Gopi Patel
When it came time for Gopi Patel of Crossville to choose her major at Tennessee Tech University, her inspiration for her choice – exercise science with a concentration in pre-physical therapy – came from somewhere close to home: her parents.
“My parents always worked hard to provide my siblings and me a better life,” she said. “As time wore on, their bodies started to give out, complaining of knee and lower back pain. This career is a way for me to help them in the best way I can and help others struggling with similar problems.”
Patel’s decision to choose Tennessee Tech as the place to start down the path toward her goal was influenced by both family ties and the university’s environment. Her sister, who was already a student, convinced her to attend and Patel found that it was a perfect fit for her as well.
“I loved that it was close to home and the environment of Tech,” Patel said. “The campus is a perfect size, making my longest walk to class only 10 minutes. Tennessee Tech is very affordable as well, compared to other schools.”
Scholarships played a significant role in making her education accessible.
“Being a National Merit student has opened many scholarship opportunities for me, which I am quite thankful for,” she said. “Tech’s scholarship application makes it easy to apply to all of the scholarships and receive the maximum aid possible. With these scholarships, I no longer worry about paying for schooling or going into debt because of college, and I am so grateful.”
While working on her degree, Patel has also started working at Cumberland Medical Center in Crossville as a certified nursing assistant where she works primarily with the geriatric population, giving her real-world experience in her field of interest. She also plans to shadow a physical therapist for even more hands-on experience before she graduates and heads into pursuing a doctorate in physical therapy.
She also spends a portion of her time serving as a Trailblazer, a student recruitment organization at Tech. The group interacts with prospective students at events such as VIP campus tours, high school group visits and special events like Preview Day and Spring Showcase to help give these prospective students a real look at what life on campus is all about.
Patel says that her time at Tech has not only helped her grow toward her professional goals but helped her bloom as a person as well. She has learned to come out of her shell and be more open to others, as well as how to best manage her time to ensure a healthy balance between work and time with friends.
“I also found a love for the gym because of the wonderful facilities, and it has helped me feel more connected to my major,” she said. “The vast opportunities at Tech guarantee to have something for everyone, and it allowed me to find my group of people.”
