D.C. student, Library Clerk

 

Caribbean born Antonio Nelson calls Trinidad and Tobago home. Interestingly, Trinidad and Tobago are one country, yet occupants often identify with one island or another; however, Nelson was born on Trinidad and grew up there before moving to Tobago for most of his life. He is the oldest sibling of four, with a chef mom and a mechanic dad who has his own business. In high school, Nelson proved to be a good student, but soccer was his true passion. Soccer is part of what fueled the start of his Life University (Life U) journey, but an unfortunate partial tear injury to the quad muscles during his tryout sidelined him from eligibility.

Nevertheless, Nelson makes the most out of the opportunity to study as an international student in Life U’s Doctor of Chiropractic program, the first in his family to study abroad. Prior to Life U, Nelson obtained a B.S. in Exercise Science from Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina. Chiropractic school was a natural next step in his professional journey, and he wanted to set an example for his younger siblings.

“I just wanted to set a bar and a standard that they be able to do anything they want to because sometimes it’s easier for people to tell you what you can’t do and what you can’t become,” Nelson said.

He is enjoying his clinic rotation, in particular, because of how it is preparing him for the type of doctor he plans to become.

“I love clinic because it challenges me every day because every patient brings a different problem that you have to try to solve. And since this is the career path I choose and I want to help people get better, I love clinic regardless of the challenges we may face every day because nothing is perfect, and if there are no challenges, then how are you going to grow?”

As an additional working and learning experience, Nelson also currently works as a library clerk at the Drs. Sid E. & Nell K. Williams Library. He’s a familiar face working behind the circulation desk, but you also might find him checking books in and out or helping a student find a particular volume. Specific certification is required to prepare individuals to work behind the reference desk, some of which Nelson has obtained and is working toward to become a resource for research assistance.

In regard to next steps, Nelson looks forward to his PEAK internship, planning to stay in Georgia and fielding his opportunities. He then plans to work in the states for a year before hopefully obtaining a worker’s visa to continue his career path stateside.