On March 17th, Alissa Avila Renteral attended an award ceremony at the American Red Cross building in Cincinnati.
Since childhood, Alissa Avila has served as a lector at Cristo Rey Catholic Church, a Hispanic parish she has attended since childhood. She volunteers at multiple other locations, such as kitchens and her community’s annual festival, and in addition to this volunteering, she coaches a middle school boys’ basketball team in a recreational league. All of this done while balancing the challenges of being a first-generation college student.
“One of my biggest challenges has been overcoming imposter syndrome,” Alissa Avila admits. “Feeling that I don’t belong, or that my success is just due to luck.”
But, Alissa Avila has been able to face the challenge of overcoming imposter syndrome head-on. By reminding herself of her accomplishments, leaning on support systems in her life, and seeking mentorship from those around her, she has been able to slowly replace self-doubt with confidence; a confidence that would contribute to her becoming a recipient of the Hispanic Chamber Scholarship.
Beyond the Award: The Power of Community and Recognition
The Hispanic Chamber of Cincinnati awards their scholarship to Hispanic students of Cincinnati who display exceptional service to their communities. The Hispanic Chamber’s recognition was earned by Alissa Avila for multiple actions she has taken and continues to take to provide to her community.
The event was hosted by the Hispanic Chamber of Cincinnati. Members of the Hispanic Chamber Board were present, as were Alissa Avila’s parents and several faculty from the Mount. Alissa Avila’s academic advisor, Erin Hofmeyer, and Sisan Cuervo, and a faculty member from Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences also accompanied the event. In front of family and faculty, Alissa Avila Renteral was named a recipient of the Hispanic Chamber Scholarship by the Hispanic Chamber of Cincinnati, alongside students from other universities and schools, for service to those in her community.
Alissa Avila felt honored and proud to receive the scholarship. The atmosphere was lively with food, drinks, and a shared sense that the scholarship symbolized a much greater story of success. Alissa Avila was able to meet and network with other individuals in attendance of the award ceremony that shared her passions, or gave her insight into other fields. “It felt like a community coming together to recognize our achievements,” says Alissa Avila. “It was a reminder that my hard work is seen, valued, and meaningful not just to me, but to others who believe in my potential.”
The professors in the Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) program have been particularly helpful to Alissa Avila, as she feels they’re always available to meet one-on-one, answer questions, provide extra resources, and just express a genuine interest in her growth and success. “I know that I can always count on them, and they want the best for me,” Alissa Avila expresses.
Furthermore, the Mount community has enabled Alissa Avila to shine with a supportive atmosphere. Alissa Avila is thankful to the Mount community for making her feel that herself and her accomplishments are valued. “Here you are not just another number, but your success matters to those around you,” Alissa Avila says.
A Bilingual Therapist's Mission to Serve
One of the main reasons Alissa Avila chose physical therapy as her career path is representation. As she notes, there’s a lack of diversity in the field of physical therapy, and she would like to be a part of changing that. By becoming a bilingual physical therapist, Alissa Avila hopes to show young people in her community, especially other Latinas, that their dreams are possible, and they belong.
“I want them to see someone who looks like them, speaks their language, and understands their culture so that they know that they can do it too,” Alissa Avila declares.
Interested in Learning More About the Mount’s DPT Program?
Students in the DPT Program learn how to serve their communities through innovative treatments focusing on helping patients to improve movement and manage pain. Students in the Mount’s DPT Program learn how to provide an adequate, caring and personal treatment to a diverse array of patients with the help of invested professors and personalized, collaborative learning. Visit our Doctor of Physical Therapy page to learn more about courses and career opportunities in this program!