“I Am African & I Can” is a women’s empowerment blog highlighting stories of Black women’s struggles and successes.

Assita Diallo was born in 1996 in New York. At the age of 6, her parents gave her away to her aunt in Guinea—a kind gesture to comfort her aunt who was barren.

A few years later, Assita and her aunt moved to the United States. Upon arriving in the U.S.A., her aunt willingly gave her back to her biological parents. Due to the fact that Assita was living in a francophone country, she had to take English as a Second Language (ESL) classes when she returned to the states, and completed middle school and high school at Promise Academy.

Although she did not excel in the sciences, her parents encouraged her to become a doctor. Once she completed her undergraduate studies in Psychology and Neuroscience at SUNY Albany, she aimed to get into New York University (NYU).

Luckily, a year before graduating, she met a physical therapist who wrote her a recommendation letter. With only a 3.4 GPA, Assita was able to get accepted into NYU. She admits that participating in extracurricular activities in the past (i.e., volunteering, tutoring, being a teacher’s assistant for English), obtaining a recommendation letter from a credible professional, and nailing the interview played a key factor in her admission into the competitive school.

When she first began the PT program at NYU, she suffered from impostor syndrome. She feared that maybe she got into the program by luck and at any given moment could be kicked out. Feeling like she always had to work 10 times harder than people of another race, Assita was met and opened up to a Black professor at the school who validated her sentiments. Soon, it became apparent to Assita that there’s a system put in place to cripple minorities or make them feel incompetent.

During the early years of college, she relied on energy drinks like Red Bull, studied all night, and barely ate. Until one day, she ended up at the Emergency Room with a high fever. After that incident, Assita decided that she would no longer neglect her health. Now, she can’t go 2 days without working out.

“Fitness is my outlet. It’s what makes me feel alive,” Assita said.

Fitness has become a part of her and she is giving others an opportunity to tag along. Once a fitness blogger, Assita has now collaborated with her friend Denejah to found "Pier Pressure,"a mentorship program that helps women boost their self esteem. Weekly, they also organize fun, productive workout sessions by Brooklyn Bridge.

As a PT, she provides acute care to patients and bedside physical therapy which improves mobility after undergoing surgery. Recently, she completed her clinical and is set to graduate this year.

Kadidja Diallo, a friend of Assita, shares what it was like growing up with the fitness enthusiast/doctor: “Growing up in the environment that we grew up in, it was very easy for anyone to fall through the cracks. From the lack of resources to not having many people to guide us when it came to the education system, getting to this pivotal point as Assita has arrived is nothing short of amazing. Knowing Assita for over 15 years now, she has always had big dreams that she is turning into reality one goal at a time.“

Assita’s friend added, “Her ambition, inability to never let anyone keep her stagnant, and inquisitiveness have gotten her so far at only 24 years old. At the mere age of 10-11 years, her main goal was to change lives and that’s exactly what she has been exhibiting with any chance that she gets. There’s no amount of words that can be said about how amazing this young lady is, a force to be reckoned with.”

“I always say that getting the chance to meet Assita only once, she is bound to make a positive impact in your life one way or another. Many people say we are the product of our environment and this can be true in some way, but Assita proves the notion that while you are the product of your environment in one way, you must not let it limit your capabilities,” Kadidja concluded.

Assita is also involved with Guinean Medical Society (GMS), an NGO whose aim, she says, is to reform the medical system in Guinea. She also aims to provide services or resources for low income families and create an organization that fights against systemic racism in America.

Assita’s success story shows that you don't have to be a science nerd or have a 4.0 GPA to get into a Physical Therapy program. Being involved in extracurricular activities, getting a good recommendation letter and doing well on the interview can open doors for you to get accepted into the program. In 5 to 7 years, after getting her Physical Therapy license. Assita aims to build a rehabilitation center in Guinea, where she will offer free PT sessions. As she whips herself and others into shape, this vibrant 24-year-old’s goal is to be known as someone who inspired others and pushed them to become the best version of themselves.