Formerly a barrier, now a bridge of connection by Keshon

Formerly a barrier, now a bridge of connection by Keshon - March 2026 Scholarship Essay

In the United States, there are many things that connect us and many things that can easily differentiate us from one another. Some of these things include religion, the region that we live in (rural, urban, suburban), socioeconomic status, etc. While working in the field of physical therapy, one barrier that I experienced would be when working with patients that speak another language. While I approached every case with care and understanding, the use of a translator made a big difference in my patient's ability to express her pain, concerns, and other feelings regarding her injury. While in the session I was able to help her physically, I was able to set up a way to have an in-person translator for all of her doctor appointments, which she greatly appreciated because she felt she could finally advocate for herself and her own health in a way that was meaningful for her. From this experience, I was able to learn that while I got into the field of physical therapy to help people physically, empowering others to be able to empower themselves is extremely rewarding and fulfilling as well. At a time in my life where I doubted my impact with patients, I feel that this experience only reaffirmed my initial reasoning for entering this field!