Meet Kristin Ridenour
Like many students who come to East Tennessee State University from other regions of the country, physical therapy (PT) student Kristin Ridenour was drawn to both the program and the place.
“After visiting Johnson City for my interview, I knew this is where I belonged,” said Kristin, a Georgia native who completed her undergraduate degree at Jacksonville University in Florida. “I loved the town, the mountains, and most importantly, the PT staff and faculty, who were very welcoming.”
As a student in the Physical Therapy program, which is housed in the Department of Rehabilitative Sciences in the College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences, Kristin was able to get to know the area even better through clinical placements.
When she graduates with her doctor of physical therapy (DPT) degree on Dec. 12, 2020, she is looking forward to remaining in the area to practice and continuing to gain experience while networking with local health care professionals.
What are some of your most rewarding experiences since you came to ETSU?
The most rewarding experience since coming to ETSU is having the opportunity to build so many relationships along the way. The relationships that I have built are what have molded me into the PT that I will become.
From my professors to my clinical instructors to my former employers at the CPA (Wayne G. Basler Center for Physical Activity), I have learned something from every single individual that I will hold on to and utilize in my personal life and in my professional career forever. These individuals presented many rewarding opportunities to me that I would never have gotten to be a part of if it weren’t for them. Some examples include: volunteering at Crumley House to treat patients who have suffered from traumatic brain injury; volunteering with AdaptoPlay, which focuses on creating and using mobility devices and toys to create opportunities for play for children who are differently abled; and getting to be a part of a research study with a professor.
Second to that, it was here at ETSU that I found my passion for treating patients in the acute care setting. And that goes back to having great mentors teaching me to be compassionate and empathetic and to provide the absolute best care to each and every patient. That is truly the most rewarding experience I could ever ask for.
How has COVID-19 affected your final semester at ETSU?
Fortunately, 14 weeks of the 16-week semester were spent in our final internship, which was not affected by COVID-19. Graduation and the hooding ceremony, on the other hand, are virtual. I have missed spending time with classmates during the most exciting time in our schooling due to not wanting to risk exposure. Other than that, I will still get to celebrate graduation with my family, which is most important to me.
What lessons have you learned from the adaptations you have had to make due to COVID-19?
I learned from my college lacrosse coach that how one responds to adversity is the difference between being successful and not successful. So, I have developed this mindset over the years to control the controllable things in my life and not stress over the uncontrollable things. COVID-19 is something completely out of my control. What is in my control is what I can do: follow the CDC guidelines regarding COVID-19, and continue to do what I’m asked to do for school. With that said, the lessons I have learned are to go with the flow and don’t waste time stressing over things I can’t control.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time to relieve stress?
When I’m not studying, I enjoy working out and cooking. Throughout PT school, I put an emphasis on getting away from the books for an hour or two every day. I felt like that gave my mind time to rest and process all the information it was trying to take in.