There was no single moment where Brookelyn decided that her future would be one as a physical therapist, but rather a life lived, progressively informing her more and more.
A Spark That Would Grow Into a Fire: Witnessing the Care of Physical Therapists
The first time Brookelyn was exposed to physical therapy was when she was just nine years old. Her mother was involved in a car accident that was nearly fatal; the doctors told her that she would have to stay in the hospital for six months. Brookelyn’s mother asserted, “I will leave in 6 weeks.”
While the doctor of Brookelyn’s mother said that leaving in six weeks wouldn’t be possible, her physical therapist created a rehabilitation plan that allowed her to leave after exactly six weeks. The physical therapist then provided her with additional resources to help her continue a process of recovery. “My experience with my mom’s physical therapist showed me how physical therapists are not just healthcare professionals,” Brookelyn reflects, “they often have to be motivators and a place for patients to release their emotions.”
When doctors failed to properly attend to the needs of Brookelyn’s mother, a physical therapist stepped in. The experience ultimately taught Brookelyn, from a young age, that physical therapy is a profession demanding not just professional care, but the ability to create a nurturing relationship with patients. Brookelyn would learn this lesson further after sustaining a knee injury when she was a child, and creating a great relationship with her physical therapist.
She feels that her physical therapist was the first healthcare professional who truly listened to her and who she could trust.
“He treated me as a person first and not just a number for his caseload for the day,” Brookelyn says in gratitude. From these two moments, Brookelyn realized that she wanted to make a positive impact on people and their families in some way, setting her on her path to physical therapy. However, the path would not be an easy one to walk.
Adjusting to New Norms: Brookelyn Fights Harder
Despite the successful efforts of her mother’s physical therapist, the lives of Brookelyn, her mother, and her family were still drastically altered by her mother’s car accident. The accident impacted Brookelyn’s family emotionally, practically and financially. Brookelyn, having grown up a “momma’s girl,” felt a great sense of loneliness in the six weeks her mother was at the hospital. And when her mother was out, the way her family operated completely changed. Her injuries required a need for constant assistance; a big adjustment for Brookelyn, as her primary caregiver now needed a caregiver.
Meanwhile, Brookelyn’s stepfather needed to pick up extra hours at work to support the family on a single income. This meant that Brookelyn, at the age of nine, had to learn how to take care of her mother and her brother. “It felt like all the plans and routines we had set for the family had diminished,” Brookelyn says.
Eventually, Brookelyn and her family adjusted to a routine to keep her family above water. But life struck again in 2020, ten years after the car accident, when two police officers had arrived at Brookelyn’s front door. Her stepfather had been killed in a car accident.
“Emotionally, the loss of my stepfather was an emotion I had never felt before,” Brookelyn laments. “He showed me what ‘showing up’ was and the role a father should play in the life of their children.” With her stepfather being the primary provider of income for the family, Brookelyn had to step up. She felt a responsibility to help more in raising her brother, and as a high school student, began working two different jobs to provide for herself as needed. She gave up softball, a sport she loved, to pick up as many work hours as possible and save for college and other life expenses.
“At times, it was isolating, because while my peers were focused on typical college or high school experiences, I was balancing worry about my family, finances, and the future,” Brookelyn says. But these experiences, as Brookelyn now realizes, shaped her. They taught her resilience and adaptability. They reminded her what really matters in life, and informed her on how to meet people with compassion as you never know what someone is going through. These experiences deepened her sense of empathy, having first-hand experience with what it’s like to face great hardships. For Brookelyn, she feels that her ability to remain strong in the face of such unthinkable, life-altering tragedies came partly from her mother.
“Watching her fight for recovery after her accident, even when the odds were against her, showed me what perseverance really looks like,” Brookelyn says. “Trying to be half the woman she is, is my biggest motivator.”
Turning Hardship Into Compassion: Brookelyn Helps Others in Need
Brookelyn feels all of her experiences have prepared her to be where she is now. Knowing hardship firsthand, she knows how meaningful it is to have someone walk through hardship with you. That’s the primary reason Brookelyn wants to be a physical therapist; to walk alongside patients.
She entered college at UC, as a first-generation college student, then transferred to the Mount to join the DPT program in 2024. While transferring colleges can seem daunting, Brookelyn was able to fit right in with the Mount’s DPT program. She notes how the Mount has provided her with the opportunity to develop a support system through her classmates, professors, and other staff members. Dr. Christina Heinrich, D.P.T., PT, Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist, has been particularly helpful in guiding Brookelyn through her experiences at the Mount. “Dr. Heinrich has been my rock through the program as well as even prior to being admitted,” Brookelyn gratefully reflects.
Prior to Brookelyn’s interview for entering DPT, Dr. Heinrich met with her to take her on a campus tour and talk about the program. She has been a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on throughout Brookelyn’s time at the Mount, and is always willing to listen to Brookelyn’s struggles, whether academic or personal. Dr. Michael Obert, PT, M.P.T., OCS, D.H.Sc., has also provided Brookelyn with personal and academic support, providing a space for her to talk and not feel judged.
Department Chair of DPT, Dr. Lisa Dehner, PT, Ph.D., CEEAA, has helped Brookelyn financially by presenting the Dehner Scholarship, which was awarded to Brookelyn. The warm welcoming she received from peers and the staff at the Mount ultimately empowered her to take full advantage of her acceptance into the DPT program.
She emphasizes how the DPT program has provided her with both professional and personal experience. In DPT, Brookelyn has had the opportunity to make connections with peers, patients and professionals in the field of physical therapy. She has had opportunities to participate in admissions interviews, and gained real-life skills that she can use in a professional physical therapy career. On a personal level, Brookelyn’s time in DPT at the Mount has helped her to further solidify what kind of physical therapist she wants to be.
“Personally, I have built confidence in my ability to treat patients and navigate difficult tasks and challenges that may arise during treatment sessions,” Brookelyn explains. Brookelyn has had the opportunity to volunteer in the Mount’s pro-bono clinic, and treat real patients with genuine care that extends beyond basic treatment. “The Mount is not only developing and creating physical therapists,” Brookelyn asserts. “They are building people-centered clinicians who pride themselves in their care for others and professionalism.”
What it Means to Have the Heart of a Lion: Brookelyn Looks to the Future
Now a physical therapy student at the Mount, Brookelyn has great ambitions for the future. She would like to create an online mentorship program for high school seniors who are struggling emotionally, financially, or with how to navigate future college challenges. Additionally, she has aspirations to advance her professional career as a physical therapist. She hopes to continue being there for individuals experiencing physical hardship, and continue volunteering with the pro-bono clinic and helping patients. Brookelyn notes how the adaptive community is often underprivileged in opportunities to be physically active, which drives her to serve members of the adaptive community more.
“Serving unprivileged communities is one of my biggest passions,” Brookelyn says, “and I hope through volunteer experience and my future career as a physical therapist, I will be able to inspire and promote success through those programs.”
To Brookelyn, having the heart of a lion means facing hardship and uncertainty with courage and resolve, and transforming harrowing experiences into the strength and compassion needed to serve others. It’s about finding ways to move forward and exercise compassion and care along the way, even when you’re uncertain of what lies before you. When faced with her mother’s accident, her stepfather’s untimely passing, and having to take on the monumental task of working multiple jobs while starting college as a first-generation student, Brookelyn continued looking forward with the heart of a lion. And for it, she has become an inspiration to us all.
“Don’t let hardships and barriers stop you from achieving your goals,” Brookelyn asserts. “Create your own path and let YOURSELF be in control of your life, not your situations!”
Want to Learn More About Physical Therapy at the Mount?
The DPT (Department of Physical Therapy) program provides aspiring physical therapists with an education grounded in the liberal arts and sciences tradition of the Mount. In DPT, students are not only equipped with technical skills, but trained in how to meet patients where they are and respect the dignity and diversity of each individual. If you’re interested in learning more about DPT at the Mount, read more here!