We were lucky to catch up with Ariel Johnson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Ariel, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you get your first job in the field that you practice in today?

I graduated in the middle of the pandemic in 2020. I wanted to get into travel therapy, but the market was awesome. So I started studying for my board exams and ended up failing my first attempt. After that I ended up taking a travel job that gave me some support while continue to study for my exam again. Once I pass my exam and November 20 20 I started working for a company and traveling to different locations and the Atlanta area. I had very different goals for what I thought it would look like entering the workforce. I thought I was going to go to Houston and travel a lot of different places but I’m happy I ended up in Atlanta, Georgia and was able to build a network of people around me at this point which started out as a Travel job has turned into me, laying permanent roots down and exploring long-term options.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I work as a physical therapist and an outpatient clinic. I work with patients after surgery, kids after injury, and even the elderly after falls. As a woman of color, I am aware of the lack of representation in my field. Therefore, I decided a few years ago to position myself to become a role model for more people of color to be in the field. I mentor other potential students and those interested in the field as well as sharing daily obstacles so everyone can get a better idea of what it means, and what it looks like to be a physical therapist. The whole purpose of sharing my experiences is to provide representation in the field, because I believe that we need to have more healthcare workers that look like the people that we provide healthcare services to.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

As I mentioned, the first time, I took my board exam and did not pass. I think this was one of the most devastating obstacles I had in the course of my path. This struggle taught me a lot about my resilience, diligence, and managing anxiety and any limiting beliefs that keep me from attaining my goals.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

Compassion, determination, and patience are by far some of the biggest qualities that are helpful to succeeding in the field. Adaptability is another thing that I’ve grown to appreciate as I travel to different clinics because as you work with different coworkers and doctors, even patients, you have to be able to recognize what a persons needs are, and be able to communicate to them. Compassion and patience are two elements that help to achieve this goal. Overall the amount of school and rigorous coursework that it takes to become a physical therapist is unattainable without a deep sense of determination.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://msha.ke/theptbae?fbclid=PAAaa7ZP6bMb1GyNndYEoQnzBGklPupKA32Q8iPrIWOIJ4aWTHmnc456wizmU
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/theptbae?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
• Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/theptbae
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCQhmNJR4k0PzniebmHK64Fw