Having successfully completed my Bachelors of Science degree in Kinesiology at Temple University is a dream-come-true. Being a non-traditional student, I felt very out of place in the beginning of this journey. I was older than most in the courses I attended. Yet, I wanted to be here. I needed to be here not only to earn a college degree, but more so to prove to myself how strong, smart and undefeated I am. I’ve had a long journey from a suburb of Paris, France where I was born. In august 2011, I found the strength to end an 11-year vituperative and abusive marriage. I had a Protection from Abuse order which gave me the distance I needed to rebuilt my spirit, mind and body and focus on a plan for my life. I decided to move toward a positive future for my two sons and myself. Being a Temple student was literally beginning a new life. I have evolved tremendously as a person this past four years. I am the first to graduate college in my nuclear family and a first generation immigrant to the US.

Realizing that my teaching assistant job could not sufficiently provide for my family’s future, I knew I had to do better. Fully realizing the sacrifices involved, I decided to go back to college. My interest in health and fitness lead me to look into the physical wellness professions. I needed a profession that incorporates human interaction and my interest in science. I was diagnosed with mild scoliosis at a very young age and went through physical therapy in France. Since, I always made the conscious effort to stay active, strengthening my core and posture.

Today, I am in the Doctorate of Physical Therapy Program at Temple university will be graduating in 2019. I have successfully completed all of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Anatomy and Physiology sequence courses with an overall GPA of 3.57 and a total of 132 credits. I am overcoming obstacles as they present themselves along the way. Last year, my study time was affected by the increase of work hours at my job, so I made the mature decision to withdraw from the second Chemistry sequence Lecture portion, but successfully finished the Lab section of the course with a B+. I made sure to continue attending lectures, recitations and took all corresponding quizzes. I took my final chemistry lecture course the following semester along with my planned courses and earned a B+. My hard work is fueled by the inspiration I get from my sons. Their lively demeanor and genuine happiness is what keeps me going. Being a full-time college student has had a noticeable effect on my sons’ attitude towards their own school work. In this society where a number of minority boys end up dead, or in jail because of dangerous lifestyles, I have made it my mission to give them the best possible chances to succeed. I feel that my enthusiasm for learning is rubbing off on my sons. We often talk about what their majors will be when, not if, they go to college. When I look in my sons’ eyes and I know I must continue moving forward until I accomplish my goal. I see the bright future that awaits me as a Physical Therapist. In this future, I am able to help my sons, their friends and others through their very own college years.

My involvement in my son’s preschool about 7 years ago motivated me to earn an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education from Penn Foster College which is an online program. I worked for the Head Start program of Delaware County Intermediate Unit for four years as an instructional assistant; during which I had the honor to meet President Barack Obama during his visit at the school in Yeadon, PA in 2011. There, I also met and observed Occupational therapists as they provided services to some of my students. I love working with children and stay physically active with them that is why I readily applied for a rehab aide position at the Shriners Hospitals for Children in Philadelphia, PA. This hospital specializes in (S.C.I.) Spinal Cord Injuries. I started working in July 2014, providing support and assistance in the Rehabilitation Department. I am also involved in research with the Therastride program which offers activities-based locomotor training. I am trained in its practices and procedures and its pediatric specializations. This hands-on experience with the Therastride program increases my familiarity with the variety of complications experienced by Spinal Cord Injuries patients but especially the ones targeting the pediatric population. It is an honor to work with children with S.C.I. and their families. With over 500 working hours with Shriners Rehabilitation Department, I am truly excited to see the progress made by the children after weeks of intensive treatment. Interacting with the Physical therapists always ready to share their knowledge and experiences is fascinating. I am eager to learn everything I need to know to provide the best care possible and even offer suggestions in new ways to utilize technology to support rehabilitation. My interests in the international health community lead me to meet with College Professor Nyahuma, president of HealthLink International and assist him with his initiative of connecting healthcare professionals throughout the world. I volunteered in 2012 to assist French Doctor, Dr. Lydia Foucan with simultaneous translation during her visit in Philadelphia, PA. Dr. Lydia Foucan is a renowned epidemiologist residing in the French West Indies archipelago of Guadeloupe. It was truly inspiring to witness American and foreign researchers and healthcare professionals involved in similar research projects involving the implication of vitamin D deficiency in cardiovascular related pathologies. She received a plaque from the City of Philadelphia in recognition of her contribution in past researches during a City Hall Seminar. She later asked me to edit her now published medical research paper entitled “Polymorphisms in GC and NADSYN1 Genes association with vitamin D status and metabolic profile in Non-diabetic adults” and I figure in it as a language contributor.

I consider myself an international citizen, born in France, raised in the West Indies. I discovered and I am pursuing my professional passion in North America. As a future physical therapist, I will relentlessly help my patient reach their full potential. Through my clinical expertise, I will be able to provide them and their families with answers by completing thorough diagnosis and discuss potential outcomes when providing individual rehabilitation plan. Furthermore, I relish the challenge in dealing with multiple medical diagnoses including a family with cultural differences or a language barrier. I dream to advance the field through research and connect with healthcare providers throughout the world. The rewarding experiences I have at the Shriners Hospitals for Children in Philadelphia and my background have prepared me for the new challenges and responsibilities that lie ahead in Physical Therapy. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship will mean the world to my sons and I.

Essay: Therastride - locomotor training

Through my work as a Rehab Aid, I discovered the loco-motor training program called Therastride. It is a very specific machine which include a treadmill equipped with a fitted harness connected to a regulated weight bearing pressurized system that is computer assisted. We used this machine with children as young as 18 months old and after weeks of intensive treatments the results were amazing. This machine can be used for adults as well, I simply only worked with the pediatric population as a Rehab Aid.

Loco-motor training is used to develop a walking recovery or gait learning program for persons with neurological injuries or diseases. I believe this training combines gait training with the ability to tap into the neural control of ambulation which is the central pattern generator in the lower thoracic and lumbar regions of the spinal cord. While promoting maximum capacity muscle strength, range, and endurance, this machine also compensate for non-remediable deficits and teaches new behavioral skill and maximizes lower extremities weigh bearing. It also optimizes sensory cues and maintains a balance between recovery and compensation. The patient were harnessed in a body weight support system as he/she stood up on the treadmill. The patient was given a certain percentage of their own weight as weight bearing increases muscles responses and improves loco-motor patterns. There was two people at each of the patient leg, facilitating the swing and stance phases. A third person provided stability at the hip. All three rehab aids or therapists had to coordinate their efforts to reproduce a correct gait kinematics through hand placements. A fourth person was at the computer monitoring for time and number of bouts. A mirror placed in front of patient was helpful for the older ones as it provided visual feedback. We also sang songs, marching songs were the best; or we played games and provided the kids with toys to enhance much needed arm swings. We tried to reach the speed of 2 miles per hour over the course of treatment, as research shows that stepping faster was even more beneficial.

I was truly excited to see the progress made by the children after weeks of intensive treatment. Studies shows that the earlier and the more frequently one can do treadmill activities after spinal cord injury the better the recovery as it increases the nervous system input and stimulation. It was critical for the program to be intense and repetitive, so we were there everyday working with several patients back to back and yes some did walk again and some for the first time.