Alexa Schultz

Tell us about you and your experience at Parkside.  

I am a first-year undergraduate student majoring in Pre-Physical therapy. I want to be a physical therapist due to an athletic career-ending injury I had my senior year of high school that put a new perspective on rehab and how important it is to heal your body the right way- everyone's journey is different. I always wanted to find a job that could combine my academic and social/creative side which for the longest time I didn't think was possible. When I discovered physical therapy something clicked and I knew it was the right fit. The Pre Health Club on campus has really helped me dip my toes in to the medical field and see all the possibilities. 

My senior year I was committed to play college volleyball and ultimately gave that up due to my injury which put a pretty large dent in my mental health. At 18 years old my whole future seemed to be flipped around and now I am also a big advocate for mental health for students and athletes. It makes me curious about a Psychology minor. I am extremely glad I ended up at Parkside, the graduate school acceptance rate was one of my big pulls. I love the small campus after coming from a small high school. Living in the dorms is an amazing experience, I have met so many friends living in my wing. I am also involved in music. I was in theatre and choir in high school and continue to sing with the university choir at Parkside. I am excited for everything I can do here in the next three years.
 

What impact has your scholarship had on you?

This scholarship has been an incredible blessing to me because it allows me to save more money for when I go to graduate school for my doctorate. All you ever hear people talk about after grad school is loans. Hundreds of thousands of dollars of them. This scholarship is pushing me in the direction of cutting down that amount and allowing me to put less money towards undergraduate so that I can complete first step to getting my DPT and making a real difference. Currently I am working 25 hours a week while being a full time student. My entire semester of work will add up to the amount this scholarship has given me, so putting that in perspective really shows how impactful this scholarship was to me.
 

What is a specific goal that felt "out of reach" last year but feels achievable today because of the scholarship you received?

As of right now this scholarship gave me that extra nudge I need to come out of my undergrad debt free and a little over a year ago I never would have thought that was possible. The shock of my valedictorian award and this scholarship truly made a massive difference for me financially.

Thank you to the donors who make these scholarships possible through the UW-Parkside Foundation. Your support helps our students focus on their studies and reach their full potential. To learn more about how you can make a difference, visit uwp.edu/giving.