Being a single mother of 17, who almost didn't graduate from high school, I thought my life would be extremely different from my current circumstance. I would like to start by telling you a little about myself, my past and my current ambitions. I have always wanted a career that allowed me to help people. However, after my daughter was born on September 7, 2001, I dropped out of high school and within 2 months began working full time as a waitress to support her. In 2002, I went back to night school and graduated only a year later, due to my dual enrollment in community college and night school. My high school results encouraged me to move forward with my studies, unfortunately I couldn't afford it and couldn't qualify for the financial aid I needed for the occupational therapy program. Working as a waitress seemed to be my future, until I found the Everest Institute. After receiving financial aid, I completed my massage therapy diploma, in May of 2009. This was easily the closest I could get to OT, and for me it was good enough. In June 2009 I cut the former tensor tendon in my right thumb. I would be in a cast for a minimum of 8 weeks, after surgery to reattach the tendon. Then came physiotherapy, for months and no massage for at least a year. At this point I applied to EMU, went to career services to talk to a counselor about their occupational therapy program, and here I discovered therapeutic recreation. Before I found therapeutic recreation, I dreamed of becoming an occupational therapist. If I'm honest with myself, even partially after graduation I wanted to continue my Masters in Occupational Therapy. At this point I participated in my mandatory 600 hour internship. I have been fortunate... in the middle of a sheet of paper... or therapeutic recreation in my future facility, to give a struggling therapist a chance, or to bring new knowledge and programming wherever I go. I also want to be in a better position to talk to my fellow professionals and medical insurance companies about billing, licensing, and specialty certifications. All of these issues contribute to therapeutic recreation not being recognized as legitimate therapy, regardless of location or medical context. In conclusion, these are just some of the reasons why I want to further my education in the medical field. With this degree I can help clients I care deeply about, help my profession, my colleagues, current and future students. These are my goals and I'm really motivated to achieve them. I've overcome a lot of things in my life and I definitely feel like I'm capable of taking on this challenge, all I need is the chance to do it.