Copyright ©️ 2016–2024
“To help people” sounds really cliche but it’s true. I didn’t know physical therapy was a profession until I tagged along with my mother when she went to rehabilitation after a major car accident. Everything about the clinical setting – changed my entire mindset because I wanted to make a positive impact somehow but really didn’t have a clue what I wanted to do. I don’t think anyone had an idea at the age of 16, 17, 18, etc. A spark of inspiration came to mind and I knew this was the career I wanted. It also stemmed from supportive and encouraging high school teachers (Vincent Massey Secondary School). Kinesiology came naturally to me during my last year of high school and was one of the very few classes that I excelled at and was excited to attend every day. I resonated a lot about health and fitness – as a result, I pursued a Bachelors in Human Kinetics, specializing in Movement Science at the University of Windsor. The one advice I would give to others is to volunteer, take an internship, or sign up for the cooperative education program at your university if you’re still unsure or “stuck” with what you want to do for the rest of your lives. This gives you the opportunity to see what a day entails for a certain profession and reflect afterwards if this aligns with your goals and who you want to become. Fortunately for me, my university (University of Windsor) has an amazing Cooperative Education program and incredible role models who provide unlimited amounts of support. If I’m being 100% transparent with anyone who is reading this right now, I did have one doubter – there was a physiotherapist who didn’t truly believe in my abilities because I was too “personable,” “outgoing,” “overly enthusiastic,” and I’ve always thought it was an asset to be all of those qualities in a profession who helps others. I was able to accomplish the regular tasks in a clinical setting and more. Further on, I was inspired to accomplish 2 big things: travel and attend school at the same time. This was also due to the University of Windsor Exchange Program where I studied abroad for a short period of time in Australia. Backtracking – Here’s a short story that stuck to me til this day – I was working at a nursing home as an exercise therapist at Village of Aspen Lake (Schlegel Villages) as one of my placements and the one thing I’ve heard countless times from seniors were, “Travel when you’re young because you’ll regret it when you’re older. Money will always return, but time won’t. Work towards your goals, but remember to enjoy life as it goes.” That is the reason why I pursued my Masters of Physiotherapy (University College Dublin) in Ireland. It also inspired me to achieve my goals but to also see the beauty in exploring the unknown.
The real question is WHY NOT? Here’s another crazy story – despite knowing I wanted to pursue physical therapy, I was dreading the application processes during the fourth year of my bachelors program. I wanted to do something different and not follow the same path everyone had seemed to take. There were only a few schools in Canada but none of them sparked any interest from me. Coming from a small city of Windsor, I had big dreams. One day, I was casually strolling to school from the main campus to go to the Human Kinetics building. As I entered the lounge to study and wait for my friends to show up – as a daydreamer, I looked up and noticed a flyer on the bulletin board. The flyer was royal blue and it had big, bold letters, “STUDY IN IRELAND” and other details such as Atlantic Bridge. I felt as though nothing else mattered in that lounge besides me and the flyer. I believe in signs, coincidences, you name it – I believe it! I instantly ripped the flyer off the bulletin board and immediately researched online. But why Irish Universities you may ask still? Here are the following reasons:
Accreditation;
Irish universities are checked by an authority on education to ensure it meets the established standards of quality in Canada;
Curriculum is similar to Canada;
Lectures and modules include research and modules that may be applicable to Canada;
Examples include use of modalities for treatment;
Clinical hours are sufficient to apply and become a license physiotherapist (Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators);
Provides options In working in Ireland or Northern Ireland;
Examples of sites: Wexford, Sligo, Dublin;
Lots of history and culture;
Famous monuments, museums, sites, experiences;
Examples: The Cliffs of Moher, Blarney Castle and Gardens, Titanic Belfast, Giant’s Causeway;
6 hours and 35 minute flight from Toronto to Dublin;
Not an extensively long flight, comfortable;
Aer Lingus and Air Canada are great airlines to be flying with;
Opportunity to live abroad;
Learn more about yourself;
Develop important life skills and responsibilities such as being adaptable, flexible, time management, etc.;
Clinical placements in specialized areas: pediatrics, oncology, women’s health, etc.;
Opportunity to travel in Europe;
Cheap flight tickets compared to other regions of the world;
Fun fact: the cheapest ticket I have ever purchased was 5 euros! (From Dublin to Brussels);
Meet Irish people and international students;
Lifelong friendships and ongoing support;
Learn a new language and traditions;
Gaelic is the Irish language;
If I’m being completely honest with you, it was the best decision to go forward with Atlantic Bridge. They have made everything run very smoothly and kept me updated in a timely manner. Here are some of the benefits in going forward with Atlantic Bridge (and these are just a select few, meaning there’s more!):
Quick email responses and phone calls;
Help navigate through different school systems;
Provides expectations and ongoing assistance;
Help set up zoom interviews;
Provide tips and advice for moving abroad;
Great source of a travel guide;
Extremely supportive of their students;
Very reliable;
Active on social media platforms: instagram, LinkedIn, twitter;
I’d like to give my thanks to Atlantic Bridge as they are pivotal to my success now. I’ve recommended it to other friends who are interested in studying abroad in Ireland. This is not limited to physical therapy either – medicine, dentistry and other fields are offered. I truly believe a keen student like you would receive the best service provided by Atlantic Bridge.
I’ve always been a travel bug at heart. I was excited to move to another country and explore the unknown! I will say, the transition to moving abroad was a bit more simpler than you think. Prior to moving abroad, you get to meet your other roommates online! The second I got off the airplane – there was someone from University College Dublin (UCD) to accompany me to a shuttle bus that directly took us (by us I mean other students) from the airport to UCD’s accommodation. I had the opportunity to immediately meet other international students and students that came from Canada and other parts of the world as well.
UCD was great with providing resources – which I’ll explain in further detail in question #6. In terms of adjusting after moving to Ireland, it was a big transition from living with your parents to living on your own and with other roommates. One advice I would give you is making sure you pack some of your favourite things; whether it’s a picture frame of your loved ones, a favourite snack from home, a cozy blanket, or a Tims Horton French Vanilla Instant mix (or if you’re willing to take the train up to Belfast, there’s one Tim Hortons there!). For someone who’s a last minute packer (aka me), I made sure I didn’t make this same mistake after going home for the holidays. I made sure I packed the essential snacks I loved.
The tricky thing about the adjustment is that homesickness will show up out of nowhere. You begin to miss everyone and everything you’re familiar with. This is a normal feeling you might experience from time to time during your stay abroad and understand that there’s a lot of people experiencing the same feeling as you. However this is also reassurance provided by me that everything is going to be just fine. You might be asking, “Nina, how do I get over this feeling of being homesick!?” To overcome this feeling, I would schedule a phone call once every week or two to talk to my friends and family back home (I know it sounds a little tedious but it was great to plan because you had something to look forward to and it helps with figuring out the time zone differences). I also ate all my favourite snacks and shared them with my roommates and friends (You’d be surprised how many people haven’t tried Lays ketchup chips and the shocking surprise on their faces when they take a bite!). Lastly, my roommates and I created a shared dinner schedule where each roommate would write their name and type of dish they’ll be cooking once a week. For example, it would look like the calendar I’ve made below. We each take turns cooking for each other and eat at the dinner table as if we were back home, eating with our family. This made dinner time more enjoyable, sociable, and exciting to try different dishes from different nationalities. My roommates became a second family.
Typical Day as a Physiotherapy Student Attending Courses
Morning routine: wake up, brush teeth, skin care, eat breakfast
Check social media platforms
Commute to UCD Health Sciences Centre by bus
Attend musculoskeletal course/module focusing on theory
Socialize with classmates
Walk to Blue Bird Coffee on campus to buy coffee and snack
Attend musculoskeletal practical to learn hands on skills and interventions
Play basketball with friends at UCD outdoor court
Eat lunch and stay hydrated
Attend neurology course/module focusing on theory
Commute home with roommate by bus
Check social media platforms
Shower
Quick nap
Virtual zoom meeting with ISCP student council
Plan upcoming events for physiotherapy students
Prepare, cook, and eat dinner with roommates
Facetime friends and family back home
Movie night with roomates
Night routine: brush teeth, skin care
Pack backpack for the next day
Snooze
Typical Day as a Physiotherapy Student Attending Clinical Placement
Morning routine
Commute to the hospital by tram
Listen to podcast
Check social media platforms
Buy coffee in the cafe located in the hospital
Change to uniform
Commence work
Obtain caseload
MDT meeting
Review patient medical charts
Shadow physiotherapist/educator
Eat lunch with other students
Check social media platforms
Check-in point with tutor
Write SOAP notes
Joint session with physiotherapist and occupational therapist
Shadow cardiac rehabilitation class
Finish work
Change out of uniform
Commute home
Gym or outdoor activity (i.e., walking, rock climbing, biking)
Shower
Eat dinner with roommates
Walk to get ice cream
Review notes and research
Night routine
Snooze
UCD is great for resources and can be found throughout social media platforms, emails, etc. These are not limited to the following:
Official University College Dublin: https://www.facebook.com/universitycollegedublin
Facebook Group: University College Dublin Global – Incoming International and Exchange Students
UCD societies
instagrams:
Official University College Dublin: https://www.instagram.com/universitycollegedublin/
Prospective Students: https://www.instagram.com/myucd/
UCD Global: https://www.instagram.com/ucdglobal/
UCD Residence life: https://www.instagram.com/ucdreslife/
UCD Student Life: https://www.instagram.com/ucdstudentlife/
UCD Merch: https://www.instagram.com/ucdcollegecollection/
UCD Students’ Union: https://www.instagram.com/ucdsu/
Healthy UCD: https://www.instagram.com/healthyucd/
UCD Careers Network: https://www.instagram.com/ucdcareers/
UCD Health Sciences: https://www.instagram.com/healthsciences_ucdsu/
Other resources I’ve taken advantage of the university is listed as the following:
The UCD Student Counseling Service: https://www.ucd.ie/studentcounselling/
Free of charge
Easily accessible professional psychological support
UCD Library: https://www.ucd.ie/library/onlinetools/
Onesearch (library collections(
eJournals
Databases
Booking a study space
Digital Library
Free workshops and seminars
Gmail for students
Brightspace
School platform to access modules, notes, etc.
Google Drive
Microsoft Office 365
UCD Societies and Clubs: https://societies.ucd.ie/directory/
International Students Society: https://societies.ucd.ie/international/
UCD Nutrition Society
UCD Health Centre
UCD Gym: https://www.ucd.ie/sportandsocieties.htm
2 gym locations
Swimming pool
Sports clubs list: https://www.ucd.ie/sport/clubs/clublist/
Fun fact! I was following UCD International Student Society (https://www.instagram.com/issucd/) and was attempting to win a giveaway. A few weeks later, I won 3 tickets to go to a gala at the Clontarf Castle. It was a great experience with fine dining, live music and DJ, and an experience! It’s a great way to meet new friends and find opportunities to travel with other students to Ireland’s gems.
I’ll tell you the best kept secret (maybe a few more because I can’t choose the best one) – but you have to promise me you’ll go explore and check it out.
There are so many nature trails on UCD campus that it feels like you’re going on a mini hike every single time you explore a new one. Perfect terrain for a light jog or a nice stroll with your friends. If you’re lucky, you might actually see a fox! It’s a rare sighting but there’s a few harmless ones that roam around from time to time. In addition, there’s a secret lake – you’ll have to explore that one on your own (can’t tell you the coordinates or anything or it’ll ruin the fun!).
One of the best (not so secret) things about the university are their coffee shops. There are a few on campus and a few more just outside of the campus. They know how to make their coffee very well. Sometimes they have cute pop up coffee trucks as well! My preferred cafe shops on and near campus are:
Blue Bird Coffee Roasters;
Poolside Cafe;
Grounded Coffee;
Union Cafe;
Box’d Coffee;
Sam’s Coffee House;
Another amazing thing UCD has is UCD bikes and Bleeper Bikes. You can use them with ease by downloading an app on your phone. It’s relatively cheap to rent the bikes out for a few hours and a great way to explore places.
Lastly, UCD has so many amazing studying spots that you can explore on campus. It can range from private study rooms to open concept (similar to a cafe style). There’s wifi throughout the entire campus, if you really wanted to – you could set up a blanket in the park and study! I’ve done it plenty of times.
The following list comprises of student bodies, research, and clinical placements/internships I have been involved with:
Student body:
The Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists (ISCP) Student Council: 1st and 2nd year Representative for UCD
UCD Student Union: Class Representative for Masters of Physiotherapy
Research:
https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.13615
Obesity Reviews Journal
Correlates of physical activity and sedentary behavior in adults living with overweight and obesity: systematic review
Accepted on July 13, 2023 and currently in production to be published and have open access soon
Clinical Placements/Internships
Specialized fields of physiotherapy with the location:department respectively
National Orthopedic Hospital Cappagh: Inpatient and Outpatient Physiotherapy
Beacon Hospital: Inpatient Oncology
These experiences got me outside of my comfort zone and as a result, I learned tremendous amounts from my peers, educators, and other healthcare professionals. For being a part of the student bodies, I’ve had previous experience during my undergraduate degree. I truly believe it’s important to be a leader and promote advocacy for the program. This allows ongoing improvements and raises important concerns in the educational system, especially for the program of Physiotherapy, and to support your peers in an academic setting. In comparison to research, it was my first time working with colleagues to publish a systematic review. The encouragement and guidance from my professor allowed me to expand my knowledge, skills, and confidence in the world of research. Lastly, the clinical placements listed above were a great way to better understand different specializations and discover what I liked/disliked for a potential future specialization. I’ve had the amazing opportunities to shadow and work alongside physiotherapists to perform pre-rehabilitation, observe surgery, and post-rehabilitation. It helped me understand how to provide the best quality of care to patients and to become a better physiotherapy student.
I’ve arranged with the head of the department to have the class representative from the year before and the present year (me) to exchange contact information (i.e., email, phone number). We got in touch to have our classmates meet, similar to a buddy system. This allows us to not only be prepared for upcoming clinical placements, but receive assistance for any academic projects/assignments, and the next steps after graduation (i.e., process of credentialing, applying for license exam in Canada).
The program for UCD also prepares you for the next steps after graduation if you’re keen to work in Ireland, Canada, and New Zealand (which are the popular destinations people wish to work in). By doing so, they offer multiple workshops both online and in-person with powerpoint presentations and documents to be sent to you by email afterwards. UCD also provides and sends documents (such as proof of clinical hours, academic transcripts, etc) to the appropriate regulating body on your behalf and request. It can be quite daunting to be unsure of what to do after graduation, but I can assure you that everything works out!
Another way of preparing for your next steps after graduation is writing down your goals and ambitions. It sounds simple – it takes a bit of time to think about what you want to do next. Some questions that can probe your thinking:
Where do I see myself in the next few years? (Further education, becoming a licensed physiotherapist, etc.);
Which country would I like to reside in and work? (Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, etc.);
Which clinical setting do I prefer working in? (Hospital, private practice, research);
What are the requirements from the appropriate regulating body? (CORU, CAPR, etc.);
I’m currently in the process of becoming a licensed physiotherapist in Canada. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I’d love to help you as much as I can!
Originally, I wish I knew someone that could’ve told me all the things I’ve just written and shared to you or had some sort of idea/resource as to what I was getting myself into. But upon reflection, I’m extremely happy I took the leap and just went for it. But here’s me, being a sister to you, the readers, and to provide reassurance that everything is going to work out. Don’t be afraid to apply, if you’ve been dreaming of this moment – “JUST DO IT,” as the famous slogan by Nike states. There might be some challenges you might face along the way of your journey, but you’ll be able to overcome them. Traveling and living abroad is one of the greatest ways to learn more about yourself and expand your horizons. You will definitely meet some of your lifelong friends here and go on adventures that’ll become the greatest stories yet to be told. Lastly, don’t be afraid to ask for help and seek advice! If you have any questions, I’d be happy to answer them. Live your life to the fullest!
Copyright ©️ 2016–2024
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