Formal Retrospective
Formal Retrospective: A Reflection on My Honors Experience
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​Entering college, I was ambitious yet over-confident. I lacked the knowledge and experience to realize what I didn’t know. However, throughout my time in the Honors College, I have been placed in challenging situations that have fostered both personal and academic growth. Whether through course-based research experiences, studying abroad, or experiential learning, I now feel prepared to enter graduate school to become a physical therapist.
In one of my first honors courses, Aging and the Older Person, I researched a paper on why society tends to perceive aging negatively. While exploring online databases and other resources, I was confident I had found a clear solution. However, after meeting with my professor, I quickly realized I had researched with a predetermined end in mind. I listened to the advice given and worked hard to draft a nuanced, evidence-based argument. By writing this research paper, I became more aware of society’s flawed beauty standards and corrupt cosmetic industry, as well as the importance of approaching learning humbly and with an open mind. When faced with moments of disagreement where it is easy to quickly retaliate, I am now more inclined to recognize the validity of another's position and let evidence-based research guide my own.
Traveling to study abroad in Costa Rica challenged me in a very different way. When I stepped off the plane in San Juan, I was not only struck by the tropical air but an unfamiliar culture. The appearance, language, and value system of Costa Rica were entirely unfamiliar to me. However, despite how improbable it seemed at the time when it came time to step back on the plane, I found myself missing many aspects of this new culture.
Throughout the week-long trip, I learned that this unfamiliar Costa Rican culture valued little except self-sufficiency, kindness, community, and the natural world. This brought them purpose and contentment. By contrast, I recognized in my own life that I am too often distracted by technology and busyness to prioritize what truly matters. It was only by immersing myself in a diverse environment that I was able to gain a new perspective into what constitutes a meaningful life. In response to this experience, I have spent more time outdoors exploring the beaty of nature, reached out more often to people in my life who may be struggling, and been more intentional about my time spent passively consuming material online.
Participating in an internship with Fast Track Physical Therapy, an outpatient orthopedic clinic, has been yet another honors experience that has contributed to my growth. Going into the internship with a vision of becoming a physical therapist, I was eager to develop a fuller understanding of the profession. While I found some fulfillment in learning various therapeutic exercises and treatments such as ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and hypervolt, the most rewarding aspect was interacting with patients. Hearing their stories and witnessing their joy when they could move freely and pain-free reinforced my aspirations in this field. I believe that this internship has made me more compassionate. When a patient is uncooperative with performing their exercises, I attempt to listen and empathize realizing that there might be underlying reasons for their non-compliance. Despite reinforcing the benefits, I work with the patient to develop a solution instead of being one-sided while stressing that the patient's needs come first.
I am grateful for the experiences and projects that have directed my interests toward physical therapy, specifically serving the older population. Having taken a class on aging, volunteered at a skilled nursing facility, and listened as a rehabilitation technician to stories and perspectives of those who have lived full lives, I feel drawn to providing for their physical and psychological needs. The difficulty of finding purpose later in life, along with physical decline and feelings of loneliness, presents a unique challenge but one worthwhile. I aspire to have compassion while offering older individuals the tools to a better quality of life. Taking with me the lessons learned from the Honors College and committed to having humility, being open-minded, and valuing relationships, I feel equipped to face whatever the future holds.