If completing a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program is a marathon, then Julie Evan's obstacle-ridden path to even begin the St. Ambrose University DPT program was a climb up Everest. And the walk across the stage as she receives her DPT this December will ostensibly seem like a stroll through the park.
Julie was five months pregnant when she interviewed for the St. Ambrose DPT program, and her daughter was nine months old when she started the program. While being a full-time mother and student presents many challenges, Julie faced even more hurdles along the way.
"I worked for several years as an Athletic Trainer, and I thought that would be my career," Julie said. "My boss at the time kept telling me to go to physical therapy school, but that wasn't on my radar as a potential career, plus I did not have the prerequisites to apply."
Julie's opinion began to change when she was a Grad Assistant for the women's soccer team at Western Illinois University (WIU).
"I was extremely unhappy and overworked in my first semester. It became clear that athletic training was not for me. I knew the long, late hours would never fit into the family life I wanted to create."
She made what she calls 'the hardest decision she's ever made' when she decided not to continue pursuing her Master's degree at the end of her first semester at WIU.
"At that time, I thought I was having a midlife crisis at the age of 23," Julie laughs.
Julie Evans DPT '22
"A lot of the physical therapists I was working with happened to be grads from the St. Ambrose DPT program, so I was confident in the education they received."
Fast forward to 2016, and she found herself accepting a job with Rock Valley Physical Therapy as an Athletic Trainer at Davenport North High School, a position she hoped would fit better into the life she was building. This is also where she finally listened to the initial advice she had received early on about attending physical therapy school.
"I was working with so many physical therapists as part of my job. I finally had the exposure to see the difference between athletic training versus physical therapy. Plus, a lot of the physical therapists I was working with happened to be grads from the St. Ambrose DPT program, so I was confident in the education they received."
There was one problem: Julie still needed the prerequisites to apply to the St. Ambrose DPT program. Like every obstacle she encountered, Julie took a moment to take a deep breath and then began the hike up and over another obstacle.
"There was a lot I needed to do. I needed to retake Anatomy and Physiology for better grades and take Biology, Chemistry, and Physics for the first time - all while maintaining my full-time 40 hours per week job."
Despite the pressure, Julie completed all these courses at Scott Community College. She also married her long-time boyfriend and got pregnant with their first child during this time. Yes, she may thrive off stress.
"I was fortunate enough to be accepted into the DPT program in their early admission for the fall of 2020. So I planned to resign from my job once I had my daughter in December 2019 and focus on being a mom, finishing my prerequisites, and getting ready to start at St. Ambrose."
While readers sigh with relief, life gave Julie yet another obstacle. She developed preeclampsia and had her baby almost six weeks early. It seems unbearable to mention that she also developed postpartum depression during this time as well. She thought her dreams of PT school were over or at least sidelined. Thanks to a supportive family and Physics professor, Julie still managed to finish her prerequisites.
"I was finally ready to start the DPT program in the fall of 2020."
We all know what happened in 2020. Yes, COVID-19. Huge mountain, meet Julie.
"I have not walked across the stage just yet, but I am close enough to say it was all worth it."
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