Strong and determined were once words that I would not have associated with myself, but after completing my Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy that changed. At 45 years old, I was presented with an opportunity to transition from an Occupational Therapy Assistant to an Occupational Therapist. This opportunity required me to take a huge leap outside of my comfort zone. I would need to fly from Virginia to Miami every other weekend for the duration of my program; this turned out to be 3 1/2 years. I had never traveled alone by plane, or so far. I had to learn to navigate airports, strange cities and a return to academic life all while working full time and parenting two children (one with Down Syndrome). I was raised with the attitude that you did what needed to be done no matter how difficult and clung to that foundation through those years. Once I graduated, passed my certification and was working my dream job, I overheard a coworker describe me as "a strong, determined woman." I was surprised and told her so when we next spoke. My coworker laughed and listed off everything I had recently accomplished for work, school and home. That is when I realized that yes, I was a strong, determined woman and that I wanted to own that.