Randy White wasn’t supposed to be born in Japan. But three months ahead of schedule, when his mother was passing through Okinawa, that’s exactly what happened. “I was born premature with cerebral palsy,” he says. “My start in life was a little unexpected.”
That calm understatement is part of what defines White. A Health Professions major at Temple University’s College of Public Health, he’s quietly building a career around helping others—specifically people with disabilities—through physical therapy.
You might’ve seen him around campus, especially at the gym where he works as a supervisor. He picks up extra shifts whenever he can. But his path to physical therapy wasn’t a straight line. White started college studying Sport and Recreational Management, then transferred into the College of Public Health late in his sophomore year.
“I realized I wanted to help people with challenges like mine,” he says.
Growing up in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, White’s cerebral palsy affected the left side of his body— his mobility, coordination, and muscle tone and control. “Since I was little, I always thought about how I walk, how I run, sit, and stand. I used to drag my feet, wore braces on my leg,” he says. “People would ask why I walked differently. I was self-conscious.”
But that self-awareness eventually grew into a sense of purpose. “I thought to myself, since I’m always thinking about cerebral palsy and fitness, why not pursue a career as a physical therapist?” he says. “I definitely have no regrets about changing my major.”
Though he’s now fully invested in the field, White admits it wasn’t always a positive association. “As a kid, I had to go to PT all the time, and I hated it,” he says. “But that also made me want to help others feel more comfortable and understood. I know what it’s like to live with a disability, and I think that gives me a perspective not everyone has.”
Today, the effects of cerebral palsy are still part of his life—he can’t move the toes on his left foot, his hand gets sore washing dishes, and he sometimes stumbles when getting dressed. “But for me, those are just minor inconveniences,” he says.
White finds motivation in helping others and values the diverse perspectives he encounters at Temple. “I’m meeting people I never met in high school—people from different countries, different socioeconomic backgrounds—I love it.”
The son of two military parents, White spent four years of his childhood in Germany and still loves to travel. “My favorite food is escargot,” he confidently asserts. “Physical therapy isn’t the final stop for me either. I can see myself doing neurological research—something that allows me to travel and keep learning.”
Outside the classroom, White is active across campus, serving as Chief of Staff for SMOOTH (Strong Men Overcoming Obstacles Through Hard Work), a student-led service organization, and stepping into the role of Vice President of the Nutrition Club next semester. He also helps train friends and peers in fitness, free of charge. “I’m not going to take money from other college students,” he says. “But at least it gives me good experience!”
This summer, he’ll take that experience a step further, working his first official job as a personal trainer at the YMCA. And after graduation, he hopes to stay at Temple to earn his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree.
“I just want to help people feel seen and supported. That’s what matters to me,” he says.