Forging light from the darkness: A young physical therapist's transformative first year. In the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, a young physical therapist is thrown into his first year of clinical practice and his pursuit of residency training. Building a Light is an inspiring memoir that follows Derek Tao's challenging pursuit of professional growth and personal transformation amidst a global crisis. From navigating high-stakes situations to forming deep connections with memorable patients, he reflects on the life-altering insights gained when the world's future seemed fragile. With raw honesty, Tao shares how he found the resilience to face adversity head-on, fueled by a driving passion to expand his capacity to help the patients around him.