Adri's 37th Birthday Back to School Shower

It's so common in a woman's life that we shower her when getting married, or having a baby. It's less common to shower her for a major career change or educational milestone.

At 36 years old, it's challenging and humbling and exciting to be going back to school to get licensed as a Physical Therapy Assistant. I'm so excited to be a part of this field, and am learning so much already about how to help folks who really really need it. Getting injured is usually extremely traumatizing, and whether I'm the first movement therapist they see in acute care, or if I'm helping people get back to being able to complete their daily tasks at home- it feels incredibly purposeful to imagine the work I'll be doing in 2 years.

I think many are not aware of how intense a program it is. I’m not just going back to school to take a few classes as that’s not an option in my program. They only accept 30 people a year, for some this was their 4th year applying, and I am fortunate enough to have gotten in! Our cohort must take every class, and lab together for the next 2 years (luckily we are all really enjoying each other so far!) Deductions are made for any absences. We also have clinical observation hours we must attend as first years (every time my teacher says that it feels like I'm at Hogwarts) As second years we will have to do unpaid clinical rotations around 30 hours a week, on top of classes. It is not recommended to work during the program- yet many of us have to, to get by.

I was really, really, really relying on taking out a 10k student loan to supplement the hours I'm already working. I'm currently working part time with one of the most amazing clients on Earth, a 22 year old patient with quadriplegia. He is still so passionate about life, surfing, photography, nature, travel and and working out at this amazing adaptive gym in Carlsbad. I wake him up, do mobility exercises, transfer, shower, dress, make breakfast and all the things that need to be done without being able to move arms and legs. Sometimes its putting together furniture, sometimes its driving him to the beach so he can take surf pictures and watch the waves. I'd love to keep working with him and not have to seek out something higher paying, and farrrrr less fulfilling, like serving or bartending in a restaurant.

However, because I already have a BA degree and my PTA program is being hosted at a community college (Mesa College of San Diego)- any financial aide or even taking out a student loan is being denied to me, even though I’ve never taken out a student loan.

I met with multiple counselors in financial aide office all summer, filed an appeal and was denied. I was like, 100% sure my appeal would be accepted and that I would be able to take out a 10k loan because I meticulously followed every instruction the financial aide office gave me. When my appeal was denied my world crashed again. I was just starting to feel liberated from depression and happy Adri was on her way back!

My credit right now is not good enough for a personal or private loan. Financial Aide is very clear this is their final decision, and I was counting on a loan to get me through the next two years. Now I feel stuck, and have considered so many drastic options to make this work. I love the program, I love the people, I love the teachers. There is no way I'm quitting this golden opportunity.

I just have no idea how I am going to do this without financial assistance. I spoke with the directors of my program, and they are at a loss as well- they have no pull in the financial aide department. They are considering removing the Allied Health degrees like Physical Therapist Assistant from the general associate's programs so that students who already have B.A. degrees aren’t facing this problem in the future.

My caregiving job is not enough to even cover rent, let alone other expenses. I work and go to school Monday - Saturday and use Sunday to complete all my assignments. By the end of the week I feel burnt out and still don't have enough money to cover my basic needs. I will do whatever it takes to get me through this program, because I never ever want to feel as financially helpless as this ever again- and I know in 4 more semesters a lucrative future is waiting for me on the other side.

My 37th birthday is in 4 days. (September 16th! Virgo baby) I'm so grateful for the work I've been able to do in the past 11 years in the yoga world, and I miss leading trainings and retreats more than I can express. In leading my own retreats for Awakening Journeys Yoga- I never once made a profit (I was set to in March 2020, but ended up stuck on a mountain in Guatemala with the airport closed, and everything in my life crashed) Making a profit wasn't my primary goal. My goal was changing the face of who gets to be centered in the yoga and wellness worlds I was a part of. Even if I didn't make money, I made sure my co-teachers were paid, flights taken care of and scholarships were offered every time. I offered the absolute lowest prices to my guests. However, in doing everything behind the scenes myself (making the website, booking sites, all billing, hiring, logistics schedule) and doing my best to rebuild my financial life I started drowning.

Depression won. I didn't really want to be here anymore. I felt purposeless and was letting life drag me.

I haven't felt as alive and as hopeful as I do about completing this PTA program about anything in a long time. I want to be able to also be a part of BIPOC leadership in the program. Participating in outreach at local highschools for this rewarding career, and making sure Physical Therapy world also represents the vibrant diversity that exists in the city around us. I currently have a 4.0, and feel so alive at school. It has been my sanctuary, and making friends there is helping me rebuild a network of friends that I know I need to recultivate for my heart and mental health.

Daily, I search for scholarships and grants to apply for. I send out 10+ resumes a week for higher paying jobs. I am trying to explore every sensible path to make going back to school work. Most of my family has pretty much helped at their capacity. It's my job to figure this out and I know I will. I'm looking for more affordable housing, yet its hard to find something more affordable than my $1,600 studio in San Diego, plus move while I'm taking a full course load, have clinical observations, CPR certs and work. Moving is hard with crappy credit.

It is a last resort to make this Go Fund Me, but a few friends have recommended that I do, and that they would donate. Even $20 helps me to get gas in my car and get to school (Gas is $5.29/gallon here..). $500 raised helps me pay for books. My goal is $3007 (for my 37th birthday). Who knows if I'll ever get married or have kids or get the opportunity to be showered in those ways? But this is so important and life changing for me!!! Reaching this goal would literally change the trajectory of my life.

I hope you can celebrate that with me, even if you can't donate. So many of you have already supported my path in many ways. I would truly not be around to celebrate this birthday if it wasn't for the love I have received from you. Thank you. Ever since Greg passed on Sept. 14th, my birthday feels stained and unimportant. It's really really hard for me to feel happy when his death rocked our family so hard to the core.

If my friends and family or anyone reading this feels like they are able to donate any amount on this back to school journey- it is appreciated beyond what words can express. I know times are tough out there for so many. All money received will go towards rent, books, lab clothes, gas, utilities, and food. $3,007 will cover about a month and a half of expenses and will get me outof the weeds so that I can make it through this program.

Thank you for reading, thank you for loving me. Thank you to so many of you who have held me while I've been drowning the past few years. I see the light at the end of the tunnel and I am runnnning towards it <3 Any amount helps, and your love is carrying me through to the next chapter!!