My journey to physical therapy wasn’t a straightforward one. My first experience as a patient was after a rotator cuff injury in high school, where I received poor care. Despite six months of treatment, my pain persisted, and my love for sports turned into anxiety. I would lie awake before games, dreading a future where my passion had become a source of frustration. I began to speak negatively about the profession, convinced it wasn't for me. As my dreams of playing collegiate sports faded, I struggled with the idea of going to college, as I wasn’t a strong student. Eventually, my parents encouraged me to attend community college, where I majored in exercise science—“exercise” was the only topic I could connect with. While balancing two jobs and a full course load, I managed a 3.3 GPA, which, coming from a high school history of C’s and D’s, was something I was proud of—though I was still uncertain about my future. Everything changed when a friend asked me to work as a physical therapy aide during the winter. Reluctantly, I agreed, needing to pay bills, but I was immediately struck by how much I enjoyed the work and the lifestyle of a physical therapist. I worked at over five different PT clinics and quickly realized that my own negative experience as a patient wasn’t universal—it all depends on the therapist. And through working at different locations, I saw just how many great therapist there truly is, and that my experience is not a universal one. This realization motivated me to research what it takes to become a physical therapist, and I saw that I needed to put more effort into my studies. I graduated with my associate’s degree, transferred to a four-year college, and focused on improving my grades with the goal of applying to PT school. Since then, my academic performance has soared, and I’ve done research and earned awards by my school. After applying to physical therapy school, I shared my journey in my essay and was accepted into multiple programs. My goals have remained consistent since I first discovered my passion for physical therapy: to be a dedicated professional who provides high-quality care, especially for pediatric athletes. But beyond just providing good care, I want to build a connection and level of trust within my patients. Having witnessed the impact poor care can have, I am committed to instilling confidence and helping young athletes move forward with their futures. One negative experience can affect youth for years, and I want to be a therapist who makes a positive, lasting difference.