April 24, 2025 • 26 mins
APTA Nebraska's Student Special Interest Group (NSSIG) executive board shares their journeys to leadership and why professional engagement matters for PT students and new graduates.
• Student leaders from NSSIG discuss their paths to executive board positions
• Service backgrounds range from extensive leadership experience to first-time involvement
• Board members emphasize that professional service creates valuable networking opportunities across PT/PTA programs
• NSSIG organizes the annual Conclave and biennial National Advocacy Dinner
• Students plan to maintain APTA membership after graduation for advocacy opportunities, professional development, and resources
• Membership benefits like discounts on shoes, hotels and professional resources provide additional value
• Board members encourage hesitant students to get involved, emphasizing that NSSIG can adapt to students' interests and time limitations
• Professional engagement helps students prepare for advocacy throughout their careers
Reach out to the NSSIG board about upcoming events or to provide feedback on what you'd like to see from your student organization!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to the APTA Nebraska podcast, where we dive
into the stories, challenges andinnovations shaping physical
therapy in our state.
We're here to advance, promoteand protect the practice of
physical therapy, optimizing thehealth and quality of life for
all Nebraskans.
Join us as we connect withexperts, share insights and
(00:22):
build community throughout ourprofession.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Hey, welcome back to the APTA podcast.
My name is Brad Dexter.
I'm the host and, keeping inline with this theme, I wanted
to highlight some of the goodthings that are going on within
our state organization APTANebraska.
I reached out to our studentspecial interest group in SIG to
see if our exec board wouldwant to sit down and just talk
(00:49):
through some of the things thatthey've been doing, what they've
learned from being part of theorganization and yeah so I
thought this would be a greattime to kind of highlight the
good work that they're doing andhopefully create some vision
for future students down theroad too.
So I'm going to let you guys doyour own introductions.
(01:11):
So I'm going to ask you can youtell our audience what is your
name?
Speaker 5 (01:15):
What.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
PT school.
Are you attending right now aswell?
Speaker 3 (01:21):
My name is Alex Benson, I'm attending UNMC and I
am the current president of.
Speaker 5 (01:27):
NSIG.
My name is Tristan Larson.
I am a second year PT student,also at UNMC, and I'm currently
serving as NSIG's vice president.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
My name is Zach Meditz, I am a UNMC student, pt2
, and I am the treasurer forNSIG.
Speaker 6 (01:43):
My name is Ximena Álvarez-Maraña.
I am the current secretary forNSIG.
I am also a PT2 at UNMSE.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
So can you guys tell me, how did you end up on the
board?
Speaker 4 (01:56):
Were you voted into these positions.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
Did you just sign up on a piece of paper?
Where does that look?
Speaker 3 (02:01):
like so I can go first.
For me it was a little bit of alike natural progression,
because I served as the NSIG repfor our Synapta board.
So when I saw that there wereopportunities to get more
involved, I just kind of leapton it, put my name into the ring
and then we were elected, andthat was last spring.
Speaker 5 (02:23):
Yeah, I would say similarly, I was interested in
joining NSIG because I thoughtit was a unique opportunity to
get to work with students fromother schools, not just UNMC,
and so I just wanted to try itout.
So I literally just put my nameon the form and then we get
voted in, and so I was luckyenough to get voted into vice
president we get voted in.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
So I was lucky enough to get voted into vice
president.
I had just finished working asa co-director for joint effort,
which is something that we workwith Creighton to do, and I
wanted something else, to beable to step into a position for
you to get to work with otherschools, other people outside of
UMC, and there was a spot open,so I put my name down and got
voted into it.
Speaker 6 (03:07):
For me.
I kind of got introduced to itthrough Alex.
We are friends here at schoolso it was kind of almost like a
natural interest.
After she introduced me to it Iwent to the Conclave as just a
student, got really interestedin it, and when elections came
(03:27):
up I saw my opportunity to putmy name in there.
So I am here now.
So I think it was a good thing.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Have you guys all Zach, you kind of mentioned this
a little bit, but have you guysall served in other capacities
too?
Is this something that you'vedone through a lot of your life,
Like, look, you know, noteveryone wants to sign up to do
something like this.
Why did you move in thisdirection?
Speaker 3 (03:53):
I mean, yeah, for me it's kind of been something that
I've done throughout my life invarious different ways, like
I've led student groups inundergrad and high school.
You know, first semester here Idecided to reach out to the
president of student Senate atUNMC because I saw an open seat,
so I joined Senate right away.
I really like being involvedand, most importantly, I think
(04:14):
collaboration amongst likeschools, programs and
professions is super important.
So having the ability andhaving a platform to try to make
that like more cohesive issuper important to me.
So being involved in it, yeah.
Speaker 5 (04:30):
I know I would have to agree and echo that I just I
love being involved in things.
Um, I like taking on leadershippositions, but I also like
taking on even followerpositions and and just jumping
into a role where I feel like Ineeded, I feel like I could fit.
I just like to stay busy.
I have throughout my time atUNC, so it it seems like I
(04:54):
should just join.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
I'm a little bit of the opposite from these guys.
I, you know, I was involved inour track team in a small
undergrad, was the treasurer atour pre-med club 15 people so I
haven't been super involved allthat much, but I kind of fell in
love with the type of positionsand being able to work with
(05:18):
people doing joint efforts.
So again, once that ended Ireally wanted to help out.
I had a lot of fun atcommonplace too.
So when any position I can getto help make that better for our
PT ones, the future.
Speaker 6 (05:31):
PT students.
That's why I got into it.
For me, I was really involvedin undergrad.
I served in one position forexec board there but in
undergrad I really found thelove for advocacy and just
trying to incorporate communityinto things we do.
So when it came to UNMC I was alittle bit apprehensive, just
(05:54):
because PG school can be scary.
I'm a first generation student,so it was just something that
I've never done before.
No one in my family hasexperienced it.
So when I came I was kind ofput off initially, and now that
I'm in my second year I think Ihave a better hold of it.
So I took it as a chance andI'm happy to be doing it so far.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Yeah, Thank you to all of you for serving first and
foremost.
Thank you to all of you forserving First and foremost.
I guess, when I often thinkabout service opportunities,
generally, one we know it'sgoing to take more time.
It's going to take time, it'sgoing to take thought, it can
take emotional energy.
All of those things are true,right, but when I think about
(06:43):
professionalism and diving intothe physical therapy profession,
service is something that we'realways promoting.
Right, we need to be in placeswhere certainly we're serving
our patients within the settingthat we're practicing in, but
there are always going to beopportunities to either serve
our profession or to servewithin our communities in
(07:05):
different capacities as well.
Speaker 4 (07:08):
And you guys and it doesn't have to just be NSIG,
can you guys?
Speaker 2 (07:11):
talk a little bit about, like what value you found
from being in service-orientedorganizations or positions.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
I mean.
So my background is a bitdifferent.
So like I've been involved inservice oriented kind of
positions, but in a verydifferent manner than I am now,
Like I did social work for awhile.
So I mean I've found benefit injust helping people who have
(07:45):
less, who have less opportunity,I don't know, helping them live
their life to the fullest.
I don't think that there is anymore important thing in the
world.
You know, kind of like what youwere saying about advocacy,
(08:06):
advocacy and just being I don'tknow being involved, helping the
community, helping peoplethrive in any role, I guess and
I hope to continue doing thatwith PT and like working with
underserved populations.
I don't know if that answersyour question.
You can't do a lot of answers,yeah, yeah, so I don't know.
I mean, I think there'sopportunity to do that in any
(08:26):
role that you have.
You just have to search for it.
I had mentioned that.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
I haven't really been in a whole lot of leadership
roles but I will say you know,my family was a lot, a lot of
girl helpings in our summers,volunteering pretty much any
chance we had, whether it wasthrough church or at you know,
serving food, organizing clothesfor different banks and things
like that.
So it was just kind ofsomething that was always
(08:55):
instilled when we were younger.
So I never, even looked at it assomething that you're like
choosing to do.
It's just something that I Iwill do, I have to do, and so
I've been taking that now andput it into this type of these
type of positions, where you'rein a leadership role to
influence, to be able to helpguide other people through
(09:17):
volunteer opportunities.
It's something that I'm lookingforward to, so it's quite good,
it's great.
Speaker 6 (09:24):
For me it was initially like ever since I can
remember I have been doing likecommunity service, kind of like
Zach mentioned, like clothingdrives or during Christmas time,
during Thanksgiving, justcollecting food and bringing it
over to families that were inneed.
So I think that kind of startedmy pathway to service.
(09:47):
Then in undergrad I had a newworld totally, with so many
people around me, so manydifferent um communities that I
could delve into.
And then, um once, once Istarted um considering PT, it
kind of just fit um perfectlyand I like once it truly did
(10:12):
click that I was going to becomea PT.
It just kind of meshedeverything in my life perfectly.
Kind of sounds cliche and likeit's too good.
It sounds too good to be true,but I truly did find my passion
in PT.
I had really good mentors inundergrad that just put a fire
(10:35):
under me that I just can't waitto continue once I become a
licensed PT.
So it's just something that Icontinue to have as a pathway in
my life.
Speaker 5 (10:49):
Yeah, yeah, and I think going into healthcare, we
all tend to be a littlesurface-based.
I mean, you're constant,especially in physical therapy,
because in PT it's a bit uniquebecause you're spending so much
time one-on-one with yourpatients, where maybe other
healthcare positions you don'tget to do that as much, and so
(11:11):
you're spending all this timewith people and you're listening
to their needs, you are puttingin all this time to help them
and serve them, um, and so Ithink just naturally, maybe
we're we're drawn to service alittle bit.
It makes me happy to help out,it makes me happy to listen, and
I like to make somebody stay umso nsig is a great opportunity
(11:32):
to do that, um same with anyother volunteer opportunity.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
So as people that have been serving with NSIG.
I've been elected, voted intothose positions.
Right?
What would you say to theprospective student that would
be interested in helping out,but maybe is a little bit
hesitant to jump in?
Speaker 5 (11:57):
do it.
Um, it's, it's such a goodopportunity and I think what's
so fun about mintsig is it's notthis super stressful.
Like high intensity, scholarly,academic.
You know, it's not this crazything that is going to feel like
work.
It feels fun, right.
(12:19):
We get to talk with studentsfrom other programs, we get to
meet with PTA students, we getto work with faculty Like it's
this great networkingopportunity that instead of work
, it really does feel likeyou're just going to meet people
and build your professionalism,talk to others, hear their
(12:39):
stories, uh, all around.
It's just, it's a greatexperience, both professionally
but, also just socially.
Speaker 3 (12:46):
It just it feels kind of like a good time yeah, and
like kind of echoing some ofthat, like it's a fun
organization and it's alsoreally cool just because you get
to know so many people, likeyou get to network.
But the best part about NSIG isit can be whatever you want it
to be.
So like we this year might dosomething completely different
than the next board wants to do.
(13:07):
Like, say, we go crazy andwe're like we're going to host
five events right this year,next year, if they're like no
way we want to put energy intolike one really awesome pub
night and then one other bigevent like awesome, you can make
it whatever you want to.
It's the organization for thestudents of Nebraska, run by the
(13:27):
students.
So there is no like correct orincorrect blueprint.
Right, you can just do whateveryou want with it blueprint
right you can just do whateveryou want with it.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
I think you know I have so much on my plate right
now or in school.
This is not I'm not going tosign up for in state or any
volunteer opportunities and Ikind of discussion several times
with my classmates and alwaysend up coming down to well what
are you?
Doing.
You know what are you fillingyour time with.
It's like this, this and this.
Yeah, I see how that's busy.
You could probably cut this outor be in order to follow through
(14:05):
this amount of time, to be ableto attend a 20-minute meeting
or spend, you know 30 minutes ofyour day focusing on, you know,
planning this certain amountand talking to your classmates
about some organizational thingyou're going to be doing, and
then we also come to theconclusion like we're going to
be busy for the rest of ourlives.
It doesn't matter what you,what you're doing.
You're always going to feellike you are at your limit and
(14:29):
it's kind of relative to yoursituation.
There's you're never going tofeel like, oh, this is, this is
the absolute sweet spot.
You're like you're never goingto feel like, oh, this is the
absolute sweet spot.
You're going to feel likeyou're doing everything.
You're doing nothing but whatyou're spending your time on and
being efficient with your time.
You should really be puttingyour energy into stuff that's
going to be benefiting yourfriends, your community, and I
(14:53):
think that's what this type oforganization was able to do.
And so that's the kind ofconversation I had as far as how
many days and how much timesome of these executive
positions take up with theirfellow classmates.
Speaker 6 (15:04):
I think for me as a newer exec member.
I didn't really know much aboutNSIG, just maybe wasn't
established as well before, butonce Alex introduced me to it,
it was just like almost like, ohyeah, duh, I'm gonna go and do
that because it's somethingthat's interesting.
(15:25):
Um, I keep going back to theconclave, but it was just like a
really good learning experienceum and I think, as PT students,
um, we're going to continuelearning all throughout our life
, so why not continue?
Well, why not start now andcontinue on later?
So I think, for me, how I seeit is students that get involved
(15:49):
with NS member.
It opens up a complete pathwayafter graduation, whether it's
networking, even jobopportunities.
For example, in the Conclave,they brought a travel PT agency.
That's a complete world thatopens up so many opportunities.
(16:10):
So it truly is something thatwe, as students, can use for our
future as professionals once wegraduate.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
You guys have so many mic drop movies we're using a
snowball mic so we can't exactlydrop it, but no, that was
fantastic.
You guys did a nice job ofreally just kind of highlighting
some of the work that you aredoing in NSIG.
But I do just want to pose thequestion in case we missed
anything Is there anything thatyou guys want to highlight that
(16:41):
you do?
That would be helpful for ouraudience to know.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
Well, so the big thing that NSIG does every year
is the conclave and every otheryear the national advocacy
dinner.
So it's still relatively theadvocacy dinner portion of it is
still relatively new thingbecause of Nebraska being
unicameral.
So, it occurs.
We've decided in the odd numberof years, right, so 2025, it's
(17:14):
going to be this year.
So that's always in the fall,even though advocacy month is
April.
We do it in the fall because itworks better, I think, for
numerous reasons.
We just have to fight Huskerfootball.
That's not that hard no, not atall.
But you know, that's kind ofthe big thing.
So that's kind of where we'veconcentrated our energy.
We want to do more things, likeTristan and I came up with a
billion ideas toward the end oflast year of like little
(17:37):
networking things that we wantto start to do throughout the
year to help with, like again,collaboration amongst all of the
programs, ptas and PTAs alike,because we're all going to be
co-workers, we're all workingfor the same purpose.
Like we should start I don'tknow commingling more, getting
(17:57):
to know each other, you know.
So we have a lot of littlethings that we'd like to start
doing throughout the year, butultimately, we want to know what
students want.
So we want, like, feedback fromstudents.
We want to know, like what,what is it that you want this
organization to be Like?
What do you want to see fromNSIG?
(18:18):
Do you want to see morenetworking events.
Do you want us to sponsorgoodie bags for finals weeks,
which we're going to be doing ina couple weeks for different
programs?
Um?
yeah, definitely we've just gota little camp for him he's set
up yep, um, but it goes back tothat whole like we get to make
it what we want to, and so ourenergy.
(18:39):
We're trying to put as much ofit into our big event while
maintaining, like, some smallerevents through the year where we
can get to know each other,provide collaboration
opportunities, provide educationabout advocacy, things like
that.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
I have a couple more questions for you guys.
One you are students right nowand, for our audience, I asked
if I could ask this questionbefore I'm asking it.
You're student members of APTAright now.
You guys are finishing up yoursecond year, getting ready to go
out on clinical rotations andwill graduate a year from now
(19:17):
and enter the workforce right.
Will you keep your APTAmembership, and why or why not?
Speaker 6 (19:25):
I Go ahead.
Speaker 5 (19:29):
So I'm currently an APTA member, which is really
nice.
As a student, you get variouslittle perks, whether that's a
discount on a pair of runningshoes or getting to join
different sections of APTA,maybe for free.
But when I go out into clinic,I am going to continue being an
(19:51):
APTA member, for a couplereasons.
One I like to be in the know,and I feel like when you're an
APTA member, you know what'sgoing on with the profession,
and that's just something that Iwant to be a part of.
I want to be in the know.
I want to know about ourpractice act.
I just I want to know what wegot going on in our state when
it comes to physical therapy, um, and then also, I want to still
(20:14):
have the resources.
Uh, that's something that I'vebeen thinking about as I'm
moving into clinicals.
I feel like I have all theresources in the world right now
because I'm a UNC student andso through the library, I can
look up any article I want, or Ihave open access to all this
stuff.
And so then I get a littlenervous when I'm not a student
(20:34):
anymore, like where does thataccess come from?
You know, where do I find themost current research without
paying an arm and a leg for it,and so I want to stay a part of
APTA, just for a lot of theresources that come with it.
Speaker 6 (20:49):
For me, in addition to all the things that Tristan
mentioned, it keeps my advocacydoor open, just because APTA
requires a lot of assistancefrom the members to make sure
that we can advocate for theneed of our patients or for a
(21:09):
specific bill that we're tryingto get passed for the benefit of
our patients.
So I think maintaining mymembership will continue to be
something that I do throughoutmy career, just because it's
something that I find reallyimportant in terms of advocacy,
in addition to all the perksthat we would get as members.
Speaker 4 (21:31):
I love this question.
We talk about this all the timewith my friends and classmates
because it's really comes up allthe time too, and I am a huge
advocate for keeping it.
I'm keeping it until I die.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
And you're having those conversations and, in all
fairness, there can be somevalid points on the other side.
They do, we go back and forth.
Speaker 4 (21:52):
The topics I always bring up is I'm sure if you
planned it out, you can get backall the money you spent on the
membership from all thediscounts you have.
I don't have the whole listwith me right now, but I have it
bookmarked in my email so I cango check on it and if I'm ever
buying something, let's see ifwe got a discount on this
(22:15):
Renting a car, things like that.
That's one of the big ones thatcomes up and it's also I don't
know how to write bills.
I love advocacy but I don'thave the power, energy, the
background to be able to do that.
I want someone to do it onbehalf of me so I can give a
little money that way, so thatwe can continue having that in
(22:37):
the state of Nebraska and acrossthe nation.
And I'm going to do that as longas possible.
I want them to be able to fightfor my living and what I love
to be doing for my patients andeverything like that.
And that basically ends theargument today it's like how are
you going to stop that Anothermic drop?
Speaker 3 (22:57):
on that, yep, and I mean I agree with these three
with everything that they said.
I think for me it's yeah, thediscounts are great, but the
professional development, likeall of the resources that we
have at our fingertips thanks toAPTA, and then keeping up to
date with advocacy becausethat's something that I'm very,
very passionate about and I'mgoing to continue throughout my
(23:17):
career I will be one of thosepeople that goes to the Capitol
to help advocate in person.
I think these three all knowthat I'm kind of a loud person
to the Capitol to help advocatein person.
I think these three all knowthat I'm kind of a loud person.
I'm very outspoken, I'm veryopinionated.
I'm not afraid to like make myvoice known.
Apta does a really good job ofletting us know when those
opportunities are and thensetting us up with opportunity
to like take part in them.
(23:38):
So I think that alone for me isenough reason to keep my
membership going.
Speaker 2 (23:44):
You guys brought up membership discounts, and so
we're gonna wrap up there and Iwant you guys to just tell our
audience what's maybe one or oneof your favorite membership
discounts that you've used.
Speaker 5 (23:59):
I love New Balance.
I love New Balance, I love NewBalance and.
Speaker 2 (24:04):
I'll say it again I love New Balance.
No I literally do.
Speaker 5 (24:06):
I have a pair just for clinical rotations.
I have a pair for running, Ihave a pair for walking, so I
like to use that as a converse.
You're wearing Nike's right now.
That's really nice.
Speaker 3 (24:20):
No one can see that for me, the deal like the
discount that I found not longago because I was looking at
hotels is that you can savemoney on hotels through member
deals, and so that's a big onefor me.
I like to travel.
I don't know.
Traveling is very expensive, soany amount of money that can be
(24:43):
saved for that is great.
Speaker 6 (24:46):
I have not delved into the discounts just yet but
maybe I'll go look at that newbalance.
But I will say I have joined tolike the sections um that are
free for students.
So I have multiple emails thatI get from those sections so I
found that very helpful.
Speaker 4 (25:01):
So far I have bought so many shoes.
Speaker 1 (25:05):
I'm not a New Balance fan, but I'm going to put you
in.
Speaker 4 (25:08):
Saccone, saucony that's another one that they
have discounts for, and Iusually just absolutely tear
through shoes and I'll wear themas long as possible.
That's not quite professional,so you want to keep up.
You know a nice look whenyou're in the clinic, so I got a
good rotation of shoes to beable to match outfits from from
that website, and that's notsomething I probably would have
(25:29):
been able to do.
You know, be able to affordthat and not have an apt to get
that shirt.
So that's my absolute favoritepart.
Speaker 2 (25:36):
That's great.
Well, thank you guys forsitting down and having a
conversation.
It was fun to hear a little bitmore about the work that you're
doing and I hope that this issomewhat inspiring and has some
vision for future students aswell.
Speaker 3 (25:49):
Thank you, thank you.
Speaker 1 (25:53):
Thanks for tuning in to the APTA Nebraska podcast.
Stay connected with us for moreconversations that elevate our
profession and improve the livesof Nebraskans.
Don't forget to subscribe,share and join the discussion,
because together we're drivingthe future of Nebraskans.
Don't forget to subscribe,share and join the discussion
because together we're drivingthe future of physical therapy
forward.
Welcome to the APTA Nebraska podcast, where we dive
into the stories, challenges andinnovations shaping physical
therapy in our state.
We're here to advance, promoteand protect the practice of
physical therapy, optimizing thehealth and quality of life for
all Nebraskans.
Join us as we connect withexperts, share insights and
(00:22):
build community throughout ourprofession.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Hey, welcome back to the APTA podcast.
My name is Brad Dexter.
I'm the host and, keeping inline with this theme, I wanted
to highlight some of the goodthings that are going on within
our state organization APTANebraska.
I reached out to our studentspecial interest group in SIG to
see if our exec board wouldwant to sit down and just talk
(00:49):
through some of the things thatthey've been doing, what they've
learned from being part of theorganization and yeah so I
thought this would be a greattime to kind of highlight the
good work that they're doing andhopefully create some vision
for future students down theroad too.
So I'm going to let you guys doyour own introductions.
(01:11):
So I'm going to ask you can youtell our audience what is your
name?
Speaker 5 (01:15):
What.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
PT school.
Are you attending right now aswell?
Speaker 3 (01:21):
My name is Alex Benson, I'm attending UNMC and I
am the current president of.
Speaker 5 (01:27):
NSIG.
My name is Tristan Larson.
I am a second year PT student,also at UNMC, and I'm currently
serving as NSIG's vice president.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
My name is Zach Meditz, I am a UNMC student, pt2
, and I am the treasurer forNSIG.
Speaker 6 (01:43):
My name is Ximena Álvarez-Maraña.
I am the current secretary forNSIG.
I am also a PT2 at UNMSE.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
So can you guys tell me, how did you end up on the
board?
Speaker 4 (01:56):
Were you voted into these positions.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
Did you just sign up on a piece of paper?
Where does that look?
Speaker 3 (02:01):
like so I can go first.
For me it was a little bit of alike natural progression,
because I served as the NSIG repfor our Synapta board.
So when I saw that there wereopportunities to get more
involved, I just kind of leapton it, put my name into the ring
and then we were elected, andthat was last spring.
Speaker 5 (02:23):
Yeah, I would say similarly, I was interested in
joining NSIG because I thoughtit was a unique opportunity to
get to work with students fromother schools, not just UNMC,
and so I just wanted to try itout.
So I literally just put my nameon the form and then we get
voted in, and so I was luckyenough to get voted into vice
president we get voted in.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
So I was lucky enough to get voted into vice
president.
I had just finished working asa co-director for joint effort,
which is something that we workwith Creighton to do, and I
wanted something else, to beable to step into a position for
you to get to work with otherschools, other people outside of
UMC, and there was a spot open,so I put my name down and got
voted into it.
Speaker 6 (03:07):
For me.
I kind of got introduced to itthrough Alex.
We are friends here at schoolso it was kind of almost like a
natural interest.
After she introduced me to it Iwent to the Conclave as just a
student, got really interestedin it, and when elections came
(03:27):
up I saw my opportunity to putmy name in there.
So I am here now.
So I think it was a good thing.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Have you guys all Zach, you kind of mentioned this
a little bit, but have you guysall served in other capacities
too?
Is this something that you'vedone through a lot of your life,
Like, look, you know, noteveryone wants to sign up to do
something like this.
Why did you move in thisdirection?
Speaker 3 (03:53):
I mean, yeah, for me it's kind of been something that
I've done throughout my life invarious different ways, like
I've led student groups inundergrad and high school.
You know, first semester here Idecided to reach out to the
president of student Senate atUNMC because I saw an open seat,
so I joined Senate right away.
I really like being involvedand, most importantly, I think
(04:14):
collaboration amongst likeschools, programs and
professions is super important.
So having the ability andhaving a platform to try to make
that like more cohesive issuper important to me.
So being involved in it, yeah.
Speaker 5 (04:30):
I know I would have to agree and echo that I just I
love being involved in things.
Um, I like taking on leadershippositions, but I also like
taking on even followerpositions and and just jumping
into a role where I feel like Ineeded, I feel like I could fit.
I just like to stay busy.
I have throughout my time atUNC, so it it seems like I
(04:54):
should just join.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
I'm a little bit of the opposite from these guys.
I, you know, I was involved inour track team in a small
undergrad, was the treasurer atour pre-med club 15 people so I
haven't been super involved allthat much, but I kind of fell in
love with the type of positionsand being able to work with
(05:18):
people doing joint efforts.
So again, once that ended Ireally wanted to help out.
I had a lot of fun atcommonplace too.
So when any position I can getto help make that better for our
PT ones, the future.
Speaker 6 (05:31):
PT students.
That's why I got into it.
For me, I was really involvedin undergrad.
I served in one position forexec board there but in
undergrad I really found thelove for advocacy and just
trying to incorporate communityinto things we do.
So when it came to UNMC I was alittle bit apprehensive, just
(05:54):
because PG school can be scary.
I'm a first generation student,so it was just something that
I've never done before.
No one in my family hasexperienced it.
So when I came I was kind ofput off initially, and now that
I'm in my second year I think Ihave a better hold of it.
So I took it as a chance andI'm happy to be doing it so far.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Yeah, Thank you to all of you for serving first and
foremost.
Thank you to all of you forserving First and foremost.
I guess, when I often thinkabout service opportunities,
generally, one we know it'sgoing to take more time.
It's going to take time, it'sgoing to take thought, it can
take emotional energy.
All of those things are true,right, but when I think about
(06:43):
professionalism and diving intothe physical therapy profession,
service is something that we'realways promoting.
Right, we need to be in placeswhere certainly we're serving
our patients within the settingthat we're practicing in, but
there are always going to beopportunities to either serve
our profession or to servewithin our communities in
(07:05):
different capacities as well.
Speaker 4 (07:08):
And you guys and it doesn't have to just be NSIG,
can you guys?
Speaker 2 (07:11):
talk a little bit about, like what value you found
from being in service-orientedorganizations or positions.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
I mean.
So my background is a bitdifferent.
So like I've been involved inservice oriented kind of
positions, but in a verydifferent manner than I am now,
Like I did social work for awhile.
So I mean I've found benefit injust helping people who have
(07:45):
less, who have less opportunity,I don't know, helping them live
their life to the fullest.
I don't think that there is anymore important thing in the
world.
You know, kind of like what youwere saying about advocacy,
(08:06):
advocacy and just being I don'tknow being involved, helping the
community, helping peoplethrive in any role, I guess and
I hope to continue doing thatwith PT and like working with
underserved populations.
I don't know if that answersyour question.
You can't do a lot of answers,yeah, yeah, so I don't know.
I mean, I think there'sopportunity to do that in any
(08:26):
role that you have.
You just have to search for it.
I had mentioned that.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
I haven't really been in a whole lot of leadership
roles but I will say you know,my family was a lot, a lot of
girl helpings in our summers,volunteering pretty much any
chance we had, whether it wasthrough church or at you know,
serving food, organizing clothesfor different banks and things
like that.
So it was just kind ofsomething that was always
(08:55):
instilled when we were younger.
So I never, even looked at it assomething that you're like
choosing to do.
It's just something that I Iwill do, I have to do, and so
I've been taking that now andput it into this type of these
type of positions, where you'rein a leadership role to
influence, to be able to helpguide other people through
(09:17):
volunteer opportunities.
It's something that I'm lookingforward to, so it's quite good,
it's great.
Speaker 6 (09:24):
For me it was initially like ever since I can
remember I have been doing likecommunity service, kind of like
Zach mentioned, like clothingdrives or during Christmas time,
during Thanksgiving, justcollecting food and bringing it
over to families that were inneed.
So I think that kind of startedmy pathway to service.
(09:47):
Then in undergrad I had a newworld totally, with so many
people around me, so manydifferent um communities that I
could delve into.
And then, um once, once Istarted um considering PT, it
kind of just fit um perfectlyand I like once it truly did
(10:12):
click that I was going to becomea PT.
It just kind of meshedeverything in my life perfectly.
Kind of sounds cliche and likeit's too good.
It sounds too good to be true,but I truly did find my passion
in PT.
I had really good mentors inundergrad that just put a fire
(10:35):
under me that I just can't waitto continue once I become a
licensed PT.
So it's just something that Icontinue to have as a pathway in
my life.
Speaker 5 (10:49):
Yeah, yeah, and I think going into healthcare, we
all tend to be a littlesurface-based.
I mean, you're constant,especially in physical therapy,
because in PT it's a bit uniquebecause you're spending so much
time one-on-one with yourpatients, where maybe other
healthcare positions you don'tget to do that as much, and so
(11:11):
you're spending all this timewith people and you're listening
to their needs, you are puttingin all this time to help them
and serve them, um, and so Ithink just naturally, maybe
we're we're drawn to service alittle bit.
It makes me happy to help out,it makes me happy to listen, and
I like to make somebody stay umso nsig is a great opportunity
(11:32):
to do that, um same with anyother volunteer opportunity.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
So as people that have been serving with NSIG.
I've been elected, voted intothose positions.
Right?
What would you say to theprospective student that would
be interested in helping out,but maybe is a little bit
hesitant to jump in?
Speaker 5 (11:57):
do it.
Um, it's, it's such a goodopportunity and I think what's
so fun about mintsig is it's notthis super stressful.
Like high intensity, scholarly,academic.
You know, it's not this crazything that is going to feel like
work.
It feels fun, right.
(12:19):
We get to talk with studentsfrom other programs, we get to
meet with PTA students, we getto work with faculty Like it's
this great networkingopportunity that instead of work
, it really does feel likeyou're just going to meet people
and build your professionalism,talk to others, hear their
(12:39):
stories, uh, all around.
It's just, it's a greatexperience, both professionally
but, also just socially.
Speaker 3 (12:46):
It just it feels kind of like a good time yeah, and
like kind of echoing some ofthat, like it's a fun
organization and it's alsoreally cool just because you get
to know so many people, likeyou get to network.
But the best part about NSIG isit can be whatever you want it
to be.
So like we this year might dosomething completely different
than the next board wants to do.
(13:07):
Like, say, we go crazy andwe're like we're going to host
five events right this year,next year, if they're like no
way we want to put energy intolike one really awesome pub
night and then one other bigevent like awesome, you can make
it whatever you want to.
It's the organization for thestudents of Nebraska, run by the
(13:27):
students.
So there is no like correct orincorrect blueprint.
Right, you can just do whateveryou want with it blueprint
right you can just do whateveryou want with it.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
I think you know I have so much on my plate right
now or in school.
This is not I'm not going tosign up for in state or any
volunteer opportunities and Ikind of discussion several times
with my classmates and alwaysend up coming down to well what
are you?
Doing.
You know what are you fillingyour time with.
It's like this, this and this.
Yeah, I see how that's busy.
You could probably cut this outor be in order to follow through
(14:05):
this amount of time, to be ableto attend a 20-minute meeting
or spend, you know 30 minutes ofyour day focusing on, you know,
planning this certain amountand talking to your classmates
about some organizational thingyou're going to be doing, and
then we also come to theconclusion like we're going to
be busy for the rest of ourlives.
It doesn't matter what you,what you're doing.
You're always going to feellike you are at your limit and
(14:29):
it's kind of relative to yoursituation.
There's you're never going tofeel like, oh, this is, this is
the absolute sweet spot.
You're like you're never goingto feel like, oh, this is the
absolute sweet spot.
You're going to feel likeyou're doing everything.
You're doing nothing but whatyou're spending your time on and
being efficient with your time.
You should really be puttingyour energy into stuff that's
going to be benefiting yourfriends, your community, and I
(14:53):
think that's what this type oforganization was able to do.
And so that's the kind ofconversation I had as far as how
many days and how much timesome of these executive
positions take up with theirfellow classmates.
Speaker 6 (15:04):
I think for me as a newer exec member.
I didn't really know much aboutNSIG, just maybe wasn't
established as well before, butonce Alex introduced me to it,
it was just like almost like, ohyeah, duh, I'm gonna go and do
that because it's somethingthat's interesting.
(15:25):
Um, I keep going back to theconclave, but it was just like a
really good learning experienceum and I think, as PT students,
um, we're going to continuelearning all throughout our life
, so why not continue?
Well, why not start now andcontinue on later?
So I think, for me, how I seeit is students that get involved
(15:49):
with NS member.
It opens up a complete pathwayafter graduation, whether it's
networking, even jobopportunities.
For example, in the Conclave,they brought a travel PT agency.
That's a complete world thatopens up so many opportunities.
(16:10):
So it truly is something thatwe, as students, can use for our
future as professionals once wegraduate.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
You guys have so many mic drop movies we're using a
snowball mic so we can't exactlydrop it, but no, that was
fantastic.
You guys did a nice job ofreally just kind of highlighting
some of the work that you aredoing in NSIG.
But I do just want to pose thequestion in case we missed
anything Is there anything thatyou guys want to highlight that
(16:41):
you do?
That would be helpful for ouraudience to know.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
Well, so the big thing that NSIG does every year
is the conclave and every otheryear the national advocacy
dinner.
So it's still relatively theadvocacy dinner portion of it is
still relatively new thingbecause of Nebraska being
unicameral.
So, it occurs.
We've decided in the odd numberof years, right, so 2025, it's
(17:14):
going to be this year.
So that's always in the fall,even though advocacy month is
April.
We do it in the fall because itworks better, I think, for
numerous reasons.
We just have to fight Huskerfootball.
That's not that hard no, not atall.
But you know, that's kind ofthe big thing.
So that's kind of where we'veconcentrated our energy.
We want to do more things, likeTristan and I came up with a
billion ideas toward the end oflast year of like little
(17:37):
networking things that we wantto start to do throughout the
year to help with, like again,collaboration amongst all of the
programs, ptas and PTAs alike,because we're all going to be
co-workers, we're all workingfor the same purpose.
Like we should start I don'tknow commingling more, getting
(17:57):
to know each other, you know.
So we have a lot of littlethings that we'd like to start
doing throughout the year, butultimately, we want to know what
students want.
So we want, like, feedback fromstudents.
We want to know, like what,what is it that you want this
organization to be Like?
What do you want to see fromNSIG?
(18:18):
Do you want to see morenetworking events.
Do you want us to sponsorgoodie bags for finals weeks,
which we're going to be doing ina couple weeks for different
programs?
Um?
yeah, definitely we've just gota little camp for him he's set
up yep, um, but it goes back tothat whole like we get to make
it what we want to, and so ourenergy.
(18:39):
We're trying to put as much ofit into our big event while
maintaining, like, some smallerevents through the year where we
can get to know each other,provide collaboration
opportunities, provide educationabout advocacy, things like
that.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
I have a couple more questions for you guys.
One you are students right nowand, for our audience, I asked
if I could ask this questionbefore I'm asking it.
You're student members of APTAright now.
You guys are finishing up yoursecond year, getting ready to go
out on clinical rotations andwill graduate a year from now
(19:17):
and enter the workforce right.
Will you keep your APTAmembership, and why or why not?
Speaker 6 (19:25):
I Go ahead.
Speaker 5 (19:29):
So I'm currently an APTA member, which is really
nice.
As a student, you get variouslittle perks, whether that's a
discount on a pair of runningshoes or getting to join
different sections of APTA,maybe for free.
But when I go out into clinic,I am going to continue being an
(19:51):
APTA member, for a couplereasons.
One I like to be in the know,and I feel like when you're an
APTA member, you know what'sgoing on with the profession,
and that's just something that Iwant to be a part of.
I want to be in the know.
I want to know about ourpractice act.
I just I want to know what wegot going on in our state when
it comes to physical therapy, um, and then also, I want to still
(20:14):
have the resources.
Uh, that's something that I'vebeen thinking about as I'm
moving into clinicals.
I feel like I have all theresources in the world right now
because I'm a UNC student andso through the library, I can
look up any article I want, or Ihave open access to all this
stuff.
And so then I get a littlenervous when I'm not a student
(20:34):
anymore, like where does thataccess come from?
You know, where do I find themost current research without
paying an arm and a leg for it,and so I want to stay a part of
APTA, just for a lot of theresources that come with it.
Speaker 6 (20:49):
For me, in addition to all the things that Tristan
mentioned, it keeps my advocacydoor open, just because APTA
requires a lot of assistancefrom the members to make sure
that we can advocate for theneed of our patients or for a
(21:09):
specific bill that we're tryingto get passed for the benefit of
our patients.
So I think maintaining mymembership will continue to be
something that I do throughoutmy career, just because it's
something that I find reallyimportant in terms of advocacy,
in addition to all the perksthat we would get as members.
Speaker 4 (21:31):
I love this question.
We talk about this all the timewith my friends and classmates
because it's really comes up allthe time too, and I am a huge
advocate for keeping it.
I'm keeping it until I die.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
And you're having those conversations and, in all
fairness, there can be somevalid points on the other side.
They do, we go back and forth.
Speaker 4 (21:52):
The topics I always bring up is I'm sure if you
planned it out, you can get backall the money you spent on the
membership from all thediscounts you have.
I don't have the whole listwith me right now, but I have it
bookmarked in my email so I cango check on it and if I'm ever
buying something, let's see ifwe got a discount on this
(22:15):
Renting a car, things like that.
That's one of the big ones thatcomes up and it's also I don't
know how to write bills.
I love advocacy but I don'thave the power, energy, the
background to be able to do that.
I want someone to do it onbehalf of me so I can give a
little money that way, so thatwe can continue having that in
(22:37):
the state of Nebraska and acrossthe nation.
And I'm going to do that as longas possible.
I want them to be able to fightfor my living and what I love
to be doing for my patients andeverything like that.
And that basically ends theargument today it's like how are
you going to stop that Anothermic drop?
Speaker 3 (22:57):
on that, yep, and I mean I agree with these three
with everything that they said.
I think for me it's yeah, thediscounts are great, but the
professional development, likeall of the resources that we
have at our fingertips thanks toAPTA, and then keeping up to
date with advocacy becausethat's something that I'm very,
very passionate about and I'mgoing to continue throughout my
(23:17):
career I will be one of thosepeople that goes to the Capitol
to help advocate in person.
I think these three all knowthat I'm kind of a loud person
to the Capitol to help advocatein person.
I think these three all knowthat I'm kind of a loud person.
I'm very outspoken, I'm veryopinionated.
I'm not afraid to like make myvoice known.
Apta does a really good job ofletting us know when those
opportunities are and thensetting us up with opportunity
to like take part in them.
(23:38):
So I think that alone for me isenough reason to keep my
membership going.
Speaker 2 (23:44):
You guys brought up membership discounts, and so
we're gonna wrap up there and Iwant you guys to just tell our
audience what's maybe one or oneof your favorite membership
discounts that you've used.
Speaker 5 (23:59):
I love New Balance.
I love New Balance, I love NewBalance and.
Speaker 2 (24:04):
I'll say it again I love New Balance.
No I literally do.
Speaker 5 (24:06):
I have a pair just for clinical rotations.
I have a pair for running, Ihave a pair for walking, so I
like to use that as a converse.
You're wearing Nike's right now.
That's really nice.
Speaker 3 (24:20):
No one can see that for me, the deal like the
discount that I found not longago because I was looking at
hotels is that you can savemoney on hotels through member
deals, and so that's a big onefor me.
I like to travel.
I don't know.
Traveling is very expensive, soany amount of money that can be
(24:43):
saved for that is great.
Speaker 6 (24:46):
I have not delved into the discounts just yet but
maybe I'll go look at that newbalance.
But I will say I have joined tolike the sections um that are
free for students.
So I have multiple emails thatI get from those sections so I
found that very helpful.
Speaker 4 (25:01):
So far I have bought so many shoes.
Speaker 1 (25:05):
I'm not a New Balance fan, but I'm going to put you
in.
Speaker 4 (25:08):
Saccone, saucony that's another one that they
have discounts for, and Iusually just absolutely tear
through shoes and I'll wear themas long as possible.
That's not quite professional,so you want to keep up.
You know a nice look whenyou're in the clinic, so I got a
good rotation of shoes to beable to match outfits from from
that website, and that's notsomething I probably would have
(25:29):
been able to do.
You know, be able to affordthat and not have an apt to get
that shirt.
So that's my absolute favoritepart.
Speaker 2 (25:36):
That's great.
Well, thank you guys forsitting down and having a
conversation.
It was fun to hear a little bitmore about the work that you're
doing and I hope that this issomewhat inspiring and has some
vision for future students aswell.
Speaker 3 (25:49):
Thank you, thank you.
Speaker 1 (25:53):
Thanks for tuning in to the APTA Nebraska podcast.
Stay connected with us for moreconversations that elevate our
profession and improve the livesof Nebraskans.
Don't forget to subscribe,share and join the discussion,
because together we're drivingthe future of Nebraskans.
Don't forget to subscribe,share and join the discussion
because together we're drivingthe future of physical therapy
forward.
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