Taylor Coleman’s “More than a Conqueror” Scholarship Award

In less than thirty minutes, my whole life changed. I still hear the rheumatologist’s words echoing in my ears, “Your body is producing antibodies of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Sjogren’s Syndrome, Anticardiolipin Antibody Syndrome, Acute Varicella Zoster Infection, and Postherpetic Neuralgia.” I was completely overwhelmed with these diagnoses. Like most, I did not know what they meant, so I turned to Google. My diagnoses meant that my immune system is attacking my organs, it is difficult or painful to swallow at times, I am sensitive to sunlight, I have chronic nerve pain, and I am prone to miscarriages and blood clots. I was not ready for that news. I envision my future as a Physical Therapist, married, with at least two children, gone. The thought of my dream not materializing due to something out of my control was stressful, to say the least. Then I went to the pharmacy to pick up my prescriptions. I was not ready for that either. I knew that medical bills were not cheap, but, until that moment, I did not realize how much is left to pay out-of-pocket, even after insurance is applied. With the additional costs of doctor’s visits, lab work, and expensive prescription medications, my family’s financial situation has taken a turn for the worst. This scholarship is crucial to me because it will relieve financial stress on my mother. She is paying for both my medical expenses and my college tuition on a teacher’s salary, without the help of my father or federal financial aid. My step-father lost his job during the pandemic, and with it, the family’s medical coverage. Now my mother’s already stretched paycheck must cover insurance and groceries for the family. The value of education is something I take very seriously, but in order to help with finances, I considered taking a break from college. This left me in distress. I have worked too hard in school to let my illnesses dictate my trajectory. I know I cannot postpone my education, but I cannot postpone my health either. Through this scholarship, I will not have to choose between my health and my education. With financial assistance, I will be able to further my studies, which will help me achieve my job ambitions. Before medication and a proper diagnosis, I felt helpless and unmotivated. The side effects of my diagnoses restricted my ability to walk and lift objects. At that moment, I threw away any hopes of becoming a future Physical Therapist due to the reasoning that I had limited mobility. The prospect of not accomplishing my goals caused me to experience depression episodes, which harmed my academic and work ethic. I did not see the sense in studying when I believed I could not put what I learned into practice. My crying was just like my pain: it did not stop. It was not until after my diagnosis, when I was prescribed my medication and exercise treatments, that I really was motivated to make sure that no person felt the same way as I did. Knowing what I went through and am still currently going through motivates me to make sure I treat as many people as I can who have gone through the same issues. It is fundamental that no matter how intense the patient’s medical condition or mobility, I would never give up on them or let them give up on themselves as their therapist.