Page 8 - OPTA Access Spring 2020

STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS RECAP
APTA National Student
Conclave Recap
Nick Fresenko, SPT – Youngstown State University
This year, I attended the APTA’s National Student Conclave
(NSC) event in Albuquerque, New Mexico . NSC is an event that is organized by students, specifically for students. It is because of this that there is an energy that is unlike any other event I have ever been to . This energy was one of excitement and passion for the future of the physical therapy profession . I would like to share a few things that I took away from this conference .
Number one, it turns out it gets cold in Albuquerque . While packing for my trip, I thought to myself “New Mexico is south and it’s warm in the south so let’s pack lots of shorts and t-shirts.” A little bit of research beforehand would have told me that Albuquerque is at an elevation of 5,312 feet and in a desert . This means at night, it gets cold . I didn’t pack nearly enough warm clothing, so I had to be sure to wear plenty of layers once it got dark .
Number two, be present if you want to go far in your career
and make the most of your time at a national conference . There were so many great speakers at NSC this year . I was able to hear from professional athletes, radio host turned PT, professors, early professionals, and fellow students . The biggest takeaway I had from almost every one of their stories was that they weren’t
afraid to attend national conferences and speak to people that they considered an inspiration . If they had not put themselves out there, they wouldn’t have been so successful and where they are today . I never want to miss another conference after attending NSC . I now understand how networking will help me gain job opportunities and grow professionally that I can only experience at large national conferences .
Number three, my personal favorite takeaway, was meeting hundreds of new friends and colleagues . With over 500 fellow students attending the conference, I was fortunate enough to talk with people from all over the country . I made friends with students from Puerto Rico, Missouri, Nevada, Connecticut, New Mexico, and many other places . The best part about this trip to me was the relationships I made with these fellow students . We all had the common interest of getting involved within the APTA and learning as much as possible at the conference . Between
the conversations about our futures in the PT profession, and
the fun times we had at events like the PT PAC night, or PT Pub Night, I know I have made life-long friends that will be resources throughout my career in physical therapy .
If you are a student considering going to NSC in 2020, I highly recommend going! This conference made me so excited for my future as a PT . I want to get involved within the APTA and make an impact so our profession stays as great as it is and continues to grow . NSC made me excited for future conferences so I can see all of my new friends and colleagues . I will never forget this conference . I’ll always remember it as the one that gave me the push to step up and make a difference within my profession .
(left) Nick Fresenko with fellow YSU students Lindsey Jubina and Owen Rasmussen.
(right) Student speaker James Nowak, from Utica College, got a selfie
with Nick and the other students that attended the session.
This session was titled “Audacity or Advocacy: Essentials for Advancing You and Your Profession”.
8 | March 2020 | OPTA