Rylee Borrego, a 2020 YWAF scholarship recipient, grew up watching her mom support five children emotionally and financially — on her own. It instilled in her, above all, the understanding that nothing comes easy.
Rylee knew from a young age she would have to work hard for what she wanted. She got her first job at 15 and was quickly promoted to a manager position. Two years later, she took on a second job, then a third, to help her family financially.
But she didn’t let the other areas of her life suffer because of it.
“Not only was I managing school and these three jobs, I was also managing my social life and participating in multiple organizations such as National Honor Society, PALS (Peer Assistance, Leadership, and Service), Sports Medicine, and more.”
She continued, “Although it was hard to juggle everything, I came to embrace the chaos similar to the way my mom had.”
And, amidst that chaos, Rylee discovered sports medicine, leading her to her true passion: becoming a physical therapist.
She was accepted into her high school’s Sports Medicine program her during her sophomore year, and stuck with it through the rest of her time there.
“My junior and senior years in the program, I qualified to be a part of the varsity crew of Sports Medicine, which was a huge accomplishment for me,” she said.
“With an interest in spectating sports, being a part of the varsity crew gave me exposure to more serious injuries, as well as how to handle and treat them.”
Rylee knows her journey toward becoming a physical therapist won’t be easy, but she’s up for the challenge.
“In my mother’s words, it will not simply be handed to me,” she said. “However, with the help of this scholarship, I will have a better chance at working for my degree.”
Rylee will enter Tarleton State University this fall.
About the Young Women’s Alliance Foundation
The Young Women’s Alliance Foundation was established in 1997 to expand programmatic opportunities for YWA members and contribute to women and girls in the community through educational scholarships and an annual grant to YWA’s nonprofit partner organization, the Girls Empowerment Network. Support for the YWA Foundation comes from member fundraising efforts, proceeds from Austin Under Forty, the YWA Endowment Fund, and generous donations from individuals and corporations in Austin.
