Life Struggles, Personal Statement Example

My name is ______, and I am writing to you to express my interest in the Doctorate of Physical Therapy program at Bradley University. I wish to take the opportunity to tell you a bit about my personal, professional, and academic background, and to explain why I would be a suitable candidate for this program. It is my belief that my experiences and accomplishments make me uniquely positioned for success both as a student in the program and in a career as a physical therapist. I have faced a number of challenges and had to overcome a number of hurdles on my path towards a career in physical therapy, but these challenges have also prepared me for the challenges I will face in my future academic and professional careers.

My interest in a career as a Physical Therapist arose largely as a result of my personal experiences. When I was a teenaged middle school student, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and began a grueling regimen of chemotherapy. Although she did her best to shield me from the worst of the problems this posed for her, I was able to understand at least the broad implications of her diagnosis. While many of my friends were busying themselves with dating, after-school jobs, and the other common activities of adolescence, I was more often than not busy accompanying my mother to doctor’s appointments, assisting her with her personal and medical needs, and helping out around the house doing the things she could no longer do. It was during this time that I first began to develop and interest in the health care field, as well as an abiding respect for those who dedicate their lives to helping others.

My mother’s issues with cancer were exacerbated by an injury she received in an accident, wherein she developed significant and lasting problems that caused pain in her neck and shoulders. Although I had no formal training, I did my best to research the ways in which I could help her, and I took on the role of a de facto physical therapist to support and sustain the care she was receiving from professionals it the field. Just as her bout with cancer had sparked a general interest in the health care field, her need for ongoing and intensive physical therapy helped to sharpen and narrow my focus; it was during this period of my life that I became determined to turn the negative consequences of her health issues into a positive motivating force that has impelled me to become a physical therapist. It is my intention to continue to straddle the line between the personal and professional demands of a career in physical therapy and to work towards becoming a proficient therapist so that I can help my mother face the challenges that await her as she gets older and to help the broader community I hope to serve.

Other members of my family have also been influential in steering me towards a career in health care. My stepfather is a dentist and an oral pathologist; my step-sister is a pediatrician; and my mother, my aunt, and my grandmother have all worked in the nursing profession. While it may not exactly run in the family, there is no question that these family members have been powerful role models in my life, demonstrating the selflessness and capacity to serve others that are significant, and even necessary, components of success in their respective fields.

While I am aware that I face stiff competition in this program, I am confident that my academic abilities, inherent skill sets, and life experiences have prepared me for the rigors that await me if I am accepted to into this program. I am grateful for your consideration, and I hope you will allow me the opportunity to develop the skills and abilities I will need to meet the challenges of the Doctorate of Physical Therapy program at Bradley University.