Advancing the DREAM

Advancing the DREAM - What it means to me

Advancing the DREAM to me means continuing to make the push forward to make progress towards achieving equality for all despite any hardships that may arise and having the courage to stand up for what is right in order for the DREAM to become a reality.

My Action Pledge to Advance the DREAM?

One thing that I will focus on as my Action Pledge to Advance the Dream in 2021 is to continue to seek understanding of situations I know I will never experience and educate myself whether that be through listening to podcasts, reading books, or watching documentaries.

General Information

Name

Mckayla

Last Name

Thorpe

Nickname

Mckayla_Thorpe

Background

Why I am a Force for Health® Member...

I am a Force for Health member because I value the importance of living a healthy lifestyle and want to be able to encourage those around me in my community to take the time to educate themselves and find resources to guide them to living a healthier and fulfilling life.

My inspiration

My grandma and grandpa are my biggest inspirations. At a young age my grandpa suffered from three strokes and despite the odds and with the help of my grandma and his healthcare team he is still living ten plus years later. Because of my grandpa and his journey through rehabilitation and physical therapy I will be attending Washington University in St Louis this August to pursue my dream of becoming a physical therapist and helping people just like my grandpa.

What would you like people to know about your community?

I am originally from San Diego, California, but I currently reside in Flagstaff, Arizona where I attend Northern Arizona University. In Flagstaff the opportunities are endless for outdoor activities. From taking a nice stroll a Buffalo Park, to Hiking Mount Humphreys, to snowboarding at Snow Bowl, and being just a short drive away from the Grand Canyon and Sedona there is so much to experience. Flagstaff also has a lot of diversity and people from different backgrounds which can be attributed to the large Native American population since Flagstaff is relatively close to the reservations of the the Hopi, Yavapai, Navajo, and Havasupai.