Originally appeared in the Fall/Winter 2017 edition of The Rock
Hometown: Sunnyvale, CA
Major: Kinesiology and Nutrition Science
RESEARCH PROJECT: As the Yao Yuan Sze fellow, my research project focuses on the importance of serving the community-dwelling adult population in Whittier. While many students often center around helping children, my goal is to reach out to this senior population that has not received as much attention.
As a side community service project, I am teaching a traditional balance exercise program for seniors aged 65 years or above at the Whittier Senior Center. This exercise program is three times a week, for eight weeks. Participants perform balance exercises such as a single leg stance, tandem walking, and sit-to-stands. Throughout the eight weeks, I am noting down anecdotal information, such as how well they can put on their pants while standing on one leg or walk over a curb on the sidewalk. Thus, with this community service project, I am analyzing any progress or changes that have been made in participant’s ability and balance confidence level, and demonstrating the importance of reaching out to this population.
I am also a teaching assistant (TA) for an upper division kinesiology course, Motor Learning and Control. As a TA, I prepare the formatting guides for weekly labs and assist professor Kathy Barlow in the lab section.
PLANS POST-GRADUATION: I plan to enter the doctorate of physical therapy program at Mount St. Mary’s University. I ultimately want to work in a hospital with the older population.
OFF-CAMPUS EXPERIENCE: Internships with two orthopedic physical therapy clinics, a hand therapy clinic, and Rancho Los Amigos Rehabilitation Center. At Rancho, I worked with patients who have neurological disorders, including multiple sclerosis and cerebral vascular accidents (stroke). Interacting with these types of patients made me realize that when I become a physical therapist, I want to work with the stroke population.
CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Kinesiology Club • Phi Epsilon Kappa Honors Fraternity • KNS Student Council • Cross Country • Center for Engagement with Communities Artemis Peer Mentor • Residential Advisor • College Recruiter
