Thanks to the generosity of Mentors, I am able to attend the Doctorate of Physical Therapy program at the University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas, in pursuit of my dream career to become a Physical Therapist.  Being the daughter of an immigrant from Nicaragua I am extremely grateful for this opportunity to better myself, as well as my family.  These are the opportunities in which the American dream are made.  Although it has not been an easy road, I have been determined to make my dreams a reality and education has been the key to my pursuit of happiness.

My collegiate career began studying Modern Dance at Arizona State University.  This is where my passion for movement and physical sciences began to flourish.  I had a professor there once state that our society has become one in which the body is merely a transport vesicle for the brain.  In this day of vast technological advancements there have become less physically laboring jobs, more television and computer use, and the invention of appliances such as dishwashers, vehicles, cell phones, and mechanical tooth brushes to name a few that are all designed to decrease our activity level, promoting a more sedentary lifestyle.  I believe physical therapy is one of the fields of medicine that is working diligently to combat this harsh reality of our society.  By endorsing movement, we can work to reduce prevalence of obesity as well as many diseases which have become some of our leading causes of death each year including Type II Diabetes Mellitus, Cardiovascular Disease, and Coronary Heart Disease.

I was first exposed to physical therapy when I became ill in middle school living in New Mexico.  After going from physician to physician for two months and receiving no answers, my mother took me to the Children’s Hospital in Denver and they were finally able to provide us with some answers, as well as medication and a prescription for physical therapy.  At this point, I had been bed ridden for several weeks and grew very feeble.   I have always felt even though the medication eliminated the virus, the physical therapy treatment healed me, not only physically, but also mentally because each time I had success in treatment my self-confidence was heightened.  This significant experience as a child sparked my curiosity to explore this career choice as a college student.

After two years of studying Dance at the collegiate level I decided it was not the career path for me.  I desired a career that would grant me greater financial stability while incorporating my passion for movement.  After I decided to switch majors I did some job shadowing in the physical therapy field and fell in love with it.  It integrates my passion for movement while allowing me to make a substantial, positive impact in people’s lives, which in turn grants me with an incredible sense of purpose.  My passion for helping others has increased even more since working in the physical therapy field because I witness every day the life changing effects a great therapist can have on his/her clients.  Physical therapy is a holistic form of medicine in which not only is the body healing from ailment, but the mind also heals in the process of recovery.  As the body heals, mental confidence rises, building towards a better overall outlook and quality of life.  I am grateful that I am entering a field in which I can constructively impact many people’s lives.   Combining my greatest passions; to use movement to promote better health and help people lead pain free lives in which they can fulfill their passions to their greatest potential.

As a future Physical Therapist I will give back to the youth, especially individuals who are underprivileged, in hopes of helping them achieve their dreams.  Also, one of my main career goals is to spend time working in disadvantaged communities in the United States and in third world countries to assist in knowledge sharing and training their therapists to provide greater access and quality of healthcare.  Throughout my career, I would love to facilitate job shadowing and mentoring experiences for the Hispanic youth so they can experience working in the healthcare field while promoting achievement of their educational aspirations.  Becoming a member of such a valuable organization as the Mentors Foundation will grant me with greater access to mentoring opportunities, creating more chances to make a positive impact in my community and in the lives of future generations.