I have had several life situations that have inspired me to return to college after obtaining an Associates degree as a Physical Therapist Assistant. I have survived physical injuries, compassion fatigue, and a deep desire to grow in my career and further my education. After working as a Physical Therapist Assistant for 8 years, I had already sustained an injury and surgery to my lower back. Overcoming this and returning to work was a challenge; however, I was determined to return to work stronger than I was before. After a few years working as a physical therapist assistant in the hospital setting, I decided that I wanted to progress in my career. However, there was no room for career progression with only having an Associate's degree. So in 2019 I decided to go back to school to obtain my Bachelor's degree. In April of 2020, I was diagnosed with Covid-19 and was given a 20% chance of survival. The virus hit me hard and I nearly lost my life. I am so lucky to have survived and to continue to fight to get healthy. I have continued my education throughout this process. I have been on long term disability due to having multiple surgeries on my trachea due to being intubated, with another surgery pending in two weeks. Throughout all of this, I have stuck with my desire to advance my career and to further my education as an adult. At this time in my life I am physically unable to perform my job as a physical therapist assistant. I have accepted that and I am a true believer that everything happens for a reason. I began my schooling in 2019, a year before I contracted Covid-19. I do not believe that was a coincidence. I believe that everything happens the way it's supposed to. As an employee I have worked with many human resources managers and directors and have learned that this is a field that I that I feel I belong in and can do good things in. I dream of supporting employees as well as supporting the company I am working for I'm working for to the best my ability. I will continue to persevere through life's challenges and will not give up before the miracle happens. I am a fighter and I am determined to continue living my life to the best of my ability, devoting myself with the time and discipline that pursuing my Bachelor's degree demands. I am still here for a reason.

In April 2020, I learned how precious life is and that I should not take my life and the ability to breathe for granted. In April of 2020, I was diagnosed with Covid and was intubated within two days. I remained intubated for 10 days and in the ICU for three weeks. I nearly lost my life. I was 37 years old, physically active, and had no pre-existing conditions. I was a Physical Therapist Assistant in a hospital. A month after being discharged, it was discovered that I had tracheal stenosis due to damage to my trachea while I was intubated. I have had nine tracheal dilations and a tracheal resection to attempt to remove the scar tissue in my trachea. After six months, my job had to let me go. With everything I had endured, I started having depression and anxiety and sought help from medical professionals. I am still undergoing treatment for this, however, I continue to work on my education and am determined to graduate with my Bachelor's in Human Resources Management. I learned that the support of my family and friends is the most important thing in my life. We have been through many challenges in 2020 and continue to face challenges in 2021 but, no matter what, we are here for each other and our relationships are stronger than ever. My compassion has grown for those who are suffering from Covid's long-term effects and mental illnesses and I have been able to be there for and support other's who are going through similar situations and share my experience with them and how I overcame the obstacles that I have had. I will continue to support individuals in the future and be that person who provides compassion and empathy for them during their times of illness. When you experience something like I have, it changes you. It has made me stronger and more appreciative of my life, and I realize more than ever what is truly important. Supporting one another through challenges in the future is how I plan to help make 2021 and beyond brighter.

Since surviving a near-death experience with covid in April 2020, I have been through many changes and challenges which have impacted my mental health. I have had nine surgeries on my trachea in the last year due to being intubated, lost a pregnancy, my daughter and grandchildren suddenly moved out due to issues she was having which devastated me. I had no contact with them for weeks, and this was what finally tried to break me. I fell into a deep depression and had suicidal thoughts. With my experience with covid, I had developed PTSD and anxiety. Prior to experiencing these mental health issues, I did not understand the realness of it and how debilitating it can be. My beliefs and understanding has now changed and it is real. I knew I needed help and sought that help from my doctor and through therapy, which I am still participating in. I also have started meditating daily to help me with these challenges. I have come out of that deep depression and am overcoming my anxiety. My relationships have grown, as I am honest and open with those closest to me about my feelings and get support from them. My friends on social media support and pray for me when I am going for another tracheal surgery, as this is an ongoing issue and they call me a warrior, a fighter, and help encourage me. My aspirations of continuing my education has continued despite my mental health issues, and I continue to take classes, which also helps my confidence and helps give me a purpose. I have been able to help others who are struggling with depression and anxiety and I aspire to continue helping them. I will not give up, my life is valuable and I did not overcome all this for nothing. My life and my purpose in this world continues as my journey continues.

The Covid 19 Pandemic has forever changed my life and my perspective of the gift of life. I had a near-death experience with covid in 2020 and was intubated for 10 days with a 20% chance of survival, at the age of 37. I was healthy, active, and worked as a Physical Therapist Assistant in a hospital. After surviving this experience, I have gained such an appreciation for the gift of life, the gift of breathing, and the preciousness of family and friends. I have had 9 surgeries on my trachea in the last year due to scar tissue in my trachea from being intubated. I have not been able to work due to this. However, I have overcome the depression and anxiety that this has brought and found a new way to appreciate the journey that I am on. I spend time helping others overcome their fears, depression, and anxiety who have been affected by covid. I have not let these challenges affect my aspirations to continue my education and have remained in college throughout this time. I utilize meditation daily to help me overcome challenges and be at peace with my reality. I am a survivor, a fighter, and I will not give up on my dreams to continue to learn and grow.

In 2020, I learned how precious my life is and that I should not take my life and the ability to breathe for granted. In April of 2020, I was diagnosed with Covid and was intubated within two days. I remained intubated for 10 days and in the ICU for three weeks. I nearly lost my life. I was 37 years old, physically active, had no pre-existing conditions. I am also a Physical Therapist Assistant in a hospital. When I left the hospital, I had lost 25 pounds, was extremely weak, and was on a modified diet due to swallowing issues. About a month after being discharged, it was discovered that I had tracheal stenosis due to damage to my trachea while I was intubated. I have had seven tracheal dilations and a tracheal resection to attempt to remove the scar tissue in my trachea that was making it difficult for me to breathe. I am still undergoing treatment for this, however, I continue to work on my education and am determined to graduate with my Bachelor's in Human Resources Management. I learned that the support of my family and the love we share is the most important thing in my life. We have been through many challenges in 2020 and continue to face challenges in 2021 but, no matter what, we are here for each other and our relationships are stronger than ever. I learned how precious my life is and that I am not exempt from this horrible virus just because I am young and healthy. I have learned to respect others by wearing masks when I go out. My compassion has grown for those who are suffering from this and other illnesses and I have been able to be there for and support other's who are going through similar situations and share my experience with them and how I overcame the obstacles that I have had. I will continue to support individuals in the future and be that person who provides compassion and empathy for them during theirtimes of illness. When you experience something like I have, it changes you. It has made me stronger, grateful for life and the ability to breathe on my own, and I realize more than ever what is truly important in life. Loving and supporting one another through challenges in the future is how I plan to help make 2021 and beyond brighter.

In my recent past, I have experienced extreme hardship when I became infected with covid 19. I am a healthy, physically active 38 year old female and I work as a Physical Therapist Assistant at a local hospital. I contacted the virus and within two days, I was intubated. My body was shutting down on me and I nearly needed to be placed on ECMO. I was intubated for 10 days, lost 25 pounds, and had to learn to walk and eat again. A month after being discharged, my trachea began to close up from scar tissue that had formed from being intubated with a tube that was too large. I have had 5 surgeries in the last 5 months and am fighting my way back to being the healthy active person that I am. The scar tissue has continued to grow back, requiring more surgeries to correct. I also needed a tracheal resection where they took out one and a half inches of my trachea. Being unable to fully care for myself and work has be so tough. The struggles have been challenging but the love from my family, friends, and work family has helped me persevere. I have to focus on what I can do to help myself be healthy, such as doing light stretches or yoga, eating healthy, and meditation. There are times when I cannot breathe very well and its physically exhausting and I have to remind myself to be grateful for what I can do. I have learned not to take little things for granted such as being able to go up a flight of stairs or shower without getting short of breath. I had to take a short break from school after getting out of the hospital, as my brain was not functioning properly initially after being intubated for so long. I then had to take another break when I had the major surgery. It has been helpful to remain in school, however, throughout this time, as it has given me someone to work towards. I have a goal and I am not going to give up on that goal. I have worked to spread my message that anyone is susceptible to becoming gravely ill from covid in hopes that they will learn from my experience and protect themselves and their loved ones. I am still working my way to getting strong enough to get back to work and do not know if I will need another tracheal dilation to open up my airway again, but I must remain in the present and live for and enjoy today. This day is all I have. I am so grateful to be alive and the strength that I have had throughout this process has not come from me, but from the love and support of others in my life. I will not give up. I will keep on fighting. I will not live in fear of dying and will have faith that everything will work out the way it is supposed to. I have learned that even through the hard times, it is important to take care of myself mentally, physically, and emotionally and to not give up. Family is so important and sometimes that is all that we have and we must hold tight to those relationships. I have learned that the world can come together, if people are willing, as we are stronger together, even though we may be apart. This, too, shall pass.

My journey with self-love has been such an incredible experience of realizations and revelations and has positively impacted my beliefs, relationships, and aspirations. I have been in long-term recovery for twelve years and started learning how to love myself through the program. Being someone who is mixed-race, there have been challenges that I have had to overcome and rise above. I have learned to accept and love who I am through lots of practice. I realize that I am not perfect and that is okay. I practice self-love being taking care of myself in many ways: exercising and yoga practice, meditation, and being gentle with myself. We are all different, yet we are the same in many ways and I believe that humans all deserve to be treated with kindness, respect, and dignity. I strive to focus on the similarities. I am very passionate about treating others the way I would like to be treated. I work in a hospital and encounter many different people from different backgrounds, beliefs, and varying ethnicities. I treat each person with empathy and compassion regardless of their differences. I have been the recipient of unkind treatment and would never want anyone to feel the way I felt in those situations. My relationships have improved as I love and accept those that I have relationships with, whether it's colleagues, family, or friends. We have our differences and that is ok, it is invited, as it increases our diversity and our strengths. I aspire to continue to treat others with unconditional love and respect and to encourage others, who are willing, to do the same.

There are many achievements that I have made in my life thus far, however, the most recent one stands out the most. I was diagnosed with Covid 19 in April and within two days, I was intubated. I remained intubated for 10 days and in the intensive care unit for three weeks. I am normally very active, I exercise regularly, and had no pre-existing conditions. I was working as a Physical Therapist Assistant in the hospital prior to becoming infected. When I was discharged, I had lost 25 pounds, was very weak, and continued with coughing and shortness of breath. Four weeks after being discharged, I was diagnosed with tracheal stenosis from being intubated. Scar tissue had formed in my trachea due to damage from the tube I was intubated with. Since then, I had two tracheal dilations, a tracheal resection where 1.5 inches of my trachea was removed to get rid of the hard scar tissue, and have had three more tracheal dilations. During this time, my husband had been laid off work and I have been on short term disability. Then we learned that we were pregnant. The week following our discovery of being pregnant, I began having severe abdominal pain and after going to the emergency room, learned it was an ectopic pregnancy and my fallopian tube ruptured. I had to have emergency surgery to correct this as I was bleeding internally and could have lost my life. This surgery occurred two weeks before the major tracheal resection surgery. All of this, coupled with my stepdaughter and her twin two year old children moving in, as well as my Mom being hospitalized with multiple pulmonary emboli, has been a significant challenge in my life. Overcoming the physically, emotional, and mental challenges has been the most challenging events I have encountered. I have had support from close friends, work colleagues, and my family. But at the end of the day, it is up to me to do the work to overcome and heal from these incidents. I have achieved this by not giving up, getting up everyday and doing what my body will allow me to that day to become stronger, relying upon my Higher Power and meditation to overcome the emotional challenges, and asking for help when I need it. It is not a sign of weakness to ask for help. During this process, I have continued to work towards my Bachelor's degree, paying out of pocket for classes which is becoming increasingly difficult. Going through these challenges has taught me that I am a fighter and I am extremely determined to get better. It has taught me more about the importance of taking care of myself and being gentle with myself. I have come to realize, even more now, the importance of family. I have learned and believe that all my needs will be met, I just have to have faith and stay in today so I don't get overwhelmed with what might happen in the future. What I hope to achieve in the future is to help others who have been in similar situations as myself. I want to share hope with them and be able to provide encouragement and support to help them persevere through their challenges and help them find avenues to cope with the physical, emotional, and mental challenges that come from being taken from a place of physical and mental well-being to a place where they have to fight to get back to where they were prior to their illness and perhaps beyond.

In my recent past, I have experienced extreme hardship when I became infected with covid 19. I am a healthy, physically active 38 year old female and I work as a Physical Therapist Assistant at a local hospital. I contacted the virus and within two days, I was intubated. My body was shutting down on me and I nearly needed to be placed on ECMO. I was intubated for 10 days, lost 25 pounds, and had to learn to walk and eat again. A month after being discharged, my trachea began to close up from scar tissue that had formed from being intubated with a tube that was too large. I have had 5 surgeries in the last 5 months and am fighting my way back to being the healthy active person that I am. The scar tissue has continued to grow back, requiring more surgeries to correct. I also needed a tracheal resection where they took out one and a half inches of my trachea. Being unable to fully care for myself and work has be so tough. The struggles have been challenging but the love from my family, friends, and work family has helped me persevere. I have to focus on what I can do to help myself be healthy, such as doing light stretches or yoga, eating healthy, and meditation. There are times when I cannot breathe very well and its physically exhausting and I have to remind myself to be grateful for what I can do. I have learned not to take little things for granted such as being able to go up a flight of stairs or shower without getting short of breath. I had to take a short break from school after getting out of the hospital, as my brain was not functioning properly initially after being intubated for so long. I then had to take another break when I had the major surgery. It has been helpful to remain in school, however, throughout this time, as it has given me someone to work towards. I have a goal and I am not going to give up on that goal. I have worked to spread my message that anyone is susceptible to becoming gravely ill from covid in hopes that they will learn from my experience and protect themselves and their loved ones. I am still working my way to getting strong enough to get back to work and do not know if I will need another tracheal dilation to open up my airway again, but I must remain in the present and live for and enjoy today. This day is all I have. I am so grateful to be alive and the strength that I have had throughout this process has not come from me, but from the love and support of others in my life. I will not give up. I will keep on fighting. I will not live in fear of dying and will have faith that everything will work out the way it is supposed to.