I just finished day 1 of a 2 day orientation process at Rockhurst University and I thought I would write out some observations.  First off, I’m really excited to get started, I think Rockhurst is going to be an amazing school.  Here we go:

1. There is an overwhelming sense of disgust about the debt.

School cost a lot.  Especially private school.  All of the students had something to say about the financial aid/ loan process.  A few didn’t seem to mind it (very few), most minded it a lot.  I have thought A LOT about school debt and I think I have come to a conclusion or two.  The most important thing about viewing school debt positively is to realize and Value what you are getting.  I am paying for my future, for an education that will allow me to grow and do what I love for the rest of my life.  I know that it’s a lot of money, but I don’t think you can invest in a better thing.  The other thing I concluded about the school debt situation is that a lot of us students passively accept debt and don’t think too much about it, we are creative about it…we are just coasting.  I think a healthy alternative to this mindset is to THINK.  There are ways to minimize debt, to be smart with it and to get out of it quickly.  Now I could spend a lot of time on this topic (maybe another post) but I think the main point is THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX.

2. PT students don’t know/care about advocacy and marketing themselves naturally

Granted I have not had the opportunity to talk with my classmates enough, but it is easy to see that PT students while we have our strengths (passion for helping others, generally active and interesting people, good students) we have our weaknesses.  One of those weaknesses is that we don’t think we have to make connections with others inside and outside the profession, we think that we just need to pass our classes and we’ll be good.  I think that one of my goals with this blog is to open eyes to the fact that the earlier we start marketing ourselves and our profession the BETTER the outcomes will be.  I have had the ability to connect with some great PTs and SPTs on this subject and they have spurred a lot of the passion I have for this and I hope to direct my classmates (you guys) in the same way.

3. School is going to be fun 🙂

Never will we be around a more like-minded group of individuals then we are in PT school.  We are all relatively the same age, into the same things, living in the same place, and on the same journey.  School is going to be challenging but I think that it will be one of the best times of my life.  At least I hope so!

Those are my observations..

Hope this is helpful 🙂

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