Many consider the essence of life to be water. Water nourishes us, makes up most of our body, and keeps us functioning. Water serves this purpose in a physical and more literal sense, but for someone like me, water has also been the essence of my life in a spiritual sense. One’s “essence of life” is supposed to be your purpose and a fulfilling aspect of life. As a swimmer, I spend most of my time in the water when not at school. Being in the water has cemented itself into being a more-than-normal aspect of my life. As I have grown older, I have also noticed my love for water has been expanded to things other than swimming. Fishing has allowed me to explore the other things that spend their time in the water, organisms that need water to survive even more so than humans.
Without swimming, I would have no physical outlet for my worries and stress. No matter what I may be going through that day or anything I’m trying to get through, at the end of swim practice I have either forgotten my worries or come to an understanding of the situation. Swimming, like other exercises, releases endorphins, which are pain inhibitors and create a feeling of well-being during exercise. Being in the water helps me and has a powerful healing effect - for both my body and my mind.
Four years ago, I found myself in physical therapy for shoulder pain and limited range of motion. I swim about 15-18 hours a week, and not being in the water was hard. My physical therapist, Dr. Scott, was able to immediately determine the issue and I was back in the water within two weeks! My first session with him was amazing - he asked me many questions, then gave me the diagnosis with no need for scans. The experience inspired a new passion for human medicine, and I applied for the CTC (Career and Technology Center) Physical Rehab program. I completed three semesters of Physical Rehab training, including one semester as an intern at a Physical Therapy practice. I spent half of my school hours at the Rehab program, and half at my high school. At the Physical Therapy practice, I was able to assist patients and observe the work of the therapists - it was inspiring and humbling at the same time. I learned a lot - in a practical, visible way. What I had learned in the classroom came to life in the therapy room! Compassion cannot be thought in the classroom, it comes from meeting people who are facing pain and challenges, getting to know them, join them in their journey of hope, and guide them as they struggle and work towards healing. Some of the injuries were common, some - not. The patients were of all ages, and I got to meet so many new and interesting people, I learned about their lives, passion, dreams. Many of them were athletes, trying to recover from injuries and surgeries, and working hard to get to a point where they could go back on the field again. Some of them faced the reality that sports would be out of reach for them, and that was hard. My heart hurt for them, I had experienced their pain and fears. The therapists were patient and thoughtful, their knowledge and experience were amazing to observe. I learned that loving people and loving your job was to be my purpose for the future. My time as an intern for a semester was a blessing and curriculum of life lessons.
My dream is to work in the medical field and combine my passion for human medicine with my passion for swimming: help people heal through water. Hydrotherapy has been proven effective in many cases where attempts in regular therapy have reached its limit. The benefits of being in the water have helped me improve, and I want to share that with others by becoming a Doctor of Physical Therapy who uses aquatic equipment to help patients heal. Combining the knowledge of medicine with the healing power of water could be beneficial to so many people facing mobility challenges. From my experience at the Physical Rehab program and the internship at the Physical Rehab Center, I realized how motivating and inspiring it is to work with patients and observe their improvement. Their hard work, combined with the doctor's knowledge, care and treatment, bring results - every single time! I would love to have the opportunity to observe people's health being improved and helping them get back to strength and restoration.
As I mature into adulthood, I know that my one constant will be my love for the water. I know that my fascination and connection to water will shape my life regardless of time and age, and I hope to share that passion and source of hope with everyone around me.