The world knows as we age we lose things: memories, hair, height, and motor functions. Growing up surrounded by the healthcare community, I saw what it was like to live to help others, even if it’s for a few hours as an ER Nurse. For me, I want to be able for a person to live with their bodies and to ensure that they can function to their fullest. Being an occupational therapist has always been the goal, of having people of all ages come in and start to get the motor skills back to be able to function alone without assistance. I want to be able to create a healthy environment for a patient where they can come in and try difficult exercises, fail, and then do it again until they are confident and able to do the skills necessary no matter what it is. When I was younger I ended up breaking my arm. That recovery was long, but it wasn’t the actual healing of the bone that was hard, it was the steps after that cast was taken off. The initial recovery was the easiest part of this recovery; getting my range of motion back, the repetitive exercises, and not babying it. After my growth plates closed, I started to get tingling and numbness in my hand, ulnar radiculopathy is what I was diagnosed with, after back and forth with my primary care doctor and hand surgeons. I was sent back to occupational therapy and physical therapy to see if that would improve anything. Eventually, I needed the surgery, but even then I remember that they were always willing to listen to me and adjust my regimen. I want to look at myself in the mirror and know that I am capable of helping the people who felt like me: scared of the unknown, in pain, and tired of the cycle. I want to create that personal connection between the patient and myself to know that they are telling me what they feel and what is working for them. I want to be able to help the littlest bit in someone’s life. I want to be able to help them gain confidence in what they lost. I want them to be able to look at the dishwasher and know that they can put all the dishes away. I want people to thrive in their lives. I may not be a part of their lives for long, but I want to leave an imprint on their lives where they can leave me and be secure in themselves and their bodies.

Knowing what I’m capable of doing and what I can accomplish are one and the same, it’s whether or not I push the boundaries of fears that have grown with me that defines success. Growing up my dad always took me on adventures throughout Colorado and Wyoming one of my favorite things that I did with him was our bouldering. Summers throughout elementary and middle school we would go on hikes that ended with us finding some boulders and climbing to the top and then zip lining down. Climbing is the way I learned, looking at the steps my dad took to get to the top and then trying what he did. When that didn’t work and I got frustrated I remember my dad saying “Asia don’t look at the way I do it, visualize yourself doing it. This doesn’t mean that you’ll get it right away, but as long as you get a little farther up you’ll get there eventually.” He was right by the end I climbed all the way up. Climbing outdoors taught me that it’s not only being able to complete the climb, it's the ability to look at a boulder and see the possibilities in front of you, or for little me, above. You’re never going to be able to do things the same every time, but that isn’t a problem because when you get stuck on the idea of being perfect and doing everything a certain way it only drags you down. Climbing teaches perspective, not only on routes but with yourself and the way your body moves. As I started to get busier and these trips became harder to do I found myself getting trapped in the box of perfection that so many of us find ourselves in. I saw so many people set the standard and what is supposed to happen and what you’re supposed to do after school. Everything felt more restrained, nothing I did felt like it was enough. After years of going in this cycle, I finally stepped back and looked up. I can't be perfect, but I can find a better way to do it myself. Getting back out climbing was a big part of being able to take control again. So yes, moving away may not have happened but I’ve given myself the time to make sure I was making the right decision and it may not be a big university like all of my friends. It’s a calm community college where I can start my route anew.