It seems like I've always been destined to become a Physical Therapist. Ever since I was a young boy, I’ve enjoyed helping people. You see, when I was younger I watched my mother fix people every day. Her physical therapy clinic was inside our house and it was the most intriguing part of my day to see her stretch stiffened legs, help someone walk after a new hip replacement, or work with an athlete recovering from surgery. Even back then I had that desire to help fix people, just like my mom. Since I was a child I’ve watched and participated as my family has served and loved others in our community and across the globe. From adopting my 6 sisters to having people and families living in our home at different times of my life, my family has lived a life of service and giving. I have grown up with many great examples of people who are willing to go and serve others, wherever and whenever they were needed, giving whatever was needed. I have had many opportunities to serve and love the people in our community and help fix some of the things that people struggle with. I have been able to serve meals and play games with the homeless at the shelter, help with food drives, and volunteer at the local kids' clothing ministry. I’ve worked with kids in our church and at school doing things like bible quizzing, tutoring, coaching, and refereeing youth sports. What I wasn’t aware of yet, is how much my world was about to be rocked over the summer. This summer, I volunteered at a camp for special needs kids, and the time with these special children confirmed in me my desire to become a physical therapist. While I was there, my time was spent being a caregiver for a young man named Daniel who had severe autism. He was unable to communicate with words, but as time went by I learned so much about how he would communicate his needs, fears, and joy. I helped him with whatever tasks he needed to perform, including even the most basic things such as eating, dressing, and showering. As we were with these kids as caregivers, I got to see the immense value they have as individuals and to their families. I also saw the importance of having people in their lives to walk alongside them and help them with their physical issues and limitations, and how much being with people that love and care about them affects their everyday life. They touched my heart in such a special way and I am thankful for the relationships we formed. So how do I reach my goals? I continue to work hard in school, attend college and obtain my undergraduate degree, then finish my graduate degree. This will allow me to have the education and training I need as a Physical Therapist to work with these special kids. I have caught a glimpse of seeing who these children are created to be and the worth that they have. Working with these kids and seeing them laughing and functioning physically, in the best way possible, will be the fulfillment of a dream that was birthed in my childhood.

It seems like I've always been destined to become a Physical Therapist. Ever since I was a young boy, I’ve enjoyed helping people. You see, when I was younger I watched my mother fix people every day. Her physical therapy clinic was inside our house and it was the most intriguing part of my day to see her stretch stiffened legs, help someone walk after a new hip replacement, or work with an athlete recovering from surgery. Even back then I had that desire to help fix people, just like my mom. Since I was a child I’ve watched and participated as my family has served and loved others in our community and across the globe. From adopting my 6 sisters to having people and families living in our home at different times of my life, my family has lived a life of service and giving. I have grown up with many great examples of people who are willing to go and serve others, wherever and whenever they were needed, giving whatever was needed. I have had many opportunities to serve and love the people in our community and help fix some of the things that people struggle with. I have been able to serve meals and play games with the homeless at the shelter, help with food drives, and volunteer at the local kids' clothing ministry. I’ve worked with kids in our church and at school doing things like bible quizzing, tutoring, coaching, and refereeing youth sports. What I wasn’t aware of yet, is how much my world was about to be rocked over the summer. This summer, I volunteered at a camp for special needs kids, and the time with these special children confirmed in me my desire to become a physical therapist. While I was there, my time was spent being a caregiver for a young man named Daniel who had severe autism. He was unable to communicate with words, but as time went by I learned so much about how he would communicate his needs, fears, and joy. I helped him with whatever tasks he needed to perform, including even the most basic things such as eating, dressing, and showering. As we were with these kids as caregivers, I got to see the immense value they have as individuals and to their families. I also saw the importance of having people in their lives to walk alongside them and help them with their physical issues and limitations, and how much being with people that love and care about them affects their everyday life. They touched my heart in such a special way and I am thankful for the relationships we formed. So how do I reach my goals? I continue to work hard in school, attend college and obtain my undergraduate degree, then finish my graduate degree. This will allow me to have the education and training I need as a Physical Therapist to work with these special kids. I have caught a glimpse of seeing who these children are created to be and the worth that they have. Working with these kids and seeing them laughing and functioning physically, in the best way possible, will be the fulfillment of a dream that was birthed in my childhood. This scholarship will definitely be a huge blessing to me , allowing me to continue to focus on my goals and continuing to live a life of serving and loving others in radical ways.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live your life in one of those “feel-good” family movies like “The Brady Bunch” or “Cheaper by the Dozen”? Well, I don’t have to use my imagination because I have actually lived in both! I have often wondered if my parents liked these movies so much that they decided to live them out, or maybe a film producer came to our house one day and asked if he could make a movie about our family. Compared to the average family with 2.1 children, our family dynamics are crazy! My parents both came from broken relationships and both had two children when they met. After a brief courtship, they fell in love, and Bam, the modern-day “Brady Bunch” was born, which we lovingly refer to as the “Klaski Klan”. Over the next 4 years, my older sister and I were born into the family and it grew from 6 to 8. It was a wonderful season of life, but right after my 12th birthday, our family was about to change in such a radical way that I never could have imagined. You see, my parents are alot like my older sister. She would take in any cat, dog, bird, etc., that needed a home. The only difference is that my parents take in people who are in need. They have opened our home to homeless families, struggling teens, and single mothers. We’ve had people in our home from a few weeks to a few years. In some ways, I have enjoyed it, but it’s often been hard to give up my bedroom, share toys, and give up time spent with my parents. So my parents informed us that they felt called to adopt, and over the next couple of years, they adopted my 6 sisters, (aka, Cheaper By The Dozen). Although things haven’t always been easy, my sisters and I do get along pretty well. Still, at times, I do get tired of hearing about make-up and boys. So, who am I in this life that has many times resembled a Hollywood movie? I am hardworking, trustworthy, and dependable, much like my father. I am kind, compassionate, and someone who loves people, like my mother. I am strong, courageous, a man who pursues his dreams as displayed by my brothers. I have overcome adversity, am humorous, and am a friend to the friendless like many of my sisters. My goal of becoming a physician or physical therapist stem from living a life in service of others. I have watched and been a part of this lifestyle my entire existence, from serving alongside my family at local food pantries and homeless shelters, serving the elderly of our community however they needed, to living out daily life with those who came from less than desirable circumstances. My desire to work in the healthcare field seems to me to be a natural progression to the next chapter in my life of being able to walk alongside people. The opportunity to be awarded this scholarship will be a huge blessing for me to ease the financial burdens of college and allow me to pursue my goals and dreams. My family is certainly diverse-being that I am one of 12 children, but I truly feel blessed to have lived the life I have had. So many people have touched my life in a multitude of ways and I am excited to learn, grow and love others in radical ways as I step into this next chapter of my life.

How to Love Unconditionally? I desire to show others that they are loved, have worth and great value because they are created with a purpose only they can fulfill. A persons value and ability to give and receive love isn’t determined from whether they come from a broken home or a stable home, single parent home or a intact marriage, wealthy family or poor. I have a few friends who come from broken homes through divorce, alcohol abuse, and other family trauma. I have been led to spend time with them over the last couple of years and I have learned to walk alongside them and love them unconditionally. They have struggled at times to fit in and have friends at times because of past family trauma, and this has caused them to have a extremely low self esteem and a lack of self worth. I have encouraged them that they are valued and able to overcome the present issues in their lives and achieve their dreams and goals. My parents have commented on many occasions that I have a gentle and loving spirit that has always desired to help the helpless, be a friend to the kid who never had a friend, and love those who felt like they were unlovable. My desire is to continue to recognize and uplift those that my life intersects with that need someone to love them , walk alongside and encourage them that they are loved and created for greatness in whatever area of life that there is a burning desire in their hearts. I look forward to my circle widening as I graduate high school and continue my education in the medical field. I hope to walk alongside and impact many more lives in the future with unconditional love and friendship.