As a young black woman, I saw the disconnect between my community and healthcare. Even so, I found a love for science and movement early on, through school projects, camps, and sports. I became aware of the physical therapy field through my research as a high school student. As I started reading about the field, it immediately piqued my interest, having everything I wanted in a career– a continuation of my knowledge of the human body, how it moves and heals, as well as an opportunity to use that knowledge to better the lives of others. From my limited knowledge of the field of physical therapy, I started seeking out as many experiences as possible. My high school had an internship program that allowed me to spend my afternoons volunteering at an outpatient clinic, where I got my first taste of what the profession was like. I interacted with a majority of older patients and had the opportunity to work on my patient communication skills with a group of people who were different from me. Going into college, I immediately looked for university-based opportunities. I was able to secure a position as a student athletic trainer for Men’s Lacrosse, eventually working my way up to the title of head student trainer. The patients there were different from my previous encounters. They were younger, wanted to be pushed to their limit, and received different treatments depending on their goals. I have continued to seek out diverse clinical experiences that have opened up my view of the profession and allowed me to interact with a diverse patient population. These include a range of settings from inpatient cardiopulmonary to outpatient neurology and a school. My unique experiences with so many different types of patients have allowed me to understand that every patient, whether older, an infant, or an athlete in their prime, has their own distinct goals and needs. Being a black woman in a healthcare setting also gives me a unique perspective that I believe I can bring to the profession to help both my patients and I be successful. Unfortunately, in the black community, there are many stigmas around health. Whether it be physical or mental, both of which are important in physical rehabilitation, they are sometimes avoided or not talked about. The history of how our people have been treated medically has made some in our community fearful of seeking help. A lack of representation can make people feel unheard. I believe that seeing or speaking to a healthcare provider that you feel represented by is extremely important in helping to break some of these stigmas. Few physical therapists are black. I have learned how important trust is in rehabilitation, and personally understand the feeling of not being seen. Seeing a black medical provider, going to a historically black university, and playing sports with people who look like me all made a large positive impact on how comfortable I felt in each of those settings. Less than 2% of physical therapists are Black women. I hope that when young girls see me working in the hospital or office, it allows them to see themselves in the profession. I hope I can be a mentor for someone younger than me, as I did not have one. If I can make one patient or student feel more confident, or that they're in good hands, I will have succeeded in my goal.

My name is Waverly Wheeler. I am a rising senior at Hampton University pursuing my Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. I want to be a physical therapist in order to help people restore their quality of life and feel like themselves again. Through my clinical experiences, I have seen how large of an impact rehabilitative medicine has on a person's physical and mental health. Also, as a young black woman, I've seen the disconnect between my community and healthcare in some instances, and want to be someone who can bridge that gap. I knew coming from a predominantly white high school, I needed to attend an HBCU. Being one of the only Black students in my advanced classes and negative expectations from teachers engrained self-doubt in my mind. I applied primarily to HBCU's, and was able to receive an honors visit and scholarship from my mother's alma mater, Hampton University. Being surrounded by my Black peers and professors has been a transformative experience that has allowed me to overcome self-doubt. Feeling supported and as though I belong at my school has also pushed me to succeed academically. Despite my high school teacher's low expectations of me, I have maintained a 4.0 GPA, balanced sports and extracurricular activities, and continue to approach everything I do with confidence. To me, being Black means doing just that. Owning who you are, always striving for excellence despite any barriers, and supporting our community.

My path to physical therapy wasn’t through an injury or because of a family member in recovery; it was found through my own interest. I didn’t have any ties to physical therapy from personal experiences or relatives. As a young black woman, I saw the disconnect between my community and healthcare. Even so, I found a love for science and movement early on, through school projects, camps, and sports. I became aware of the physical therapy field through my research as a high school student. As I started reading about the field, it immediately piqued my interest, having everything I wanted in a career– a continuation of my knowledge of the human body, how it moves and heals, as well as an opportunity to use that knowledge to better the lives of others. My curiosity regarding physical therapy has not been hindered by my experiences. I believe this unwavering interest will allow me to continuously learn and grow as a provider. From my limited knowledge of the field of physical therapy, I started seeking out as many experiences as possible. My high school had an internship program that allowed me to spend my afternoons volunteering at an outpatient clinic, where I got my first taste of what the profession was like. I interacted with a majority of older patients and had the opportunity to work on my patient communication skills with a group of people who were different from me. Going into college, I immediately looked for university-based opportunities. I was able to secure a position as a student athletic trainer for Men’s Lacrosse, eventually working my way up to the title of head student trainer. The patients there were different from my previous encounters. They were younger, wanted to be pushed to their limit, and received different treatments depending on their goals. I have continued to seek out diverse clinical experiences that have opened up my view of the profession and allowed me to interact with a diverse patient population. These include a range of settings from inpatient cardiopulmonary to outpatient neurology and a school. My unique experiences with so many different types of patients have allowed me to understand that every patient, whether older, an infant, or an athlete in their prime, has their own distinctive goals and needs. Being a black woman in a healthcare setting also gives me a unique perspective that I believe I can bring to the profession to help me be successful. Unfortunately, in the black community, there are many stigmas around health. Whether it be physical or mental, both of which are important in physical rehabilitation, they are sometimes avoided or not talked about. The history of how our people have been treated medically has made some in our community fearful of seeking help. A lack of representation can make people feel unheard. I believe that seeing or speaking to a healthcare provider that you feel represented by is extremely important in helping to break some of these stigmas. Few physical therapists are black. I have learned how important trust is in rehabilitation, and personally understand the feeling of not being seen. Seeing a black medical provider, going to a historically black university, and playing sports with people who look like me all made a large positive impact on how comfortable I felt in each of those settings. My main purpose in becoming a physical therapist is to give patients the opportunity to feel seen, relieved, and to improve their quality of life.

My name is Waverly Wheeler. I am a rising senior, kinesiology major at Hampton University. I dream of becoming a neurological physical therapist and helping those who have experienced traumatic brain injuries. I enjoy volunteering in the neuro unit at my local hospital and reading romance novels. Growing up, I was always called shy, or timid. I was diagnosed with anxiety when I was twelve, before I knew what it meant, or how to express what I was feeling. I grew up surrounded by mental health challenges that were sometimes swept under the rug, as they unfortunately often are in the Black community. My diagnoses helped me a lot to understand why I functioned differently than the other kids. However, I still struggled. Not only was I anxious in social situations, I was one of the only African-American girls in my class. The feeling of being different is one that is hard to shake. Though I have been blessed with physical health, my internal struggles have impacted me the most. It is difficult to explain something that is not visible, and emotionally taxing to walk through life living in fear, worry, and insecurity. The thoughts in my head have hindered my life the most. “Nothing can harm you as much as your own thoughts unguarded.” - Buddha. This quote is something I live by. No matter what internal struggles I face, I remember that nothing can hurt or heal me as much as my thoughts can. Though presently I still struggle with my anxiety, everything changed for me when I went to college. I currently attend Hampton University. Going to an out of state school was challenging. Being away from home made my anxiety more severe. I wanted to go home as much as I could. However, I was forced to learn how to adapt to a new environment and lots of change. I believe that is a hard skill for anyone to learn. Now, I am able to counteract my anxiety and find peace in my life. Attending an HBCU has also been pivotal for me. Coming from an extremely competitive predominantly white high school, I felt like I wasn’t good enough, not normal. Being the only African American student in many of my advanced classes as well as negative expectations from my teachers engrained self-doubt in me. Going to an HBCU and being surrounded by familiarity has greatly helped me overcome my self doubt. I've had numerous supportive professors and classmates that I feel like I'm in collaboration with, not competition. By working to overcome the mental health challenges I've faced so far in my life, I have been able to grow into a more confident woman. In my college career, I have been able to maintain an overall 4.0 GPA. I believe my understanding of mental health challenges will help me succeed in my career as a physical therapist. Rehabilitation is both a physical and mental journey. There are struggles a patient will face internally that will not be visible in their progress, and I believe I will be able to support them on both sides of their healing.

My name is Waverly Wheeler. I am a rising senior at Hampton University pursuing my Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. I am an aspiring neurological physical therapist. Alongside that, I love to play lacrosse, read, sew, and swim. I want to be a physical therapist in order to help people restore their quality of life and feel like themselves again. Through my clinical experiences, I have seen how large of an impact rehabilitative medicine has on a person's physical and mental health. Also, as a young black woman, I've seen the disconnect between my community and healthcare in some instances, and want to be someone who can bridge that gap I found a love for science and movement early on, through school projects, camps, and sports. I became aware of the physical therapy field through my research as a high school student. I made a very simple Google search for “What is physical therapy?” and started reading about the field. It immediately piqued my interest, having everything I wanted in a career– a continuation of my knowledge of the human body, how it moves and heals, as well as an opportunity to use that knowledge to better the lives of others. My curiosity regarding physical therapy has not been hindered by my experiences. I believe this unwavering interest will allow me to continuously learn and grow as a healthcare provider. My journey started in high school. My school had an internship program that allowed me to spend my afternoons volunteering at a clinic, where I got my first taste of what the profession was like. I interacted with a majority of older patients and had the opportunity to work on my patient communication skills with a group of people who were different from me. Going into college, I immediately looked for university-based opportunities. I was able to secure a position as a student athletic trainer for Men’s Lacrosse, eventually working my way up to the title of head student trainer. The patients there were different from my previous encounters. They were younger, wanted to be pushed to their limit, and received different treatments depending on their goals. I have continued to seek out diverse clinical experiences that have opened up my view of the profession and allowed me to interact with a diverse patient population. These include a range of settings from hospital cardiopulmonary to clinic neurology and a school. My unique experiences with so many different types of patients have allowed me to understand that every patient, whether older, an infant, or an athlete in their prime, has their own distinctive goals and needs, and allowed me to adapt to provide the best service possible. My main purpose in becoming a physical therapist is to give patients the opportunity to feel seen, relieved, and to improve their quality of life. These traits, alongside hard work and dedication, will allow me to be successful in this purpose.

My name is Waverly Wheeler. I am a rising senior at Hampton University pursuing my Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. I am an aspiring neurological physical therapist. Alongside that, I love to play lacrosse, read, sew, and swim. I want to be a physical therapist in order to help people restore their quality of life and feel like themselves again. Through my clinical experiences, I have seen how large of an impact rehabilitative medicine has on a person's physical and mental health. Also, as a young black woman, I've seen the disconnect between my community and healthcare in some instances, and want to be someone who can bridge that gap. I found a love for science and movement early on, through school projects, camps, and sports. My journey towards physical therapy started in high school. My school had an internship program that allowed me to spend my afternoons volunteering at a clinic, where I got my first taste of what the profession was like. I interacted with a majority of older patients and had the opportunity to work on my patient communication skills with a group of people who were different from me. I have continued to seek out diverse clinical experiences that have opened up my view of the profession and allowed me to interact with a diverse patient population. These include a range of settings from hospital cardiopulmonary to clinic neurology and a school. My unique experiences with so many different types of patients have allowed me to understand that every patient, whether older, an infant, or an athlete in their prime, has their own distinctive goals and needs, and allowed me to adapt to provide the best service possible. The experience that has had the largest impact on me has been volunteering in the neurological rehabilitation unit at my local hospital. I am able to serve those who have experienced traumatic brain injuries in their recovery. I have seen first hand the impact that Physical Therapists have on both their physical and mental health, and I am striving to be one. The more passionate, empathetic, and diverse healthcare professionals there are, the better the world will be, and I want nothing more than to be that person. I want to impact the world through a career in physical therapy by giving patients the opportunity to feel seen, relieved, and to improve their quality of life. I've struggled with anxiety for most of my life. Growing up in a competitive, predominately white high school engrained self doubt and a worry into me. Throughout college I've been able to overcome these mental challenges by slowly building my confidence socially and academically. However, while pursuing my physical therapy education, I have faced a great deal of financial anxiety. I was blessed enough to be able to afford my undergraduate institution through scholarships. It is no secret that the cost of physical therapy school has skyrocketed, without an increase in salary. Growing up in a family that was heavily impacted by debt has forced me to deal with a lot of anxiety regarding the loans I will have to take out. It is difficult to not let this hinder my passion for becoming a physical therapist and serving others. I truly believe without the boundary of financial stress, I will be able to make an impact in my community as a physical therapist.

In pursuit of higher education, I have had to overcome the internal obstacle of self-doubt. I entered my HBCU, Hampton University, coming from an extremely competitive predominantly white high school. Growing up in that school system, I felt like I wasn’t smart enough to succeed academically. Being the only African American student in many of my advanced classes as well as negative expectations from my teachers engrained self-doubt in me. I did not recognize it until I was in a community of my Black peers. In high school, I never tried to challenge myself academically because I didn't believe I could succeed. I never went for one-hundred percent on an exam, or applied for any academic awards. I felt like none of my accomplishments were good enough, and compared myself to others constantly. Yes, I took two Advanced Placement classes, but I didn't take six. I was in the Gifted and Talented program, but my teacher often expressed to my mother and I that she did not think I would succeed. Going to an HBCU and being surrounded by familiarity, rather than feeling like the odd one out greatly helped me overcome my self doubt. I've had numerous supportive professors and classmates that I feel like I'm in collaboration with, not competition. Slowly, during my first year, I started to believe in myself more. I was able to overcome a mental boundary I had unknowingly accepted. My confidence was greatly helped by my chemistry teacher. Chemistry is a subject I have always loved, despite being a kinesiology major pursuing physical therapy. It was also my first truly challenging science course in college. Dr. Thabiso Kunene was a very encouraging and supportive chemistry professor. I hadn't felt what it was like to have a teacher that believed in me yet. On his first exam, after rigorous studying, I scored over one-hundred percent. I did not think I was capable of a score that high in any subject. I started to study that hard for every exam, in every course. I started to see the same high grades in subjects from chemistry to sociology. At the end of the semester, before the final exam, I went to his office to pick up my old exams in order to use them as study resources. He praised me for my high grades, and even suggested I should become a chemistry major. This instilled confidence in me I didn't even know I could have. Since overcoming the obstacle of self-doubt, I have had plenty of academic success. Throughout my college career, I have been able to maintain straight A's in all my science courses, as well as an overall 4.0 GPA. I've applied myself in every category, and have received multiple awards and scholarships for my academic accolades. Sometimes when I look back at high school, I'm disappointed in my lack of effort and confidence, wondering what opportunities I missed out on. Despite this, I'm thankful that my past self chose an HBCU. The decision to go to Hampton was integral to my success as a student in a way that goes beyond the classroom. Overcoming the obstacle of self-doubt allows me to confidently pursue excellence in everything I do. I plan to carry this into graduation, physical therapy school, and beyond.

My name is Waverly Wheeler. I am a rising senior at Hampton University pursuing my Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. I am an aspiring neurological physical therapist. Alongside that, I love to play lacrosse, read, sew, and swim. I want to be a physical therapist in order to help people restore their quality of life and feel like themselves again. Through my clinical experiences, I have seen how large of an impact rehabilitative medicine has on a person's physical and mental health. Also, as a young black woman, I've seen the disconnect between my community and healthcare in some instances, and want to be someone who can bridge that gap. I found a love for science and movement early on, through school projects, camps, and sports. I became aware of the physical therapy field through my research as a high school student. I made a very simple Google search for “What is physical therapy?” and started reading about the field. It immediately piqued my interest, having everything I wanted in a career– a continuation of my knowledge of the human body, how it moves and heals, as well as an opportunity to use that knowledge to better the lives of others. My curiosity regarding physical therapy has not been hindered by my experiences. I believe this unwavering interest will allow me to continuously learn and grow as a healthcare provider. My journey started in high school. My school had an internship program that allowed me to spend my afternoons volunteering at a clinic, where I got my first taste of what the profession was like. I interacted with a majority of older patients and had the opportunity to work on my patient communication skills with a group of people who were different from me. Going into college, I immediately looked for university-based opportunities. I was able to secure a position as a student athletic trainer for Men’s Lacrosse, eventually working my way up to the title of head student trainer. The patients there were different from my previous encounters. They were younger, wanted to be pushed to their limit, and received different treatments depending on their goals. I have continued to seek out diverse clinical experiences that have opened up my view of the profession and allowed me to interact with a diverse patient population. These include a range of settings from hospital cardiopulmonary to clinic neurology and a school. My unique experiences with so many different types of patients have allowed me to understand that every patient, whether older, an infant, or an athlete in their prime, has their own distinctive goals and needs, and allowed me to adapt to provide the best service possible. My main purpose in becoming a physical therapist is to give patients the opportunity to feel seen, relieved, and to improve their quality of life.

As someone who has struggled with anxiety and depression throughout my life, I strive to make others around me feel supported and seen. Growing up in the African American community, I am aware of the unfortunate stigma around mental health that we face. Now, attending a historically black university, I am grateful to be surrounded by others who are also passionate about breaking this stigma. I am privileged enough to come from a family that prioritizes mental health, and I do my best to pass that onto others as well. Recently, this past school year, I had a friend who was struggling with depression, and suspected she had ADHD. Her parents did not "believe" in either of those conditions. I knew I was not an expert, but related to a lot of the things she was feeling. I listened to her, and referred her to our school's free counseling services. She later expressed to me that she appreciated the fact that I listened to and believed her. Since then, I've learned a listening ear can go a long way. Going into healthcare, I've applied this as well. Through my clinical experiences as a student, I've learned that the patient's mental health is as important as their physical health. In physical therapy, my desired career field, patients often struggle with their mental health while in rehabilitation. Volunteering in the traumatic brain injury unit at my local hospital, I've seen first hand how difficult it can be. When a patient talks to me about anything, whether it be their family life, background, or struggles, I make sure to listen actively. I have also seen amazing providers who worked hard to help the person's mental health as well. When a patient was struggling to cope with their inability to walk and function fully independently, the provider listened to all of their concerns, was empathetic, then privately contacted the psychologist on the unit and suggested a consult. That is the type of provider I want to be, one that can support their patient emotionally and physically, treating the whole person.

My name is Waverly Wheeler. I am a rising senior at Hampton University pursing my Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. I am an aspiring neurological physical therapist. Alongside that, I love to play lacrosse, read, sew, and swim. I want to be a physical therapist in order to help people restore their quality of life and feel like themselves again. Through my clinical experiences, I have seen how large of an impact rehabilitative medicine has on a person's physical and mental health. Also, as a young black woman, I've seen the disconnect between my community and healthcare in some instances, and want to be someone who can bridge that gap I found a love for science and movement early on, through school projects, camps, and sports. I became aware of the physical therapy field through my research as a high school student. I made a very simple Google search for “What is physical therapy?” and started reading about the field. It immediately piqued my interest, having everything I wanted in a career– a continuation of my knowledge of the human body, how it moves and heals, as well as an opportunity to use that knowledge to better the lives of others. My journey started in high school. My school had an internship program that allowed me to spend my afternoons volunteering at a clinic, where I got my first taste of what the profession was like. I interacted with a majority of older patients and had the opportunity to work on my patient communication skills with a group of people who were different from me. Going into college, I immediately looked for university-based opportunities. I was able to secure a position as a student athletic trainer for Men’s Lacrosse, eventually working my way up to the title of head student trainer. The patients there were different from my previous encounters. They were younger, wanted to be pushed to their limit, and received different treatments depending on their goals. I have continued to seek out diverse clinical experiences that have opened up my view of the profession and allowed me to interact with a diverse patient population. These include a range of settings from hospital cardiopulmonary to clinic neurology and a school. My unique experiences with so many different types of patients have allowed me to understand that every patient, whether older, an infant, or an athlete in their prime, has their own distinctive goals and needs, and allowed me to adapt to provide the best service possible. The experience that has had the largest impact on me has been volunteering in the neurological rehabilitation unit at my local hospital. I am able to serve those who have experienced traumatic brain injuries in their recovery. I have seen first hand the impact that Physical Therapists have on both their physical and mental health, and I am striving to be one. The more passionate, empathetic, and diverse healthcare professionals there are, the better the world will be, and I want nothing more than to be that person. My main purpose in becoming a physical therapist is to give patients the opportunity to feel seen, relieved, and to improve their quality of life.

My mental health impacts my academic performance and personal life heavily while I attend school. As someone who has been diagnosed with anxiety and ADHD, college has brought a new onslaught of challenges I've had to navigate. Attending college has been a difficult journey for me in terms of my mental health. The lowest point of my life was my first year. I felt scared, unworthy, alone, and lost. Going to Hampton University, a school four hours away from home, was a challenge for me. My anxiety is at its height when I am in a new situation, or environment. Both my academic and personal life changed. Academically, I was faced with a workload and expectations I had never had before. I struggled to keep up and not let myself get distracted at first. Self-doubt and constant worry about whether I would get into Physical Therapy school took over my life. I had to learn to shift my expectations, and be less harsh on myself to preserve my mental health. This allowed me to see my academic achievements as part of me, rather than the sole determinant of my worth, and who I was. This significantly decreased my anxiety. Giving yourself a little grace can go a long way. In my personal life, college threw plenty of change at me as well. I was around a different group of people than I was used to. I had to adjust to being away from my friends, family, and boyfriend. This was particularly difficult for me. My social anxiety kept me in my room, and isolated me even more, adding to my loneliness my first year. Sophomore year, I decided to make a change. I put myself out there more, joining clubs, and even joining the club lacrosse team. Having more friends at school significantly improved my mental health. I learned that having community and a support system is extremely important while navigating the challenges of college. Since then, I've made social interaction a priority in my life because of its large impact on my mental health. Though it is difficult, I try not to let my anxiety hold me back. I try to say yes to as many things as I can rather than being worrisome about them. As I've continued to do this, it has become easier. I also took the leap and started therapy, something I was afraid to do at first. I was able to learn strategies to help my anxiety and overcome some of my struggles. The improvement of my mental health from freshman year until now as a rising senior has had a huge impact on my overall experience. Academically, pushing away anxiety and focusing on confidence has allowed me to maintain a 4.0 GPA, and earn multiple academic awards. In my personal life, taking steps to prioritize my mental health and social interaction has given me a college experience I never thought I could have three years ago: One I have actually enjoyed, and will miss dearly.