This past week, I was able to sit down and talk with Bransyl Boston, a physical therapy grad student at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU). Bransyl is a first-year who continued her education at FAMU following an undergraduate career at the University of South Florida.
In a fulfilling interview, Bransyl and I discussed this new chapter of her life, including everything related to graduate school and living in a new city!
Her Campus (HC): How would you describe a day in your life as a PT student?
Bransyl Boston (BB): I wake up between 6:30-7 a.m., shower, get ready for my day, and most days I’m out the door by 8 a.m. I’m usually on campus from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. every day, but each day is different depending on the lectures and labs I have. When I leave school, I like to destress, so I’ll probably go on my phone, eat dinner, or do anything just to help ease my brain before studying. I generally study from 7 p.m. until I go to bed.
HC: What made you want to go into physical therapy?
BB: All my life, I grew up with African parents that wanted me to be a doctor. I realized that med school was a lot and your whole life becomes work. I still wanted to live my life and have time for myself, so I started looking at different options. I knew I wanted to work in the healthcare field because my mom and other people in my life do. I came across physical therapy after doing research in high school. It’s such a broad field where you can go into different things like sports, pelvic health, aquatics, and much more. The more I researched, the more I started seeing myself in that field of work.
HC: Why did you choose FAMU PT school when coming out of your undergraduate career?
BB: I grew up in predominantly white areas, so I chose FAMU because I knew their program and staff were very diverse. They’re really big on making sure that they’re inclusive and that their classroom is diversified. Also, the price of the program was pretty affordable compared to others in the country, and it was also close to home for me.
HC: They say the first year of PT school can be very demanding. How has your balance been between school and a social life?
BB: Since it’s my first semester, the balance has been very difficult, mostly because I’m in school for the majority of the day, and then I have to study. Because of this, it’s kind of hard to make time for social interactions, and I find myself mostly hanging out with my classmates. We all have the same assignments, classes and workload, so it’s easier to connect and spend time with them. However, I try my best to still check up on people who I don’t go to school with so that I can still maintain that balance.
HC: What is it like adjusting to Tallahassee after previously coming from another city?
BB: The transition itself hasn’t been that difficult, it’s just the city itself is so crazy. I find that Tallahassee is a pretty small town compared to what I’m used to so it’s harder to find all the different stores and places I have back home. The hour of operations, roads, and availability is all different here. I have also never seen this many hills in my life. But all in all, it’s nice being in a college town like Tallahassee because it’s easier to connect with people that are around the same age as you.
HC: What advice would you give to those trying to go to PT school or a grad school of some sort?
BB: Make sure you do your research and have enough money saved. It’s important to be mentally prepared for how much grad school will cost. Grad school is very expensive with limited scholarships and financial aid, so it’s ideal to actively look for resources that are available to you. Taking out loans may be necessary but overall, it’s an investment in yourself and your future.
It was an honor to get a more in-depth look into Bransyl’s life and PT grad school journey. Make sure to follow her on Instagram!
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