My name is Kat Sanchez and am one of five in my immediate family. I have two older brothers and my mom and dad. I played soccer for 17 years and ended my athletic career at Northwest University where I studies Exercise Science and psychology. I am now at Eastern Washington University on my final year of my Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree. After graduation, my brother and I have a one month spanish immersion trip to Puerto Rico planned to enhance our Spanish speaking abilities and, hopefully, bring back what we have learned to our separate career fields.
I grew up not only with my family of five but with my extended family totaling about 90 in all. My dad and his 7 siblings grew up as migrant farm workers, working summers in Washington and winters in Mexico. As adults, they are all residing in the United States and are/ have pursued other lines of work. We get together at least two times a year on Labor Day and Thanksgiving. The majority of my primos and primas do not speak Spanish but we all value the unique culture our Tios and Tias have raised us in- one that values family and faith above all else.
As we grow older, my brothers and I, and many of my cousins, have felt a call to get reconnected with our Hispanic heritage. Our parents worked so hard to provide better opportunities for their children than they had growing up. And they succeeded. And now, we have a responsibility to use the resources they provided us to honor them and serve our hermanos and hermanas who may not have the same opportunities we have. It is my hopes to use my physical therapy degree to not only serve the public at large but to serve the Spanish speaking community who may otherwise not receive the help they need.
Fun Fact: I have never driven a lawn mower.