Dr. Sergio Fernando, Class of 1996, has taught a wide variety of basic science courses at Life West for over 29 years. He was instrumental in starting the faculty union at the college and currently serves as the union President. He has helped to shape every student who has graduated from Life West for decades.
I made the trip from Kitchener, Ontario, Canada to San Lorenzo, California during the Fall of 1993 for the purpose of changing my life to become a doctor of chiropractic. In three short years my life changed forever. I was a doctor and wanted to serve as many people as possible.
There was a problem, I was accustomed to the weather in California and did not want to go back to the winters in Canada. The only option that I could think of was to get a work visa. While I was studying at Life, I had a couple of part-time jobs at the college to help pay for expenses and one of the jobs was in the cadaver lab. I was making friends with the folks in the labs and thought to myself what if I got a job at Life? I found myself in Dr. Gerry Clum’s office convincing him that I was worthy of sponsorship. What’s not to like? I was in! I think that I was the first international employee that Life sponsored.
Along this journey, I met my beautiful wife at Life West. We dated for a time and got married. I got citizenship and thought if things didn’t work out at the college, I could start my practice. After a few years, my wife gave birth to the most beautiful little girl in the world. Everything seemed to be going well and I was excited for my future.
What I didn’t expect was the transformation that was happening to me. I enjoyed teaching when I wasn’t doing other things at the college. I developed a passion for experiencing the growth and transformation of the students in my class. I enjoyed seeing that lightbulb click on when a student started to understand concepts I taught.
I felt fulfilled going to work and educating the future of chiropractic.
At Life West the motto is to give, do, love, and serve out of abundance, and I always thought that it pertained to bringing patients’ lives to their most potent expression of health, but now I think it applies to anyone and anything.
I always get a sense of awe and inspiration when I see our graduates walking the stage. Remembering the way they were when they first started the program to what they have become at graduation. The growth, maturity, and confidence that has developed in our cocoon we call Life West. It gives me pride that I had a part in the growth of these individuals. I am very proud of the men and women that take this hard journey. Some overcome great barriers to succeed. It keeps me inspired to give, do, love, and serve all that I can……out of abundance.
