In 2002, I was just like you.

I had graduated with my undergraduate degree and was faced with a dilemma:

Now what do I do?

Obviously, continuing school. No one was going to hire me with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science to do anything other than be a personal trainer or technician somewhere.

You see, I grew up in a family where education was HIGHLY valued. College was not an option. You went to college as long as it took, joined a profession (not a JOB), and worked until you retired and could collect a pension or retirement.

So naturally, I chose THE BEST PROFESSION IN HEALTHCARE and was accepted to PT school.

In the first semester, I lost 25lbs, had a prescription for Prozac, slept an average of 4 hours a night, and was so anxious I started losing my hair and developed acne.

My face looked like a 14 year old boy (no offense to the 14 yo boys, but you get my point).

I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t exercise, and I couldn’t retain information.

It took some tough, but needed, love from one of the most amazing educators on the planet to bring me out of where I was. He helped me get organized. He helped me prioritize. I put on weight, I started eating again, I went to bed, every night, at 10pm. I woke up at 6am. I was able to be a work-study. I was elected chair of the Graduate Student Association. I won awards, helped with research, and graduated at the top of my class.

I thought I had it all figured out. Smooth sailing, let’s go get licensed and get a job, right?

$96, 734.23 later

I had a Master of Physical Therapy, passed by licensure exam, and took my first job in 2006 with a “BIG BOX” PT clinic seeing 20 or more patients a day, plus walk-ins. You know what I got paid?

$55,000

BEFORE TAXES. BEFORE BENEFITS.

My take-home salary every month was less than $3,000. Some of you, RIGHT NOW, pay that in rent.

On top of crippling debt and a lifestyle that was writing checks my salary couldn’t cash, I was anxious, again.

I couldn’t leave work at work.

My patient schedule followed me everywhere.

I came home and thought about my patients.

I did notes at home.

I was miserable.

And I had only been a PT for a year.

That was when I went back to my first year of PT school and re-instituted the SAME principles I did then.

I’ve had to do several versions of this story over the last 20 years, hitting a hard reset when Life gets chaotic. But in that time, I earned a PhD, a board certification, a faculty appointment, an administrative appointment, and a successful out-of-network pelvic health and orthopedic practice. I got married, had our son, bought and sold homes, moved across the country, and learned A TON about myself in the process.

I want to teach YOU how to do the same thing.

I will teach you how to:

• Prioritize and Execute the mountain of tasks you have

• Build wealth WHILE you’re in PT school

• Make time for yourself and your family

• Stay fit and healthy, both mentally and physically

• Stay engaged in your professional and personal life

Here’s the difference between me and you, though:

I already made the mistakes, so you don’t have to.

I will be with you every step of the way.

Meghan Rohde is a physical therapist and educator. With over 15 years experience teaching students, residents, and other clinicians, she is passionate about changing the healthcare model. She holds a PhD in Human Sports and Performance, as well as her DPT and Sports Clinical Specialist Certification. She is also a yoga instructor, meditation coach, and uses Somatic Experiencing techniques in her practice to help people with anxiety, depression, and trauma. She lives in southern New Hampshire, a little in the woods and a little in town, with her husband, son, and wicked salty chihuahua.