Career Goals

Completion of this Bachelor of Science (BS) degree is an important step in my current

plans or continued professional growth. Not only have I made important strides in academia, I

have also made important connections in the Down syndrome community of my hometown. My

next steps include completing the remaining prerequisites that are required for applying to a

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program.

Applying and graduating from a DPT program has been one of my goals even before

completing all of my didactic studies in the physical therapist assistant (PTA) program. I decided

to apply to this program because it allowed me to continue working as a PTA while making

significant strides towards the requirements for applying to DPT programs. In the next two years,

I plan on completing the remaining prerequisites and applying to multiple DPT programs. Since

policies for transferring credits and prerequisite requirements vary from program to program, I

will be able to apply to certain programs within a year while others I will not be able apply to for

two to three years.

During the time that it will take to apply to these various DPT programs, I will have time

to accomplish other career-related goals. One of these goals is to become a Certified Strength

and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), which I will be eligible to test for following completion of

this program. I will be relocating to the Dallas-Fort Worth area before the beginning of 2020.

This move stems from two motivating factors. Firstly, many of the DPT programs that I have

interest in – and ones that I will be able to apply to more quickly – are in this area. Secondly, I

have had the excellent opportunity to establish outstanding connections with members of the

Down syndrome community in my hometown. All of the individuals I have connected with have

suggested that the Dallas-Fort Worth area has a tremendous Down syndrome community, and I
would likely be able to find mentors to help my professional growth concerning adults with

Down syndrome. Within the next two years, I plan on establishing a good network in the Down

syndrome community in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and begin to help spread awareness and

possible interventions for adults with Down syndrome.

Ultimately, my goals within the next two to five years include becoming a CSCS,

developing connections and providing interventions with the Down syndrome community in the

Dallas-Forth Worth area, and to be accepted into a DPT program. In five years, I will be well

into my studies in a DPT program – if I have not completed the program in that time – and will

have established connections that will be vital as I continue to spread awareness and

interventions for adults with Down syndrome.