Former College Athlete to Aspiring Physical Therapist: How Kristen Daley is Making it Happen
“I committed to play basketball for the University of Pennsylvania when I was just 16, and I had no idea what I wanted to do for a living. But ironically, the last game of my college career was against PC, and it ended up being an end to one part of my life that bridged over to the next.”
Now, two years later, Kristen Daley knows exactly what she wants to do with her life – help people to heal through physical therapy – and she’s well on her way to achieving it. Daley says that what began as a passion for sports has grown into a professional calling.
“I’m the youngest of three girls, and all three of us played basketball. I’ve always loved the game,” she says. “But I was so young when I committed to play for U Penn that by the time I even discovered sports medicine or rehab as a possible career, it was too late.”
“I was already committed to the university and they didn’t offer a major in that area. But throughout everything I did during my undergrad years, from the health-related classes I was able to take to the athletic training I had as a basketball player, everything kept circling back to physical therapy for me,” Daley says.
So after completing her basketball career at U Penn, along with a degree that didn’t align with her new-found professional goals, Daley made a quick pivot. Just two weeks after graduating with her bachelor’s degree, the Sharon, Massachusetts native moved back home and enrolled in the Pre-Med/Pre-Health Certificate program at Providence College School of Continuing Education (SCE).
“When I moved back home, I also got a job as a physical therapy aide to get my feet wet and begin to immerse myself in what the day-to-day work would be like,” Daley says.
“I’ve always felt the best way to figure out if something works for you or not is to be immersed in it. I’ve also always been attracted to close-knit, team environments, probably from being an athlete all my life. I chose the Pre-Med/Pre-Health program at SCE because it allowed me to have both of those things.”
“The night classes were really affordable and allowed me to work as an aide during the day so I could get the experience I wanted and also cover my financial needs. It basically allowed me to live my life while I was also trying to better the life I was living. And the people I was surrounded by in the program were awesome, because they were all in the same boat. We were all there to get to that next place we wanted to be, which created a huge shift in mentality and a lot of motivation among us.”
Daley says the faculty in the program were no exception.
“If a professor enjoys what they’re doing, it’s almost contagious and makes you want to learn more. That’s how it was with all the professors [at SCE]. They were not only very understanding of where we’re coming from as working adults, but they also created a really fun and productive environment as well. And my classes were really small, just eight or nine students, so I really got to form some great connections.”
In just two years, Daley was able to complete the missing coursework she needed for entry into graduate school to become a physical therapist. Now, she’s working toward her doctorate of Physical Therapy and preparing to enter the field.
“I’m not sure yet if I’ll pursue the sports medicine and training route or if I’ll focus on rehabilitation, but I’m definitely going to keep my mind open. I’ve found that’s the easiest way to let the right thing find you,” she says.
“If I can give one piece of advice to other people out there who are thinking about going back to school or doing something different with their career, I’d say just take that leap of faith. Just do it and try it out. It’s the only way to find what’s best for you.”
Related Resources
Pre-Med/Pre-Health Certificate Program
All Degree, Certificate and Professional Development Programs at PC SCE
