Coming to America, The Land of Milk and Honey!
It was almost 9 years ago when I came to United States from the Philippines. I had nothing on my back except my clothes, twenty five pesos (equivalent to 50 cents) and my dream of a better future. Coming from a family of six, an island without electricity and a poverty stricken country, I have hoped that America is the land of milk and honey as I read in the books. Luckily, i have been educated as a physical therapist and I thought it will be easy for me. But I was so wrong. Being foreign-educated, it took 9 painful months for me to have a head start in my career because the application is such a rigorous process. All this time,I've been staying with my aunt who mistreats me. When she left for a vacation, she left me with only food in the refrigirator and $20 for 3 months. I know I cannot live with only food and twenty dollars so I taught myself how to drive and speak English well to survive. I have landed myself to be a caregiver, babysitter and masseuse while reviewing for the PT license examination. As soon as i passed the exam and got my PT license, my aunt threw me out of the house with again just my clothes, very little money and no car. But this time, I did not tremble in fear for my future and embraced the challenge. I ended up accepting the first Physical Therapy job that was offered to me through agency. My first assignment was in a mental hospital where I have been kicked, cursed, almost biten and spitted up by my patients because of their condition. I have endured all of it and it did not bother me because I know that after all I have been through, I can do anything, I stayed with my agency for another five years, travelling every year, then working with three jobs to get enough experience in all field of physical therapy such as home health, hospital, skilled nursing and outpatient setting. All those years too, my desire to be successful kept on burning more intense than before. I thought myself accounting and business administration by reading books. Finally after another two years being an employee, I was blessed to be a partner of a successful physical therrapy center. And then another 2 years has passed, I am now transitioning into having my own company.
I know that the journey is stilI long but nothing will stop me now from achieving my dreams. I could have went back to the Philippines when I was mistreated and thrown out but I stayed because I believe that America is the land of milk and honey despite life's cruelty.
Life is a cycle. Sometimes you are high side sometimes you are in the low side. It is important that when you are up there to stay humble and when you are down there to persevere. It is always important to stay focus on achieving your goal despite stumbling blocks and to always do beyond what your capacity is.
