John Brown graduated from Bethany in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts in Exercise Science. Inspired by his own experience as a physical therapy patient, he felt called to help others reach their goals through movement and healing: “After a long history of having physical therapy myself, I became very interested in it as a profession. Being able to help people accomplish goals through exercise and motion just seemed like a perfect fit for me.”

At Bethany, John’s Exercise Science curriculum and research projects equipped him for rigorous graduate study. He also found community and teamwork on Bethany’s baseball team, playing a part in both the school’s first-ever Regular Season Championship and Conference Tournament title. Reflecting on that experience, he appreciates how athletics, academics, and collaboration helped sharpen his preparedness and resolve.

John is now pursuing a doctorate in physical therapy at the University of Mary, having begun the program shortly after graduating from Bethany, with an expected graduation in 2023. He attributes his academic and professional trajectory to both the depth of his curriculum and the caring atmosphere he found at Bethany: “The people, curriculum, and atmosphere of Bethany are great. The research and curriculum of my major specifically really set me up for success heading into graduate school.”

He encourages current students to aim high: “Don’t be afraid to really set the bar high when it comes to your academic and athletic goals. There’s no better feeling than seeing something you once saw as impossible turn into reality. Graduate school wasn’t even on my radar when I started college, but through the support of the Bethany staff, it slowly became my ultimate academic goal to get into a Physical Therapy program.”

John’s story shows how a well-rounded liberal arts education—and the support of a close-knit campus community—can prepare graduates for advanced study and meaningful careers that serve others.