Ellen Merchant

Ellen Merchant

Physical Therapy

Year in school: Senior

Hometown/State: Jamestown, NY

High School: Jamestown High School                                                                           

Why did you choose Daemen College?

I chose Daemen because it was the perfect distance from home and the physical therapy program is well known throughout Western New York.

Why did you choose your major?

Being a physical therapist has always been important to me for as long as I can remember. I love the fact that when I become a physical therapist I'll be able to work people to recover from injury.

Please describe your academic experience at Daemen.

It takes a lot of hard work and commitment in order to get the grade you want. Classes are demanding and time-consuming, but as long as you stay motivated and find your balance, it’s not difficult to reach your goals.

What do you like best about Daemen?

I love the small campus. It's nice to see people on campus that you know and can have conversations with.

What are your plans after graduation?

After graduation, I plan on working as a travel Physical therapist, or furthering my education to becoming a Pediatric Certified Specialist so I am able to work with children with developmental disabilities.

What clubs or organizations have you been a part of at Daemen?

Over the past year, I was a member of the Daemen Women's Soccer team and loved the athletic atmosphere and its perks of  being a student athlete. More recently, I have joined the Student Physical Therapy Association otherwise known as S.P.T.A. where I am Head Chairperson of the Community Service Committee for the class of 2020. My role is to be active in the Y.A.L.T. program here we have at Daemen and engage in events I planned out with the students in addition to helping out the greater community of Buffalo by participating in Relay for life, blood drives and marathons. Lastly, I am apart of S.W.O.B.(students without borders) and I plan on going to the Dominican Republic on a medical missions trip in January of 2019 to help those who are in need of medical management.