My name is Pierre Brodie, I am a proud African American and Hispanic male. As a kid, I was no stranger to injuries. From the soccer field to the basketball court, I found myself in physical therapy more times than I could count. But each visit sparked something in me--a fascination with the healing process and the professionals that made it possible. Being surrounded by dedicated physical therapists first ignited my passion for the field. However, it wasn't until years later that I realized none of those dedicated Physical Therapists were people of color. That is not to take away from their ability to help but I found it very unsettling and I realized that I can be that Physical Therapist of color for a kid one day. While I know it isn't completely uncommon since there are multiple doctors of color in my family, it still increased my drive tremendously. Once I graduated high school I was blessed to get a job as a Physical Therapy Aide at a clinic near by where I worked for 4 years. This is where my passion for physical therapy truly took off. I'll never forget my first day walking into the work space with the Physical Therapist and the assistants. They were highly professional but had a very fun, lively, and passionate aura filling the room. In this room I learned the true impact that Physical Therapist have on their patients. I saw every day how people came in with chronic or acute problems on their first day and on the last day being truly grateful for their therapist for allowing them to go back to living the life they once knew with some being even stronger then before coming in. The Physical Therapist I worked with didn't just heal bodies--they uplifted minds. Whether they realized it or not, their support and encouragement played a crucial role in their patients' mental well-being. There is a story that I will never forget while working at the clinic. A patient came in after a car accident with complaints of stiff shoulder and pain in elbow and hand on his right side. As I was building rapport with the patient, I asked him if there was a reason why he wanted to get better. He said simply that he wanted to be able to play basketball with his son again. I watched every single day he came and showed incredible dedication to recover. After weeks of treatment our therapist had his arm feeling "brand new" and on his last day with us, he brought his son in to thank us and embraced all of us with tears in his eyes. This experience was a stepping stone that solidified my path in life and I knew I wanted to help as many patients as I could in one lifetime. I love my people from both sides of my family tree, but I believe there needs to be more of us in the medical field and PT specifically. A few short years from now, once I am a Doctor of Physical Therapy, I want to be able to be a voice for BIPOC kids or even adults who want to be in a career that they mostly see non-BIPOC people in and treat people in underserved communities. My drive comes from my upbringing, my beliefs, my family, my colleagues, and the communities I represent. I am determined to make a lasting impact in physical therapy, not only by helping patients heal but also by inspiring the next generation of diverse healthcare professionals.