AAPD

AAPD: A second chance at success
After arriving in the DC airport, coming from what seems like another country, Madison Wisconsin, I was filled with a brand new and unexpected fear that was foreign to me. How am I going to make it in a city that I know nothing about? I was completely lost! I got off the plane and had to ask the security guard to explain how to get my luggage off, how to flag a cab, and where am I supposed to go? Luckily the Washington DC security was more than accommodating to me, they even explained where South Hall (My new home) was located and put me in a cab destined for F street. Unfortunately I had forgot that my keys were not located at the Dormitory. So I began my journey to the housing headquarters, completely lost and with now hurting back. I began to feel sad and scared, could I actually make it in one of the biggest cities in America, with a debilitating anti-immunity disability Ankylosing Spondylitis. I had 10 dollars left in my pocket after cab fare (Thank GOD!) and I had no clue how to navigate through the gridlocked street addresses. The people at student housing were so kind, they got me registered for my dorm, and gave me a map to start learning my location.
I was still in terror of a city 5 times the size of my hometown, Madison WI. I spent the first night trying to convince myself I CAN DO THIS. AAPD has given me an opportunity…Car Pa Diem…I will make the best of this amazing opportunity, I will not fail. After Meeting Sarah Peterson, My world became much more understandable. Sarah was amazing. I don’t know how to explain exactly what happened after talking to Sarah, but I knew I would be able to succeed if I listened to the instructions carefully. I have only been here for 5 days and I feel so much more comfortable. THANK YOU AAPD!!!
- Justin Patterson