Determination

In addition to my work as a psychotherapist, I am a career counselor at a local technical college. In this role I have the pleasure of working with students from around the world. I am so in aware of the students that I meet that have left economically or politically oppressed countries to come to the United States to try and start a new life. Some of the most awe inspiring stories are those individuals who are very well educated and held professional careers in their home countries, yet come to the US and have to work in positions that are the bottom-rung in a profession where they were at one time in an advanced standing. I spent the morning today with a woman from the middle east, who worked as a physician in a hospital for 9 years before coming to the US. Here, she needs to work as a nursing assistant, making probably $10.00 an hour, because she loves working in healthcare and this is the only position that she is licensed to do here. She told me she is spending the next two-three years studying medicine in English, determined to pass the 3 tests necessary for her to work as a physician in this country. I am in aware of her determination and perseverance. She is an inspiration to me today.