 My senior year of high school, I didn't know what I wanted to do after graduation. I applied to many colleges as an undetermined major. My high school Spanish teacher was the one who encouraged me to apply to Western. After looking through all the programs offered, I felt respiratory therapy sounded like the best fit for me. I have asthma and so I have head encounters with different respiratory therapists throughout my life. I wanted to earn a degree and become the best RT I could be to help as many people as possible. In my senior year, I programmed shadow at Western. I walked in and I was intimidated by a group of second-year students that were finishing clinicals and getting ready to take their national board exam. They were practicing pre-board exams and sharpening their skills on mannequins in the labs. While I was intimidated, I was also energized because I knew this would be me one day. I chose Western because of its affordability, hands-on learning experience and transferable credits. While these are important aspects of Western, the reason other students and I stay at Western is because of the loving community Western provides. I am so excited to be a part of the respiratory therapy program and proud to be entering my second year this fall.