HEALTHCARE CAREER GOALS
SC HOL ARSH IP APPLICATION ES SAY
PATHWAY:
RESPIRATORY
CARE
TARGET CREDENTIAL:
REGISTERED RESPIRATORY
THERAPIST (RRT)
Breath is an invisible mechanic.
For most of my life, I took the simple act of inhaling and
exhaling entirely for granted. However, growing up in a heavily industrialized town in the Ohio
River Valley, poor air quality was a silent, persistent background character in our community. I
watched neighbors, former steelworkers, and eventually my own grandfather struggle with
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Watching my grandfather fight for something as
fundamental as a single breath was terrifying. The turning point in my understanding of modern
medicine came during one of his severe exacerbations, when a Respiratory Therapist took
charge of his hospital room.
The therapist did not just adjust the settings on my grandfather’s BiPAP machine; she
actively coached him through his panic, managed his airway with profound mechanical
precision, and educated our family on long-term pacing techniques. She was the calm center of
a chaotic medical crisis. In that moment, I realized that healthcare is not solely about finding a
cure; it is often about restoring a patient's fundamental dignity by sustaining their most vital
functions. That experience decisively shaped my professional trajectory.
I am currently a junior enrolled in a CoARC-accredited Bachelor of Science in Respiratory
Care program. My overarching career goal is to become a Registered Respiratory Therapist
(RRT) specializing in adult critical care and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation. I aim to work in a
high-acuity Intensive Care Unit (ICU), managing mechanical ventilation for trauma and post-
operative patients. Beyond bedside trauma care, my long-term objective is to transition into
