As I got off the public bus I made my way towards the physical clinic at San Diego State University. Before walking through the doors I hadn’t realized how privileged I was that my school gave me the opportunity to internship here. Growing up all I had ever known were gangs, drug addicts, alcoholics, and high school dropouts. A high school diploma is rare in the world I come from, which makes a college diploma nonexistent. I never imagined that I’d be able to walk on the grounds of a University.
I met the woman in charge of the clinic and within minutes I was paired up with my first client. He was about 50 years old and was involved in a snowboarding accident that prevented him from walking. Although he could hardly walk, he was still very strong- just like my Dad. My Dad has been working in the same place for over 20 years to help support his four kids. His life consists of work, eating and sleeping. I see him for maybe an hour, two if I’m lucky. I rarely get the chance to talk to him but the few times I do, he says he’s tired of working like a dog …show more content…
I want to be able to have a job where I won’t fear getting fired because I’m getting old or one where I’m forced to work “like a dog.” And that hearing him tell me I’m not going to graduate high school has motivated me to not only reach for the stars but to reach for the moon. Not only am I graduating high school but I’m going to graduate college. My brother may not have a college graduate to look up to just yet, but in 2018 he will, and it will be me. He’ll see his sister break stereotypes and statistics when he sees her walk off that stage with her diploma and continue on her journey of becoming a physical therapist. That way she is able to help her father retire and not worry about money and she’ll be able to help her mother with treatment which she is currently unable to receive for her