Faith in Action
Gia Yarbrough faced several difficult experiences that led her to lean on her faith and family.
At the start of 2022, during her first clinical rotation in Houston, Gia Yarbrough learned that her mom was diagnosed with cancer.
“Thank God that she is now cancer free,” Yarbrough said. “That was one of those instances where faith really had to overcome because I was going through clinicals, I was away from home. I wasn’t able to be there for her the way I wanted to be.”
Before being accepted into the DPT program at Baylor, Yarbrough faced loss in her family and some financial struggles. Unfortunately, her mom’s cancer diagnosis was followed by other trials, including a rough breakup and her grandfather having health complications.
“I was really just kind of down and out,” she said. “But in that moment, I turned to my foundations at Baylor as well as in the DPT program. I’m not the biggest person to reach out for help, but I knew they were there. It was pivotal for me to have the encouragement from the Baylor DPT faculty and staff.”
Next, she went to her rotation in Florida and faced two hurricanes in two months. It was a difficult time overall, and with graduation on the horizon and a job search underway, Yarbrough leaned on others.
“In determining next steps in life, not having any certainty, but also very confused because there was so much emotional turmoil I was going through, I reached out to professors, and all of them told me the same thing, ‘Gia, you’re doing fine. You’re going to be fine, but we’re here if you need us. If you feel like you’re not OK, that’s OK. We’re here.’
“They gave me the encouraging words. Many of them met with me personally via Zoom, and made the time, sent the emails. Our professors have a 24-hour turnaround, if not sooner, so that’s always been helpful.
“They respected my privacy but also opened themselves up vulnerably to be there for me.”
As she looked back on her experiences, Yarbrough is quick to recognize how she was able to withstand so many trials and continue forward with her dream.
“With prayer and my faith, I completely stand on that,” she said. “With my family support, I’ve been able to come to the point where now having job offers and being able to choose what it is that I want, and I give that to my Baylor DPT family, faculty, staff and members of my cohort for the way that they have supported me. And even the things they didn’t know about, still being there for me, and giving me not only the personal development but the professional development and the education to where now, when I walk into rooms, all of my interviewees, directors of physical therapy programs and supervisors are incredibly impressed—not only with my background knowledge but in the experiences that I’ve been able to overcome, and I credit that to the program as well as my faith and belief in God.”
