Erin Bornholdt '20

Name: Erin Bornholdt

Graduation Year: 2020

Major: Exercise Physiology

Your Story: I have been a dancer for as long as I remember. Dance taught me the importance of teamwork
and dedication to goals, and that preparation is critical to success. I also learned first-hand that
sometimes our bodies are unable to do what our hearts and minds might want them to do. The
summer prior to my senior year of high school I was working hard to prepare for my final year of
high school dance. I wanted to do everything I could do to help lead our team back to the state
tournament. As a result of the intense practicing, I developed a stress fracture in my foot, and
was unable to dance for the first month of the season. Once the fracture healed, my foot was
very weak from the lack of weight-bearing exercises, and it took time to regain my strength and
flexibility. This experience opened my eyes to the possibility of becoming a physical therapist
one day. This goal stuck with me through my time at Gustavus, and my decision was solidified
after shadowing in various physical therapy settings and loving every minute of it. I have been
so lucky to have all of the support from my professors and advisors here at Gustavus who
helped me succeed at GAC and prepared me for the next step in my journey.

Top Five Activities/Experiences: (in no particular order)
 1. Being a member of the Gustavus Dance Team

 2. Studying abroad in Germany and Spain

 3. Delta Phi Omega sorority

 4. Singing in Christmas in Christ Chapel all four years at Gustavus

 5. Meeting people from so many different backgrounds, and finding my lifelong friends

Advice:
1. Take advantage of every opportunity Gustavus provides! Study abroad during the January Interim,
attend speakers, and utilize all of the resources Gustavus has to offer.

2. Create a four-year plan right away. This will set you up for success and help make
registration, and especially your senior year, much less stressful.

3. Don’t be afraid to ask for help!

Future Plans:
I will be attending the University of Minnesota’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program starting
Summer 2020.

Updated 4/22/2020 HB