Motivated, passionate, and determined are three words that define me. My name is Mattea Trusty, and I am a proud graduate of Tennessee Tech University, where I earned dual bachelor’s degrees in Accounting and Business Information Technology. I now work full-time as an accountant for the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration. I was born with arthrogryposis, a condition that limits muscular development and requires me to use a wheelchair. Many people see my disability before they see my capabilities, but I’ve spent my life working to change that narrative. Motivated Growing up, I was often told what I couldn’t do. I heard, “Mattea cannot walk,” “She can’t participate in cheer,” or “She won’t do anything beyond desk work.” Rather than let those words hold me back, I used them as fuel to prove people wrong. I may not be able to walk, but I can accomplish anything I put my mind to. Whether it was running my own small business in high school or building websites for local companies during my college internship, I’ve always been determined to go beyond what’s expected. Passionate My passion lies in breaking barriers and challenging perceptions. I’ve always been drawn to business, especially finance—a love sparked by my grandfather, a certified public accountant. In high school, I founded "Mattea’s Monogramming," a custom t-shirt and decal shop that I successfully operated until graduation. In college, I dove into campus life, joining Delta Phi Epsilon sorority, serving as a campus tour guide, and working at the Small Business Development Center where I helped local businesses grow and thrive. Beyond business, I am deeply passionate about advocating for accessibility and inclusion. I want to inspire others with physical disabilities to pursue their goals boldly and to believe that our abilities are greater than our limitations. Determined Every challenge I’ve faced has only strengthened my determination. Whether it’s navigating everyday life or pursuing my academic and professional goals, I never give up. I am driven to succeed not just for myself but to open doors for others. I want to show that obstacles can become stepping stones. Looking Ahead My long-term vision is to blend my passion for business and advocacy. I aspire to work for a company like the Walt Disney Company, lead efforts that promote accessibility, and eventually start my own business focused on creating opportunities for people with disabilities. I’m committed to using my platform to advocate, lead by example, and help others believe in their potential. Motivated, passionate, and determined—these words don’t just describe me; they shape the life I am building.

Motivated, passionate, and determined are three words that define me. My name is Mattea Trusty, and I am a proud graduate of Tennessee Tech University, where I earned dual bachelor’s degrees in Accounting and Business Information Technology. I now work full-time as an accountant for the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration. I was born with arthrogryposis, a condition that limits muscular development and requires me to use a wheelchair. Many people see my disability before they see my capabilities, but I’ve spent my life working to change that narrative. Motivated Growing up, I was often told what I couldn’t do. I heard, “Mattea cannot walk,” “She can’t participate in cheer,” or “She won’t do anything beyond desk work.” Rather than let those words hold me back, I used them as fuel to prove people wrong. I may not be able to walk, but I can accomplish anything I put my mind to. Whether it was running my own small business in high school or building websites for local companies during my college internship, I’ve always been determined to go beyond what’s expected. Passionate My passion lies in breaking barriers and challenging perceptions. I’ve always been drawn to business, especially finance—a love sparked by my grandfather, a certified public accountant. In high school, I founded "Mattea’s Monogramming," a custom t-shirt and decal shop that I successfully operated until graduation. In college, I dove into campus life, joining Delta Phi Epsilon sorority, serving as a campus tour guide, and working at the Small Business Development Center where I helped local businesses grow and thrive. Beyond business, I am deeply passionate about advocating for accessibility and inclusion. I want to inspire others with physical disabilities to pursue their goals boldly and to believe that our abilities are greater than our limitations. Determined Every challenge I’ve faced has only strengthened my determination. Whether it’s navigating everyday life or pursuing my academic and professional goals, I never give up. I am driven to succeed not just for myself but to open doors for others. I want to show that obstacles can become stepping stones. Looking Ahead My long-term vision is to blend my passion for business and advocacy. I aspire to work for a company like the Walt Disney Company, lead efforts that promote accessibility, and eventually start my own business focused on creating opportunities for people with disabilities. I’m committed to using my platform to advocate, lead by example, and help others believe in their potential. Motivated, passionate, and determined—these words don’t just describe me; they shape the life I am building.

Motivated, passionate, and determined are three words that define me. My name is Mattea Trusty, and I am a proud graduate of Tennessee Tech University, where I earned dual bachelor's degrees in Accounting and Business Information Technology. I now work full-time as an accountant for the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration. I was born with arthrogryposis, a condition that limits muscular development and requires me to use a wheelchair. Many people see my disability before they see my capabilities, but I've spent my life working to change that narrative. Motivated Growing up, I was often told what I couldn't do. I heard, "Mattea cannot walk," "She can't participate in cheer," or "She won't do anything beyond desk work." Rather than let those words hold me back, I used them as fuel to prove people wrong. I may not be able to walk, but I can accomplish anything I put my mind to. Whether running my own small business in high school or building websites for local companies during my college internship, I've always been determined to go beyond what's expected. Passionate My passion lies in breaking barriers and challenging perceptions. I've always been drawn to business, especially finance—a love sparked by my grandfather, a certified public accountant. In high school, I founded "Mattea's Monogramming," a custom t-shirt and decal shop I successfully operated until graduation. In college, I dove into campus life, joining Delta Phi Epsilon sorority, serving as a campus tour guide, and working at the Small Business Development Center, where I helped local businesses grow and thrive. Beyond business, I am deeply passionate about advocating for accessibility and inclusion. I want to inspire others with physical disabilities to pursue their goals boldly and to believe that our abilities are greater than our limitations. Determined Every challenge I've faced has only strengthened my determination. Whether it's navigating everyday life or pursuing my academic and professional goals, I never give up. I am driven to succeed for myself and open doors for others. I want to show that obstacles can become stepping stones. Looking Ahead My long-term vision is to blend my passion for business and advocacy. I aspire to work for a company like the Walt Disney Company, lead efforts that promote accessibility, and eventually start my own business focused on creating opportunities for people with disabilities. I'm committed to using my platform to advocate, lead by example, and help others believe in their potential. Motivated, passionate, and determined—these words don't just describe me; they shape the life I am building.