My name is Kamesha Montgomery and I graduated from California State University, Los Angeles in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology. I was first introduced to physical therapy when my grandpa was sick and received therapy before he passed. I didn’t have the determination to learn about physical therapy until my grandma was diagnosed. My zeal for physical therapy increased to help those just like my grandma that just needed someone to get them moving again so they can achieve daily activities safely and pain free. During my undergrad at CSULA, I had to experience the loss of my grandma, who raised me, and was diagnosed with stage 4 bladder cancer. Since graduating, I have gained experience within the therapy field through employment and volunteering. I volunteered at The Mobility Center where we work with clients who suffer from spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, MS, etc. Soon, I was employed at an outpatient clinic where I learned more about an orthopedic approach when recovering from injury and volunteered at a pediatric clinic. I had the opportunity to return to CSULA as a lecturer for the Mobility Center to teach college students therapeutic exercises for older adults. Being raised by both grandparents has inspired me to want to give back to communities who don’t have the proper resources to physically grow. Statistically, foster youth are suspected to have all the odds stacked against them because of maltreatment, lack of safety or inadequate care. About 36% of foster youth at the age of 18 become homeless, one of four foster youth are incarcerated after the age of 18, and 46% lack the right resources or guidance to have the proper education to graduate or even attend college. The biggest statistic that affects me the most is, 50% of all female foster youth will become pregnant by the age of 19. As someone who entered the foster care system from birth, statistically I wasn’t supposed to have a college degree. I am an African American female college graduate with experience in a field that I am passionate about and will not stop until I change lives as a physical therapist. As a child that was once in the foster care system gave me passion to help children especially foster youth because I have experienced the struggles. I wanted to help those who couldn’t help themselves and those who come from impecunious communities and struggling homes. I interned for a nonprofit organization that did just that, but I was always at a computer screen and never got to interact or see the children I was helping. Through the experiences, I became accountable, hardworking, fast learner, supportive, compassionate, and determined to become the best version of myself by doing something that I love. Overcoming the struggles of being a minority, trials and tribulations of the foster care system and realizing that if there is no struggle then there is no progress, has manifested into resilience, determination, and motivation. These attributes are needed to become a physical therapist as the patients we see are experiencing extreme efforts to get back to what they love. As a graduate student who has just been accepted to a doctorate program at Touro University in Nevada to pursue a career in physical therapy, earning the Mike Peters Memorial Scholarship would benefit me by relieving the stress of financial burdens. I had to relocate to another state to achieve my goals and this scholarship will assist in embracing new endeavors so I can succeed in the future as a physical therapist.

Around 9:30 p.m., the night was quiet and peaceful; everyone was sound to sleep except for the two of us. She was leaving again and promised that she would only be gone for a few hours. I cried to refrain her from leaving but the cries from the alcohol and drugs were louder than mine. I waited and waited until my eyes couldn’t wait any longer. I didn’t expect to be woken up around 4:00 the next morning by frightening, loud screams coming from my mother. It appeared as if everyone jumped out of bed at once. The grinding raucous of a broken bathroom fan, and the drugs, made my mother believe someone was trying to kill her. I became frightened, as my mother appeared cadaverous, because of the number of drugs she injected the night before. As I watched my mother become truculent as they put her in the ambulance, I knew my mom was an addict and I stopped believing in promises. As a child that was once in the foster care system gave me passion to help children especially foster youth because I have experienced the struggles. I wanted to help those who couldn’t help themselves and those who come from impecunious communities and struggling homes. I interned for a nonprofit organization that did just that, but I was always at a computer screen and never got to interact or see the children I was helping. Soon I interned to become a probation officer, but I found myself sitting at another computer. Through these experiences, I became accountable, hardworking, fast learner, supportive, compassionate, and determined to become the best version of myself by doing something that I love. It was not until my grandpa was diagnosed with bone cancer and seeing my grandpa move again gave me the introduction and solicitude for physical therapy. However, I never knew for certain if this career/lifestyle was the best way to express my personality and to change an individual’s life. Then, my grandma was diagnosed with stage four bladder cancer during my fourth year in college. A few months before she passed away, she said “If my grandkids can get me out of this bed and moving again everything will be fine. My zeal for physical therapy increased to help those just like my grandma that just needed someone to get them moving again so they can achieve daily activities safely and pain free.  Throughout these experiences, I had to overcome the statistic that only 3% of foster care youth earn a college degree and only 5% are African American in the physical therapy field. Sometimes, I wondered if only I had an interest in physical therapy sooner, but I knew that I had to go through adversity, the computer screens, and the loss of my grandparents/guardians to become the person I needed to become. I looked forward to the day I help patients perform fun activities to improve their motor abilities, achieve goals and turn promises into guarantees.

Around 9:30 p.m., the night was quiet and peaceful; everyone was sound to sleep except for the two of us. She was leaving again and promised that she would only be gone for a few hours. I cried to refrain her from leaving but the cries from the alcohol and drugs were louder than mine. I waited and waited until my eyes couldn’t wait any longer. I didn’t expect to be woken up around 4:00 the next morning by frightening, loud screams coming from my mother. It appeared as if everyone jumped out of bed at once. The grinding raucous of a broken bathroom fan, and the drugs, made my mother believe someone was trying to kill her. I became frightened, as my mother appeared cadaverous, because of the number of drugs she injected the night before. As I watched my mother become truculent as they put her in the ambulance, I knew my mom was an addict and I stopped believing in promises. As a child that was once in the foster care system gave me passion to help children especially foster youth because I have experienced the struggles. I wanted to help those who couldn’t help themselves and those who come from impecunious communities and struggling homes. I interned for a nonprofit organization that did just that, but I was always at a computer screen and never got to interact or see the children I was helping. Soon I interned to become a probation officer, but I found myself sitting at another computer. Through these experiences, I became accountable, hardworking, fast learner, supportive, compassionate, and determined to become the best version of myself by doing something that I love. It was not until my grandpa was diagnosed with bone cancer and seeing my grandpa move again gave me the introduction and solicitude for physical therapy. However, never knew for certain if this career/lifestyle was the best way to express my personality and to change an individual’s life. Then, my grandma was diagnosed with stage four bladder cancer during my fourth year in college. A few months before she passed away, she said “If my grandkids can get me out of this bed and moving again everything will be fine. My zeal for physical therapy increased to help those just like my grandma that just needed someone to get them moving again so they can achieve daily activities safely and pain free. Throughout these experiences, I had to overcome the statistic that only 3% of foster care youth earn a college degree and only 5% are African American in the physical therapy field. Sometimes, I wondered if only I had an interest in physical therapy sooner, but I knew that I had to go through adversity, the computer screens, and the loss of my grandparents/guardians to become the person I needed to become. I looked forward to the day I help patients perform fun activities to improve their motor abilities, achieve goals and turn promises into guarantees.

Statistically, foster youth are suspected to have all the odds stacked against them because of maltreatment, lack of safe­ty or inad­e­quate care. About 36% of foster youth at the age of 18 become homeless, one of four foster youth are incarcerated after the age of 18, and 46% lack the right resources or guidance to have the proper education to graduate or even attend college. The biggest statistic that affects me the most is, 50% of all female foster youth will become pregnant by the age of 19. As someone who entered the foster care system from birth, statistically I wasn’t supposed to have a college degree. I am an African American female college graduate with experience in a field that I am passionate about and will not stop until I change lives as a physical therapist. The optimism of being in the foster care system is being introduced to many opportunities such as the United Friends of the Children. More specifically, their college readiness program helped challenging or at-risk youth to better themselves and build the skills to transition into adulthood and college. The college readiness program opened so many opportunities to help me succeed outside of the foster care system and in college. Overcoming the struggles of being a minority, trials and tribulations of the foster care system and realizing that if there is no struggle then there is no progress, has manifested into resilience, determination, and motivation. These attributes are needed to become a successful physical therapist as the patients we see are experiencing extreme efforts to get back to what they love. I want to help others find their peace through therapy while going through challenges and hardships because when you have all odds stacked against you, you have no choice but to pick up that stack and become even stronger. Throughout these experiences, I had to overcome the statistic that only 3% of foster care youth earn a college degree and only 5% are African American in the physical therapy field. Sometimes, I wondered if only I had an interest in physical therapy sooner, but I knew that I had to go through adversity, the computer screens, and the loss of my grandparents/guardians to become the person I needed to become. I realize that not only did I choose physical therapy, but I developed unique traits like compassion, patience, and integrity to become a successful physical therapist. I have learned to never let my life experiences define me but to lead me down the path I want to walk, the physical therapy path. I am excited to improve an individual’s motor abilities and overall health. I looked forward to the day I help patients perform fun activities to improve their motor abilities, achieve goals and turn promises into guarantees.

Around 9:30 p.m., the night was quiet and peaceful; everyone was sound to sleep except for the two of us. She was leaving again and promised that she would only be gone for a few hours. I cried to refrain her from leaving but the cries from the alcohol and drugs were louder than mine. I waited and waited until my eyes couldn’t wait any longer. I didn’t expect to be woken up around 4:00 the next morning by frightening, loud screams coming from my mother. It appeared as if everyone jumped out the bed at once. The grinding raucous of a broken bathroom fan, and the drugs, made my mother believe someone was trying to kill her. As a child, her beliefs became my beliefs, “someone” was trying to kill us all. I became frightened, as my mother appeared cadaverous, because of the number of drugs she injected the night before. As I watched my mother become truculent as they put her in the ambulance, I knew my mom was an addict and I stopped believing in promises. At the age of seven, my grandparents took legal guardianship even though they welcomed my four siblings and me into their home since birth. My grandpa was calm, stern, and assertive. My grandma was the breadwinner, a hard worker, the advisor, and my best friend. Since being raised by my grandparents and being the youngest of five, it has shaped me into a person that will be there for those who are hapless and lack the appropriate resources. I became humble, guileless because my grandparents raised me as their own and showed me how to be appreciative for others, especially those who are less fortunate. It was not until my grandpa was diagnosed and passed away from bone cancer, I realized how many interactions were involved. Seeing my grandpa move again gave me the introduction and solicitude for physical therapy, however I never knew for certain if this career/lifestyle was the best way to express my personality and to change an individual’s life. Then, my grandma was diagnosed with stage four bladder cancer during my fourth year in college. At that time, I was just starting to learn transfers and rehabilitation exercises at The Mobility Center at Cal-State La. This new knowledge would have been beneficial for my grandma. A few months before she passed away, she said “If my grandkids can get me out of this bed and moving again everything will be fine”. I discovered that the simplest movement could change someone’s health and mobility status. At that moment, I felt helpless, uneducated because I lacked the knowledge and ability to help someone out of bed. My zeal for physical therapy increased to help those just like my grandma that just needed someone to get them moving again so they can achieve daily activities safely and pain free. Through these experiences, I became accountable, hardworking, fast learner, supportive, compassionate, and determined to become the best version of myself by doing something that I love. Sometimes, I wondered if only I had an interest in physical therapy sooner, but I knew that I had to go through adversity, the computer screens, and the loss of my grandparents/guardians to become the person I needed to become. I realize that not only did I choose physical therapy, but I developed unique traits like compassion, patience, and integrity to become a successful physical therapist. I have learned to never let my life experiences define me but to lead me down the path I want to walk, the physical therapy path. I am excited to improve an individual’s motor abilities and overall health. I looked forward to the day I help patients perform fun activities to improve their motor abilities, achieve goals and turn promises into guarantees. Overcoming the struggles of being a minority, trials and tribulations of the foster care system and realizing that if there is no struggle then there is no progress, has manifested into resilience, determination, and motivation. These attributes are needed to become a physical therapist as the patients we see are experiencing extreme efforts to get back to what they love. As a graduate student who has just been accepted to a doctorate program at Touro University in Nevada to pursue a career in physical therapy, earning the Cat Zingano Overcoming Loss Scholarship would benefit me by relieving the stress of financial burdens. I will have to relocate to another state to achieve my goals and this scholarship will assist in embracing new endeavors so I can succeed as a future physical therapist. I am an African American female college graduate with experience in a field that I am passionate about and will not stop until I change lives as a physical therapist.

Statistically, foster youth are suspected to have all the odds stacked against them because of maltreatment, lack of safety or inadequate care. About 36% of foster youth at the age of 18 become homeless, one of four foster youth are incarcerated after the age of 18, and 46% lack the right resources or guidance to have the proper education to graduate or even attend college. The biggest statistic that affects me the most is, 50% of all female foster youth will become pregnant by the age of 19. As someone who entered the foster care system from birth, statistically I wasn’t supposed to have a college degree. I am an African American female college graduate with experience in a field that I am passionate about and will not stop until I change lives as a physical therapist. Overcoming the struggles of being a minority, trials and tribulations of the foster care system and realizing that if there is no struggle then there is no progress, has manifested into resilience, determination, and motivation. These attributes are needed to become a physical therapist as the patients we see are experiencing extreme efforts to get back to what they love. As a graduate student who has just been accepted to a doctorate program at Touro University in Nevada to pursue a career in physical therapy, earning the James B. McKillip Scholarship for Physical Therapy Scholarship would benefit me by relieving the stress of financial burdens. I will have to relocate to another state to achieve my goals and this scholarship will assist in embracing new endeavors so I can succeed as a future physical therapist. Throughout these experiences, I had to overcome the statistic that only 3% of foster care youth earn a college degree and only 5% are African American in the physical therapy field. Sometimes, I wondered if only I had an interest in physical therapy sooner, but I knew that I had to go through adversity, the computer screens, and the loss of my grandparents/guardians to become the person I needed to become. I realize that not only did I choose physical therapy, but I developed unique traits like compassion, patience, and integrity to become a successful physical therapist. I have learned to never let my life experiences define me but to lead me down the path I want to walk, the physical therapy path. I am excited to improve an individual’s motor abilities and overall health. I looked forward to the day I help patients perform fun activities to improve their motor abilities, achieve goals and turn promises into guarantees.