Why I Choose My Future by Julia

Why I Choose My Future by Julia - May 2023 Scholarship Essay

I've been involved in my school's marching band for four years. There, I learned everything that I use on a daily basis. Marching band was the most militant organization that I had ever been a part of, and that is coming from a girl raised by a veteran’s son and an immigrant’s daughter.
I learned teamwork and optimism, and the discipline to work hard for not just myself, but for others. As drum major, I learned how to be selfless and do things for the benefit of the group, rather than just myself. I learned how to make friends and how to talk to people. I learned how to make others feel welcome, how to teach and how to build lasting relationships.
Throughout my experience in marching band as well as through my family’s core religious values, I realized that I want to be a part of something where every individual matters and be able to serve others while making a difference. I want to spend my career in the service of others and being a stepping stone to help them achieve their aspirations, or make it easier to do so.
I fell into the extreme dieting trap in the beginning of high school. It took me a year or two to realize, and by this point I had tried toxic diets and workout routines. I began looking at exercise through a new lens. I found myself researching the functions of the body and how it worked, and the impacts of different kinds of exercise and food. I tried different kinds of exercise to see how my body reacted. I stayed up late watching TEDtalks about muscle growth, hormones, and enzymes. It became my passion, and I found joy in something that had once hurt me.
This led me to plan on majoring in Exercise and Health Sciences at Virginia Tech. While I am there, I want to work during the school year to offset the cost of my education and aid in the cost accumulation that will occur with graduate school. This summer I will work two jobs and volunteer in a hospital or another physical-therapy related institution, and I will continue to do so every summer while obtaining my bachelor’s degree. From there, I would like to pursue a career in Physical Therapy. Ideally, I will be able to complete my education for physical therapy within six to seven years, obtaining a DPT. From there, my goal would be to become a physical therapist in employment in the Army. I wanted to go straight into the Armed Forces, but I was unable to due to my ulcerative colitis being a disqualifying condition. I still wanted to serve and help those who do, so I am planning on working independently under the employment of the Army, to help those who served get back to doing so, or back to everyday life. I want to be able to support myself and my family while doing what I love, which is helping others.