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 enough... 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 a 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.