Sandro Fubler is a bright, determined, unassuming young man with tremendous desire. Although he faced challenges, Sandro never gave up on his dream to get a college education and work in the field of physiotherapy.

?Having to work hard to achieve my goal only made me more determined,? he says. ?It wasn?t always easy, but I never gave up.?

Sandro knew from an early age the field of study that appealed to him.

?I excelled at sports in school and always had a keen interest in sports medicine,? he explains. ?Becoming a physiotherapist seemed like a great fit for my interests.?

After graduating from Saltus Grammar School in 1998, Sandro went to work in construction. He saved enough money to enter Acadia University in Nova Scotia, intent on pursuing a degree in physiotherapy. He remained at Acadia for almost two years but was forced to return to Bermuda to work when his savings ran out.

?I was disappointed to leave college but knew what I needed to do to stay on track. Coming back to Bermuda was the only option for saving enough money to continue with school,? he explains.

Sandro returned to construction work as a skilled labourer and served as a carpenter. His ambition and determination drove him to be hard working and others noticed his efforts. Sandro credits his co-workers for taking time to mentor him: ?I was always watching the older, skilled and experienced tradesmen. I learned so much from them.?

As a result of his strong work ethic and tenacious spirit, Sandro was soon offered a position as an Assistant Quantity Surveyor with Woodbourne Associates. With a flair for math and science, Sandro did very well in his new job, although he had some adjusting to do.

?Being in an office was a new experience for me,? he explains. ?Although I still made a number of site visits per week, I went from being a construction worker to wearing a suit.?

Sandro enjoyed surveying but still longed to pursue his dream of being a physiotherapist.

?If I had to work and save money, I wanted to have a job that exposed me to my field of interest,? he says. ?I made a decision to seek employment at the hospital and applied for a position as an assistant in the physio department.?

Thrilled at being offered a job, Sandro was out playing basketball to celebrate, when he injured his foot.

?I walked into my new job as a physio assistant limping with a sprained ankle!? Sandro laughed.

Sandro?s experience at KEMH quickly taught him how wide the scope of physiotherapy was: ?It isn?t just sports medicine or massage. Physiotherapists work throughout the hospital, in almost every department- on the medical and surgical wards, in ICU and CCU. The more exposure I had, the more I realised my goal was getting a degree in the field.?

One of Sandro?s colleagues at KEMH was an intern from England who suggested he seek further education in the UK.

?Completing my education and getting my degree in England was a better choice for me,? he says. ?International students are welcomed there. I applied for admission and was accepted at Salford University in Manchester, which has an excellent physio programme.?

Although Sandro was thrilled to enrol at Salford in 2004, he still faced struggles with funding. He refused to be daunted and was determined to find a way: ?I was awarded a partial scholarship from the Bermuda Hospitals Board,? he says, ?but needed more money?.

Driven by his faith in God, he knew he?d find a way.

?I arrived in Manchester and found a job selling shoes even before classes started,? he notes.

He worked evenings and weekends and juggled classes and studying during the week. He supplemented his income by returning to Bermuda to work during summers. He also took out bank loans.

Sandro will earn his undergraduate degree after the next academic year and plans to continue studying for a Master?s degree.

?Pursuing a degree has given me rich and varied life experiences that have opened my mind and expanded my thinking,? he notes. ?University has exposed me to different cultures and provided an opportunity to network with people who don?t know a thing about tiny Bermuda.?

When asked for his advice to others thinking about college, Sandro is quick to point out, ?Even if you have challenges, follow your dream. When your intention is clear, you will find a way to overcome obstacles. Once I made up my mind to pursue my passion, I found a way to make it happen.?

Sandro also credits his spiritual mentors for providing support. ?Lawrence Grant, Bishop Vernon Lambe and others who always believed in my abilities were instrumental when I had doubts about my future education.?