Bogjana Mikaerts

My name is Bogjana Mikaerts. My interests include video games, action figure stores, hair coloring, double Dutch and reading about extreme sports. I am the great-granddaughter of Dutch businessman, Sol van de Wijngaert and descendent of nobles. Like all great-grandchildren, I’m said to be the heir.

How old am I? 21 years. I love… diving with sharks, learning how to dye and play lawn bowling. I am working to make my life greater and better by self-learning how to dive with sharks and playing lawn bowling with garden hoses.

What do you do?

I am a student at the Spinal Cord Injury Institute of Oregon. I am currently a graduate research associate, working on producing instructional videos for wheelchair user activities.

Why did you decide to study physical therapy?

While attending the Oregon Health and Science University as a general medical student, I was working full-time for the National Posture Institute in spinal cord injury rehab, and my mother said she wanted me to go back to school full-time. My final grade for medical school was a B-minus, but when I took into account the time needed to work with my mothers’ epilepsy, I was given an A-minus on my transcript. So as an answer to my mother’s question, I wanted to gain more education and achieve my dreams.

What types of disabilities do you face?

Due to being born with a scoliosis hernia, I need to walk with a cane. I also suffer from seizures and had surgery in 2015 to have part of my brain removed.

What interests you?

Growing up with a social support system makes me very passionate about making the world a more empathetic place. It is a key part of this community service to spread positive attitudes, be a good role model and inspire others to be kind and help others in situations that are hard to cope with.

What do you hope to accomplish by the end of your studies?

To use my education to help in the development of all disabilities and people in general.

What are your hobbies and interests?

Spending time with my family and friends, doing the most repetitive chores, watching video games, playing basketball, playing fast-paced lawn bowling and jumping into the shallow part of the ocean.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

My strengths are being friendly and outgoing. My weaknesses are probably the lack of patience, inactivity and laziness.

How have you found post-graduate life so far?

I’ve found post-graduate life to be refreshing because it allows me to do what I love and is a very rewarding experience. The research we are doing at the Spinal Cord Injury Institute is a wonderful project because it forces us to push ourselves to attain a new level of knowledge and help people in the community.

If you were to label your personality, what would it be?

A complete extrovert and introvert. I also refer to myself as a jack of all trades, master of none.

How do you see your future?

I hope to achieve success and fulfillment in my career through honest hard work and determination.

Who do you admire?

The late Lenora Burns and the movie Suicide Squad.

What is your favorite hobby or pastime?

Tunming and garden bowling.

Why are you studying Physical Therapy?

I’m currently interested in physical therapy because it’s an exciting field that I feel I could contribute to and excel in. I want to become one of the best and the most respected physical therapists in the world.

What advice would you give to a first-year student?

My advice would be to study hard, enjoy the social life and integrate the stress with excitement. Do everything you want and not everything you think you should do.

Do you have a favorite quote, book or song?

Theodore Roosevelt said, “Education is the most important weapon with which you can fight for freedom.”

What should people know about your academic area of study?

Physical therapy is a general medical specialty that specializes in the treatment of patients with spinal cord injuries and spinal cord diseases. Physical therapy also deals with the rehabilitation of all kinds of injury (including trauma, fibromyalgia, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, spinal cord stroke, and ischemic stroke).

Why, why do you want to study Physical Therapy?

I’ve always had a passion for physical therapy and because it will allow me to make a positive difference and help people in our community to be healthy and well.

Is content marketing the future?

Personally, I don’t think content marketing is the future. A better answer is to say content marketing has evolved in the past