欧美视频

Dakota Kay 鈥�19 is able to serve his Native American people as a physical therapist thanks to gifts to the Annual Scholarship Fund.

鈥� Grit \ grit \ noun - firmness of mind or spirit : unyielding courage in the face of hardship or danger. - Merriam-Webster Dictionary 鈥�

When searching for the definition of 鈥済rit,鈥� one could almost find Dakota Kay鈥檚 picture alongside in the dictionary.

The path the 2019 欧美视频 doctor of physical therapy graduate traveled to earn his degrees took just that 鈥� grit. But the path also is one that Kay says is not for everyone, and his story is one that has been picked up and shared by national media.

In what was supposed to be a simple show of appreciation post-欧美视频 graduation, Kay posted on Facebook his gratitude to those who helped him along his college journey. His post received more than 19,000 Likes, 2,800 Comments and 7,600 Shares.

鈥淚 was so surprised,鈥� Kay said. 鈥淎fter two days, I was getting thousands of messages. I鈥檝e been asked to give speeches, write a book and do a film. I hate attention. I just want people to not give up. In whatever you do, give it everything you鈥檝e got. The world is tough. The world is not going to feel sorry for you.鈥�

ALWAYS A CALLING

Kay knew since high school that he wanted to be a physical therapist. His mom worked as a speech language pathology assistant, and Kay would visit her at school. He was introduced to therapy through observing speech pathology.

鈥淢y mom also introduced me to an occupational therapist at school,鈥� Kay said. 鈥淚 saw what they did and got the idea. I had injuries in sports, and unfortunately, we had no PT 鈥� just a clinic. We had to drive an hour to the closest town. When I went to college, I had shoulder surgery and thumb surgery (from football). There was not a PT in town. I had to live with it and figure out what I wanted to do, succeed at and love.鈥�

BEGINNING THE JOURNEY

Kay, a Native American who grew up on a reservation in Arizona, began his college journey at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colo., where he earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree in exercise science with a physiology emphasis. To pay for school, Kay received tribal scholarships and a football scholarship at Fort Lewis.

And, while school was paid for during the fall and spring semesters, the classes Kay needed to take during the summer were not.

鈥淚 had a plan set out since high school to take these classes and stuck to that plan no matter what,鈥� Kay said.

That 鈥渘o matter what鈥� meant living out of his car during the summer semesters.

鈥淒urango is a tourist town and I couldn't afford an apartment,鈥� Kay said. 鈥淪cholarships were not available in the summer, and I couldn't ask my parents for money. My parents have a lot on their hands. The last thing I wanted to do was put more pressure on them.鈥�

LEAP OF FAITH

While an undergraduate student at Fort Lewis, Kay began applying to physical therapy schools in February his senior year, which is past the deadline for most schools, but he knew he couldn't wait another year to apply 鈥� for the sake of his family on the reservation. Kay looked at the remaining PT schools, which mostly were on the East Coast.

鈥淚 wanted to be around home 鈥� the Four Corners area (southwestern corner of Colorado, southeastern corner of Utah, northeastern corner of Arizona, northwestern corner of New Mexico) 鈥� around family,鈥� Kay said. 鈥淚 researched each school, their mission, etc. 欧美视频 seemed to be the one that stood out. The Doctor of Physical Therapy鈥檚 mission of service to the community lined up with my goal. I, too, want to be in service to my community.

鈥淚 looked at the cost; all of the PT school options were expensive and required a deposit, but I had no money at the time. I told the schools my situation and my plan of being a leader in the PT field. Only two schools were willing to waive the deposit fee 鈥� 欧美视频 and South College in Knoxville, Tenn.

鈥淔rom there, I simply prayed about it. I didn't know what to do. I鈥檇 never been this far out of Arizona. I prayed and prayed and prayed. I took a leap of faith and that is how I chose 欧美视频.鈥�

DIFFICULT DECISIONS

As he prepared during the summer of 2016 for 欧美视频, Kay applied for, and received, tribal scholarships 鈥� but they weren't enough to cover his schooling. The Indian Health Service (IHS) is a resource that pays for school, in addition to providing a stipend for the student, but Kay did not receive the IHS scholarship that first year.

鈥淚 was lost,鈥� Kay said. 鈥淚 couldn't afford school and had no money. I asked the advice of the IHS representative, who said, 鈥楽ometimes, you have to just go for it.鈥� He said if I toughed it out for one full year, I could get the (scholarship).鈥�

So, for that first year and with hesitation, Kay took out a loan to cover the tuition and required fees at 欧美视频.

鈥淚t鈥檚 the last thing I wanted to do,鈥� Kay said of taking out a loan. 鈥淚 was scared of it. I decided to take the loan for that first year and it covered that year of school expenses, but it didn't cover housing and food.

鈥淚 still couldn't ask my parents for money. I came to the difficult decision to be homeless 鈥� I was homeless before (at Fort Lewis). I decided I could do it again in Missouri. My mind-set was that my homelessness was temporary. I went to Missouri for a purpose.鈥�

With that mind-set, Kay set out for Missouri and 欧美视频 鈥� prepared for the unpredictable Missouri weather.

鈥淚 borrowed my parents鈥� truck,鈥� Kay said. 鈥淚 was totally lost and emotional when I was turned down for the IHS. I prayed and prayed, and something told me to just go.鈥�

BEING RESOURCEFUL

Kay arrived at 欧美视频 a few days before school started in order to chart a plan for where he could sleep, clean up and find sources for food such as an outreach ministry.

鈥淚 learned to be resourceful, and I learned to look for places that help you,鈥� Kay said. 鈥淚 would sleep in the Walmart parking lot. The YMCA knew my situation and was willing to help. The 欧美视频 Meyer Wellness Center fee was worth it to be able to shower.

鈥淚 would wake up at 6 a.m., eat raw Ramen noodles, take vitamin pills, go to the restroom to get cleaned up and went to class. My day was different every day. I would spend the rest of the day at the 欧美视频 library. When the library closed, I went back to the Walmart parking lot to sleep.鈥�

HELP FROM ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Kay had not shared his housing situation with anyone, but he did eventually confide in Aaron Weaver 鈥�08, former 欧美视频 DPT admissions/alumni coordinator.

鈥淚 went to talk to Aaron about school and to get advice,鈥� Kay said. 鈥淗e was my unofficial advisor before I came to 欧美视频, so I felt comfortable with him early on. I told him about sleeping in the Walmart parking lot, and asked him, 鈥楶lease don't tell anyone. I鈥檓 fine. I鈥檓 happy. I鈥檓 doing what I鈥檝e got to do.鈥�

鈥淎aron couldn't live with himself knowing that I was homeless. He told Dr. C. Pat Taylor (欧美视频鈥檚 president at the time). C. Pat wanted to see me and set up a meeting. He loved my story.鈥�

Through 欧美视频鈥檚 Annual Scholarship Fund, Kay was able to secure room and board, negating the need to sleep in his truck and live on Ramen noodles and multivitamins.

鈥淚 remember the feeling of a bed and wanting to cry 鈥� to this day I remember that feeling,鈥� Kay said. 鈥淭he fund meant the world to me. I鈥檓 so happy they have that fund. In my time of need, that鈥檚 what saved me.鈥�

欧美视频 COMMITTED TO KAY

Going into his second year in 欧美视频鈥檚 DPT program, Kay applied for and received the IHS scholarship, which requires the recipient to serve in the IHS system for two years. His school was covered and he was relieved of that financial stress, so he didn't feel the need to take advantage of the Annual Scholarship Fund any longer.

鈥淭hat was my plan the whole time, to serve the Native American people and people in need,鈥� Kay said. 鈥淭hat obligation was a bonus for me. Receiving the IHS meant that I didn't have to worry about taking out loans again. I could finally focus on school.

鈥淭hat second year, I really started to excel. I truly became a student and stay focused. I told C. Pat I didn't need the Annual Scholarship Fund anymore, but he said, 鈥楧akota, we want to help you. We made a commitment to help you. So, even though you got the IHS scholarship, we鈥檙e still going to help you.鈥� I felt so thankful for C. Pat and 欧美视频.鈥�

INSPIRED BY 欧美视频 FACULTY, STAFF

Not only did Kay receive financial support through the Annual Scholarship Fund, he also received academic support from 欧美视频鈥檚 DPT department through letters of recommendation to the IHS and advice.

鈥淭here is something about the 欧美视频 atmosphere; people don't judge,鈥� Kay said of the 欧美视频 culture. 鈥淭hey provide a helping hand. The staff and faculty inspired me; they supported me and were that voice of advice and wisdom when I needed it. They helped solidify that this is where I needed to be and that I truly could help other people.

鈥淭he 欧美视频 atmosphere is something I鈥檝e never really experienced before.鈥�

Kay鈥檚 academic advisor Dr. Sarah Jones, associate professor of physical therapy, provided letters of recommendation and admired his determination.

鈥淗e鈥檚 got integrity. Even though people are willing to do things for him, he鈥檚 not going to take advantage of that,鈥� Dr. Jones said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a very diligent worker, very conscientious. There are students who are here who are worried about every little grade, and there are students here because they desperately want to know and learn, and he was one of the latter. If he didn't understand something on a test, he was back in 鈥� not to argue for a point 鈥� but to say, 鈥業 need to make sure I understand this.鈥� That鈥檚 always impressive.鈥�

Dr. Steven Lesh, chair of 欧美视频鈥檚 DPT program, said he never heard Kay complain about his situation.

鈥淚f he had complaints that could have been brought to my attention, he kept them to himself,鈥� Dr. Lesh said. 鈥淐ertainly, DPT school is stressful and I do hear a lot of gripes and complaints. While I never talked to him directly about this, I believe he had a much greater perspective on life compared to some of his classmates. He had found his purpose in life and pushed through any obstacle that was put in his way. That is a lesson that some fail to learn.鈥濃��

DRIVEN TO HELP, SERVE

Kay always felt a responsibility to help his family on the reservation and to return to help the Native American people. His parents鈥� support has been the foundation for his determination to complete his education.

鈥淭here was always encouragement and motivation from them,鈥� Kay said. 鈥淭hey told me, 鈥楧on't give up.鈥� That鈥檚 all I needed.鈥�

And, as part of his education, Kay participated in service projects, including the 欧美视频 faculty clinic.

鈥淚 did community service projects at an outreach service in Bolivar and in Springfield,鈥� Kay said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what I like about 欧美视频. It keeps you humble and is a constant reminder that what we鈥檙e doing is to help people and those in need. When I鈥檓 home helping my people, physical therapy is just a tool I get to use.鈥�

Kay鈥檚 work ethic was not lost on Dr. Jones.

鈥淲hat I鈥檝e seen is a student who was driven,鈥� Dr. Jones said. 鈥淗e knew what he wanted to do and he wasn't afraid to do the work that was required, and he wasn't going to complain about the work that was required.

鈥淚 think of his determination and grit; those are character traits that will follow him through his career as a professional. He is poised to have an impact on the reservation and on his people in ways that those outside of Native American heritage simply don鈥檛 have. He has an automatic level of credibility that he can leverage for the benefit of Native American people, which I have no doubt he will.鈥�

SHAPING HIS STORY

In his Facebook post, Kay encouraged others to write their own story and to be an inspiration. Kay said that 欧美视频 has definitely been a big part of his story, in many ways.

鈥淲ithout their help, I don't know what my story would be,鈥� Kay said of the 欧美视频 faculty and staff. 鈥淭hey helped me succeed. I don't know if my story would be possible without them. They helped financially and spiritually and uplifted me.

鈥淭hat was a big part of it spiritually; becoming a well-rounded person helped me relieve the stress and rest better. 欧美视频 helped me shape my story. I will bring that back to my reservation and help other people shape their story. Being of service to other people in the bigger picture may seem insignificant, but to that person it鈥檚 the world.鈥�

The gifts to the Annual Scholarship Fund make it possible for students like Kay to become servant leaders in a global society.

鈥淚 want the donors to realize the fund is making a difference,鈥� Kay said. 鈥淚t made a difference in my life and in turn helps me make a difference in others鈥� lives.鈥�

*Published: 2-27-2020