Patrick Smith

My dream is to graduate in May, 2017, and go straight into a summer Mississippi teaching certification course so that I can begin teaching mathematics at all levels to students at any level in my hometown, Pascagoula, Mississippi. Students need good teachers, children need good role models, and I will do everything in my power to equip my students with not only the best possible mathematical understanding and background but also by being the best role model I can be.

I began my studies as a pre-Physical Therapy student, and I have a dream to return to school at the University of South Alabama and complete a 3 year Masters/PhD combined program in Physical Therapy. I would like to provide affordable physical therapy and mobility services as an alternative to the over priced and convoluted medical system. As a layman who studies physical therapy and sports training obsessively, every day I see so many people who are in pain just by walking, stooping, lifting, carrying, and so on. These people cannot afford to see a orthopedic surgeon so he can refer them to a physical therapist who will run a quick diagnoses and prescribe a treatment plan. Every day health and maintenance of our bodies is an aspect of primary care, and as such, should be affordable and available to all. I would like to make a difference in people's lives in the most intimate way possible: how they feel.

I used to compete in combat sports, mainly sport karate. I won multiple black belt men's fighting championships in 2013, in addition to about 11 first place medals. As a result I won a few state championships and Overall Black Belt Men's Competitor of the Year (Mississippi Karate Association, 2013) I still train and workout today. I teach at my local karate school in Pascagoula, the Coast Karate Club, and my dream is to have a school of my own one day.

I like all arts and crafts, history, everything science, playing the piano, and chess. I love reading about sports training, physical therapy, psychology, and business!