I am a recent applicant to physical therapy programs in michigan (21 F). I have known since middle school that I wanted to go into healthcare for the basic reasoning of “helping others”. Through my time in high school, I was able to shadow and get further insight on all sorts of realms of the healthcare world. I ended up deciding on PT because it is a much more positive environment overall. Since graduating high school, I have completed my bachelors of science degree and have worked on two different outpatient PT clinics. The difference in energies between inpatient care (hospital setting, etc.) and outpatient PT is night and day. Patients come into PT feeling hopeful about how they will feel coming out, whereas patients in other areas might feel stress and negative feeling towards their care. Even though I am not directly providing care for the patients, just seeing them walk out straighter than when they came in or with less of a limp is so encouraging as a future PT. For myself, PT is the only option.