About Me
While I am studying physical therapy at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND, I was born and raised in the great state of Alaska with three younger siblings. It was in Alaska that I developed a strong love of the outdoors and an adventurous spirit- unafraid of the unexpected. I continue to participate in activities such as camping, hiking, kayaking, skiing and biking that allow me to enjoy everything that the great outdoors has to offer.
Following graduation from high school in 2007, I was ready to go and experience life outside of Alaska so I decided to complete my undergraduate degree in Exercise Science at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I knew early on that I was interested in pursuing physical therapy as a career and had planned my undergraduate coursework to align with the prerequisites for physical therapy programs. I thoroughly appreciated my time at Cornerstone University and was able to participate in many activities and leadership opportunities that nurtured my development as an individual. I graduated from Cornerstone University in December of 2010 and returned home to Alaska as I took the spring semester to complete prerequisites and apply for physical therapy schools for the next fall. During that time, my grandfather had an unexpected stroke and quickly decided that it was important for me to move to California for a year in order to assist him during the rehabilitation process. This unexpected tragedy turned out to be one of the most formative experiences I have had in my life. It taught me to view the world with much more compassion and understanding. While I may not have followed my ideal timeline for completing my education, I truly believe that this challenge gave me an advantage that not many students have by allowing me to understand the rehabilitation process from the perspective of the patient and the caregiver, which has given me much more depth and insight as a physical therapy student. In August of 2012 I began the physical therapy program at UND and have thoroughly enjoyed the well rounded education that I am receiving. This fall I will begin my final year in the program and am excited to complete a clinical experience back home in Alaska at Providence Alaska Medical Center focusing on inpatient rehabilitation, as well as a clinical experience at MTI in Kirkland, Washington which is an advanced outpatient setting that specializes in manual therapy. Following graduation from the University of North Dakota as a Doctor of Physical Therapy, I hope to move back to the west coast and begin my physical therapy career. |