Reflection Essay Aylissa Ramirez

Ramirez 1 Aylissa Ramirez Jaime Tigue PHYE 160-C01W 12/12/12 Reflection Essay Physical education and fitness werent always a first priority for me. As I grew older I was more aware of the health related; good or bad, consequences that came along with fitness. At the beginning of the semester I assumed this class was going to be like a health and wellness class. However this class dug deeper; it helped me realize what my story is. This class gave me the motivation to share my passion about my experience with physical education. After reading the chapters from Physical Education, Fitness & Sport, I feel as if I understand the history behind physical education and a physical education profession. I have found historic role models that have given me the motivation to follow through with my goals. This class helped me predict a future for myself and how I want to begin getting ahold of it. Historical Practices, Philosophies, and Trends Historical practices were usually based off of stereotypes between gender and age. Women and children were seen as weak, physically and mentally. In Chapter 6 of Physical Education, Fitness & Sport it states that; Access to training and competition in sport has historically been denied to women. Women did not participate in activities required them to use physical strength. Not only were women disallowed from competition --- they could not even watch! (Siedentop pg.148). Men on the other hand were born leaders as the phrase goes. It was expected of them to exceed in activities that tested strength and energy. Chapter 6 also states that during the Olympic Games the competition was available only to male citizens

Ramirez 2 (Siedentop pg 148). The power to man was given greatly by the philosophy of Muscular Christianity. In the 1800s gymnastics was the way to be fit. Gymnastics were not the modern day flexibility exercises; it was a way of challenging oneself on how strong a person was. When Muscular Christianity came about it brought morals and religion into the mix of sport and fitness. My philosophy is that if a person wants to be a certain way or do a certain thing they will find the motivation they need to become that way and be someone that people can be proud of. Women had the motivation to have their voice heard. Tired of being seen as weak they fought to be who they wanted to be. In 1972 Title IX was passed giving women equal rights for sports and fitness (Siedentop pg. 49). Changing Philosophies in Physical Education, Fitness, and Sport The word play is heard as something that children do at recess. Christianity once believed that play was an action that leaded toward sin. Playing in organized games and sports were even seen as going against the Christian religion. It is hard to believe that an action that is so innocent now was seen as something that was frowned upon. Luckily play was reborn. The man that led the revolution of play was Frobel. Frobels work was important in recognizing play as a positive educational process(Seidentop p.66). Play soon found its way into schools, known as Play Education. Like any good idea Play Education came with goals, one of them wanting students to find their passion within an activity. Usually when a person finds something they like and that they are passionate about they dont quit easily. It wasnt likely for students to quit a sport that they had been practicing for years and had acquired the right skills. Play Education was conjured up in the 1970s, over a decade later

Ramirez 3 in 1986 a new education sprouted up; Sport Education. Sport Education became a success because it was organized and taught athletes the quality of good sportsmanship they needed to be on a team. I believe in this re-born philosophy of play. Play is something that gives not only children but the earths population motivation to get up and move. I am spiritually healthy, however I would never believe that play is an intentional way to bring sin into ones life. Past Experiences in Physical Education, Fitness, and Sport High school was a life experience in itself; add fitness and sport in the mix, there wasnt a possible way to have bad high school years. In high school I was on the varsity bowling team; my senior year the team won state. If it hadnt been for the years before of practicing and keeping my health in good shape I may not have even made it to see state. High school is where I gain the majority of my confidence. I continued a fit life after graduation and found myself training for a half marathon. April of 2012 I completed my first half marathon; there is no words to express how phenomenal that accomplishment feels, physically and mentally. For me, before high school; fitness wasnt a part of my every day vocabulary. I dreaded going to physical education classes where the teachers were nothing close to being an inspiration or a motivator of being fit. At my lowest point of my fitness life I was faking sick just so I wouldnt have to run a few laps. I am disappointed in my past self; I feel as if I could have found my fit self sooner if I had proper role models. My past experiences have helped me tremendously. Now I know which direction I want to take my profession. Ive known since high school that I would like to become a physical

Ramirez 4 therapist. After thinking about my past I realize what I want to be more than a physical therapist; I want to be a positive role model for motivating people to want to become healthy.

Professional Opportunities Physical therapy branches off into different specific fields that are offered at different facilities. Physical therapists are stationed at hospitals, community health centers, sport facilities and rehabilitation centers. The opportunities are endless for people with an education in physical therapy. According to the author, Daryl Siedentop, Physical therapists can become certified as clinical specialists in seven areas: pediatrics, geriatrics, sports physical therapy, cardiopulmonary, clinical electrophysiology, neurology and orthopedics. (Siedentop pg210) To become a successful physical therapist certain requirements and skills must be attained. First and foremost the proper education is required. Aspiring physical therapist should study an array of sciences, which can include chemistry and physics. Also a license is needed to become a physical therapist; a licensing exam is unique for every state. On top of the education and license potential physical therapists must have qualities about them that would make them successful in their career. The person must know how to examine patients, have good interpersonal skills for educating patients, and be in good physical condition to assist the patients (Hibma). Becoming a physical therapist has been a dream of mine for years now. I am a friendly person that works well with individuals one on one. I am healthy and in good physical condition. I would have the capability to lift the patient or assist the patient during physical activity. Physical therapy is not only about physical strength; it has a lot to do with a

Ramirez 5 relationship between therapist and client. Communication is a strong characteristic of mine, making sure that the client knows what is expected of them if they want to improve their physical wellness needs to be communicated in a way that anyone would understand. Data about improvements and changes will need to be kept; this will be easily organized using computer skills. I am currently majoring in exercise science so that I may acquire the right education needed for a career in physical therapy. With the proper education I will gain the knowledge of the proper way to examine patients. The more I am educated in the right fields the more successful I will be in my career. Professional Goals I have a passion for helping people. Having a profession that is based on helping people is a reward in itself. I would like to work with sport injury patients; they are people that actually care about getting better. What Im most looking forward to is helping those people become closer to reaching their dream goals. I plan to graduate with my Associates Degree of Exercise Science in the Fall of 2013. I will do this by completing the required courses for my major and focusing on school. I want to focus on learning the material I need to know to be successful rather than just getting the material done. In the future I see myself being a proper role model not just for children but for adults as well. I plan to do this by staying healthy and explaining the importance of being healthy to my peers. A better understanding of health will cause a change for a healthy lifestyle. As a potential

Ramirez 6 physical therapist I want to be the motivator my clients will need to gain back their physical independence. Luck. Some define their lives off of it, others only think of the definition after acing an exam they hadnt studied for. When it comes to my future and my actions luck isnt a factor. I have a dream of how my future will become, I will not rely on luck to get me there. I want the satisfaction that my hard work got me there. After studying the history behind my potential career it only makes me more excited about the changes I can make in another persons life. I have given myself the inspiration to follow through with my goal and I will continue to hold onto that inspiration even after my dream career has come true. While going to school I am going to keep my eye on that role model that I want to become. I will not let myself fall short.

Ramirez 7 Work Cited Hibma, Taylor. "What Skills are Needed to become a Physical Therapist?." eHow. Web. 1 Nov 2012. <http://www.ehow.com/about_5082499_skills-needed-physical-therapist.html>. Siedentop, Daryl. Physical Education, Fitness & Sport. seventh. 142-150. Print.