Junior and aspiring physical therapist Sadie Rhoads sets herself apart from her peers by beginning her path for a successful career during her teenage years.

Rhoads has known from a young age that she was destined to be a physical therapist. Growing up with her younger brother Jameson who has Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome, she was introduced to the profession early on.

“I think growing up with physical and occupational therapists at my house and seeing the improvement of my brother because of them really inspired me as a kid and sparked my interest,” Rhoads said.

Rhoads’ initial love for the profession never faded, and only grew over the years.

“My brother gains more ability every day. While seeing his accomplishments, I became curious about how he had reached these abilities through his therapy,” Rhoads said.

Rhoads took this curiosity and acted upon it. She began spending some of her free time volunteering at an organization called Easterseals. Easterseals is a nonprofit organization that strives to empower people with disabilities and provide them with the necessary tools to live their lives to their fullest potential.

Rhoads attends a session every week for an hour at a time and gains experience while simultaneously affirming her love for the profession.

“I assist with set up and I help with whatever the PT needs me to do. Sometimes that could be throwing a ball to the kiddos or handing them a bean bag…I love the environment and working with the kiddos and seeing them gain skills. It’s really motivating to see and it makes me feel like the path that I’m taking is the right one,” Rhoads said.

Although her tasks may seem like an insignificant part of the children’s journeys, being able to be a part of the moment makes everything feel worthwhile.

On top of Rhoads volunteering, she also receives insight from current physical therapists.

“By talking to PTs I can ask questions about the job and not have to start my experiences blindly. It really helps to know what I am getting into and have input from someone who is doing that work every day,” Rhoads said.

Looking to her future, Rhoads plans to take her learning and experiences to a university, where she can major in physical therapy, exercise science or kinesiology. Some of the top schools on her radar include North Carolina State University, University of Wisconsin- Madison and Saint Louis University.

Rhoads has gained a great appreciation for the physical therapists she has met along the way, and hopes one day she will be able to make an impact on others as they have made an impact on her.

“Without their help, my brother wouldn’t have made as much progress as he has today. My family’s life would be a lot different without that help and it has really motivated me to have that same impact for other people,” Rhoads said.