Finding my Path by Sophia

Finding my Path by Sophia - March 2023 Scholarship Essay

When asked to name someone who has had a crucial impact on your education, the first person to come to mind is most likely a past teacher or professor, right? Now, don’t get me wrong, I have had my share of amazing teachers throughout my educational career. However, one of the most influential is not one that I met through school.
When I was thirteen years old, I was diagnosed with scoliosis and told that I needed an immediate spinal fusion. I was scared half to death, but two months later, there I was in the operating room, just minutes away from going under the anesthesia. My only thought throughout those two months of waiting was how in the world my body would react after such an intense surgery. Yet, when the time came, I was up and walking that same day, as well as going shopping with my mother by the end of my first week of my recovery. However, this was not entirely thanks to my own doing. I owe my quick recovery to my physical therapist. Not only did her exercises lead me down a smooth road to recovery, but so did her encouraging words. During the first couple days of recovery the pain was unbearable, but she and my surgeon encouraged me to push through and heal my body, no matter how difficult. I also found the entire healing process astonishing. It is still mind-blowing to me how quick my body was able to recover after such a traumatic and invasive procedure. This sparked a sudden interest in me regarding human anatomy.
So no, my physical therapist did not help me pass a class, or give me any lectures, but she gave me an educational gift that none of my educators ever could have. Thanks to her, I now know what I want to do with my life. I am currently enrolled at one of the top universities in the country for physical therapy, and I am beyond excited to see what is in store for my career. Not only is the University of Delaware an amazing school, but it is only a twenty minute drive from Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware, where I had my surgery and hope to one day begin my physical therapy career following in my own physical therapist’s footsteps.