology at UBC!
What excites you about the upcoming year?
For starters, I’m most excited about spending a school year not having to think about physiotherapy applications anymore. Aside from this, I’m equally ecstatic about crossing paths with a faculty of professors and peers that come from different backgrounds, but who nonetheless share a common passion.
What’s one thing we might be surprised to learn about you?
I’ve been quite involved with the martial arts community, primarily Karate, since the tender age of 8. I intend to stop when my body calls it quits. In a couple years, I might be peer-pressured into being the go-to person for the many injuries that occur during martial arts.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I know a lot can change in 5 years, but at the very least, I hope to have completed the program and be on my way to practicing as a physiotherapist. Knowing fully well that physiotherapy branches off into very diverse areas, I’m keeping an open mind for an area that I might have a knack for. Who knows!? I might encounter a revelation similar to the one I did in Grade 11.
Best piece of advice: I can’t speak for anyone else, but the best piece of advice I would give to my old naïve self from a few years back would be to stay grounded, albeit flexible on my goals. When you have a clear picture of your destination, school becomes less intimidating. There is no shame in posting up a sign on your wall to remind yourself every night before you go to sleep.
Last vacation destination: Back in April, I was still uncertain of whether I’d get accepted to the program at UBC. I booked my flight to Toronto for another physical therapy interview, and the “business” trip turned out to be a fabulous time exploring the city. My hard-core basketball friends convinced me to watch my first basketball game, which also happened to be game 7 of the Toronto Raptors!