Paulina Tapia
Not currently employed
Hampton, VA USA
"Tell yourself that you belong on the career path you chose. You will get there one way or another if that is your true passion. "
Career Roadmap
Paulina's work combines: Medicine, Sports, and Helping People
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
La Mirada High School
Bachelor's Degree
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
University of California, Irvine
Graduate Degree
Physical Therapy/Therapist
Hampton University
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Physical Therapist (student):
Bachelor's Degree: Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Graduate Degree: Physical Therapy/Therapist
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
Came into undergrad as a bio major wanting to do premed
2.
Didn't get the best grades my first year and thought maybe med school wasn't for me.
3.
One of my close relatives was diagnosed with cancer and I spent a lot of time in the hospital with them and their physical therapist helping them recover.
4.
Through talking with the PT I learned what daily life was like in that job and really liked the idea of helping people and getting to watch them improve.
5.
Worked as a volunteer with UCI medical center to help with out-patient care and general care, gained experience, eventually moved to in-patient care
6.
Internship with in motion-OC for aquatic therapy in Irvine
7.
Worked for 2 years in Long Beach as a PT aid for more experience
8.
Started grad school in VIrginia
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Myself:
A major discouragement was my grades since they were slightly below many of the averages for schools I applied to. I would criticize myself for not doing better in my classes and wished I could retake them or fix them somehow.
How I responded:
Tell yourself that you belong on the career path you chose. You will get there one way or another if that is your true passion.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
Grades - Working harder and learning how to be a better student
I had no family members to help me with the journey of applying to college and grad school. I had to figure out so much on my own. It was scary trying to figure out my life without input from my family but they supported me with whatever I chose.