Elizabeth Schaffino

My whole life I have known that I want to make a positive impact on other people. And as I’ve grown personally and broadened my academic horizons, I am specifically drawn to helping people through working in healthcare. I plan to become a physical therapist and work with children and athletes specifically. I’ve found that daily movement is such a crucial part of people’s lives that it can have lasting effects on their physical and mental health. However, becoming a physical therapist requires a Doctorate in Physical Therapy on top of my undergraduate degree. While my passion for pursuing this occupation is large, the financial burden of seven years of schooling is daunting. By receiving the WOASF Scholarship in unison with the VAW/VRC Merit Scholarship, the worry of covering the cost of my undergraduate degree has been minimized. Additionally, it provides me with reassurance and confidence that I am capable of chasing my dreams. This is because I know the scholarship committee has faith in me as an applicant to make good use of the funding. As a recipient of these scholarships, I get to represent these organizations in a positive light by accomplishing my goal of helping others one step at a time.