Impactful Career Goes Swimmingly: Alumna Assists Others as Aquatic PTA

IMPACTFUL CAREER GOES SWIMMINGLY: ALUMNA ASSISTS OTHERS AS AQUATIC PTA

LAKE LAND DEFINITELY HELPED ME FIND WHAT I WANTED TO DO AND FIND MY NICHE IN THE THERAPY WORLD.

Jennifer Fallert spends many of her days in a pool, helping others overcome physical challenges. She is a certified aquatic physical therapist assistant at HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham, which, Fallert said, is one of the most rewarding aspects of her life.

“I really enjoy watching people achieve their goals,” Fallert said. “I love being able to work with people who, for instance, can’t walk on land, but they can walk in the water. That’s pretty amazing.”

Fallert graduated from Lake Land College in 2011 with an associate degree in Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA). Working part time at an outpatient facility after graduation, Fallert was able to gain valuable experience in working with patients in aquatic therapy.

Through her work there, Fallert developed an interest in working with aquatic therapy, and when the opportunity arose at St. Anthony’s, she jumped at the chance.

Since then, Fallert said she has been able to utilize the instruction and training she received at Lake Land in much of her everyday life.

“I still hear Martha’s voice in my head all the time,” Fallert said, referring to Physical Therapist Assistant Instructor Martha Mioux. “Having that experience at Lake Land definitely helped me find what I wanted to do and find my niche in the therapy world.”

Fallert also expressed appreciation for the level of preparedness she felt upon graduating from the PTA program at Lake Land.

“It’s a short two years, but a long two years,” Fallert said. “It’s a great experience. You will definitely be prepared to take your first job after you’re done with the program.”

ONLINE BONUS

Watch Jennifer's interview about the Physical Therapist Assistant program at Lake Land at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D7xpEXyFeI.

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

Loretta Varela-Flores, Cosmetology Instructor

Cosmetology Instructor Loretta Varela-Flores uses her nurturing personality to share her skills and abilities with students as well as assist students in providing services to clients. According to Varela-Flores, building relationships with students and clients is one of the most meaningful parts of her career.

“Seeing a smile on a student’s face when they get a difficult concept or watching a client admire a hair transformation that one of my students performed are things that make me incredibly proud of what we do,” Varela-Flores said. “This is a very fast-paced field, so taking the time to make sure everyone gets what they need is important to me.”

Varela-Flores graduated from the Lake Land College Cosmetology program and went on to pursue a career in the field. After some time however, Varela-Flores said she felt a strong desire to share her talent in a teaching environment. Thus, she returned to Lake Land as an instructor.

“I try to model my classroom around something I would be able to pay attention to,” Varela-Flores said. “I try to ask myself ‘How is this student going to learn better?’ then I work with them and let them know that it’s okay that they don’t get something right away, because they’re going to get it, it just may take a minute.”

With part of the field involving fitting styles and such to a client, Varela-Flores said that is the nature of the field and one that makes it unique. While the cosmetology field may be demanding, she said it is not without reward.

“I tell my students ‘You are your only competition’,” Varela-Flores said. “Always strive to be the best that you can be, and put that level of quality behind your work.”

HEALTH & PUBLIC SERVICES AREA OF STUDY

HEALTH SERVICES

Associate Degree Nurse

Basic Nurse Assisting

Dental Hygiene

Emergency Medical Services

Massage Therapy

Medical Assistant

Paramedical Services

Physical Therapist Assistant

Practical Nursing

Health Services Exploratory Area of Study

PUBLIC SERVICES

Cosmetology

Cosmetology Teacher

Crime Scene Technician

Criminal Justice Leadership

Esthetics

Fire Science Management

Human Services

Law Enforcement

Law Enforcement Operations

Public Services Exploratory Area of Study

Learn More

For more information or to get started in a Health & Public Services Area of Study visit lakelandcollege.edu.