Some Enchanted Evening



Dr. Tricia Wong, Dr. Mark Reinking, and Professor Carol Beckel during Diversity Dinner Cruise

The American Physical Therapy Association 19th Annual Celebration of Diversity was held on Saturday, October 1, 2011 on the StarLite Majesty Cruise Ship in Clearwater, Florida.  Saint Louis University Program in Physical Therapy graduate Dr. Tricia Wong was honored at the event.  Dr. Wong's reflections were printed in the Some Enchanted Evening program guide.  Her reflections were as follows:  

Prior to receiving the Minority Scholarship Award, I was really wondering what God had in store for me for my future. I knew he was calling me to do missionary work, and also calling me to be a physical therapist.  It wasn't until after I received the reward that I realized that those were not 2 separate callings, but rather that I can use physical therapy to serve others and that God was definitely calling me into this field for a purpose.  The money helps fund for my trip to Haiti this summer, where I will be working at a prosthetics/orthotics clinic.  It will give me a glimpse into something I wish to do in the future, which involves more long-term medical mission trips.  

The Minority Scholarship Award also goes to help pay for my education.  My parents have been such a blessing and paid for my education, and I am so grateful to them.  It was wonderful to see the excitement in their faces when I told them I was a recipient for the award and how I could help ease their anxiety by being able to pay for some of my loans.  Last, I am able to offer some of the money to the homeless community that I mentioned in my essay.  After receiving this minority scholarship award, I am thankful for this gift that I can share with those who need it most, even if it is even in a small way.