Day One.

Today was pretty much Orientation, Part two (Part One was Friday). We were given our books (all eighty-five pounds of it, approximately), some of our syllabus for two of our classes, and we each had to introduce ourselves to everyone and why we want to become Respiratory Therapists.

Everyone knows my story, but I'll tell it anyway, for those who don't:

After sitting at my desk working as a Graphic Artist/Web Designer for more than ten years, I decided I didn't want to do it anymore. I enjoy Web Design as a hobby, but I no longer saw it as a career. I was burned out. I felt I was at a dead end. The feeling sucked.

I felt...unfulfilled.

Several of my wife's family members are all in the medical field, mostly nurses. I never thought about entering Nursing, but my wife coaxed me into it. I quit my job, and I enrolled at the College (formerly Community College) of Southern Nevada. I took all the prerequisites and all those so-called core requirements till I felt felt my head wanted to explode. Then my name was placed on the nursing program waiting list from hell. I waited...and waited...

One day, I was at Valley Hospital, and I was talking to a nurse, and I told him that I was also studying for nursing, and he asked me why I was getting into it.

Nurse: "So, why do you want to become a nurse?"

Me: "Well, I have been doing graphic arts and web design for so long, it was no longer fulfilling. I decided I needed a career change."

Nurse: "That's good."

Me: "And I hear the money's great," and I sort of laughed.

At this moment, the nurse gave me the dirtiest look.

Nurse: "Let me tell you something…if you cannot give and devote your time and care to a complete stranger the same way you would care for a loved one, do not go into nursing."

Me: "Well, okay…"

Nurse: "And never, ever do this for the money."

And it was at that moment where I realized that Nursing wasn't for me. I got home, talked to my wife about it, and she was a little angry, because I wasted all that time and money on classes, but finally understood. She said to find something else still within the field of medicine, where I could at least transfer some of those credits I paid for at CSN.

Unfortunately, most places wouldn't take my college credits, so I was back to square one. Several of my wife's relatives suggested Respiratory Therapy. Out of curiosity, I looked into it, and it sounded like a good program, something I feel I can do. It sounded like a fulfilling thing to do. After speaking to several friends and several RTs, I wanted to do it even more. I checked out several colleges, and, out of all the ones I checked out like Apollo College and Nevada State College, PIMA Medical Institute has the best program. So I chose PIMA.

And here I am. For the next two years, I am going to work my ass off. I also made a promise to my daughter that I will make a better life for her, for us.

This is that promise. And, to quote monster.com:

"Your calling is calling."

I believe this is my calling too.