Coming out of school, I was your average RT; excited to be done with school, and ready to join the workforce of America. I loved my job, and was passionate about patient care. After honing my skills for a few years in the profession, my confidence grew and felt I was developing into a top notch therapist. I was progressing nicely, but the only thing missing was a mentor.
As the months and years ticked by, I started to settle in. I put in my 40 hours per week, showed up to work on time, and gave everything I had to the patients I served. Unfortunately, there was a voice in the back of my brain that would periodically whisper to me "I thought you were interested in research or in becoming a supervisor. I thought you wanted to conduct inservices for the department? What about your dreams of becoming a department manager?"
Those voices got louder and louder as the days went by. Without a mentor, I lacked the skills on how to get from point A to point B. I didn't surround myself with those types of people, didn't have anyone beating down the door to become a mentor, and shamelessly I might add, didn't seek one out. I became frustrated and considered a career change.
I was fortunate however to have been employed in a department that had a rather large education fund. The AARC Congress was coming up, and my manager at the time asked if I'd be interested in attending. "We can only provide you with $500 in assistance, the rest will have to come out of your pocket" she said.
With nothing to lose, I figured "What the heck! Let's see what this Congress thing is all about."
Sheepishly I walked from the hotel to the convention center, not knowing anyone. I was nervous, alone, and didn't know what to expect. I had heard that the Opening Ceremony was the "Can't miss event of the Congress" so I was sure to be there front and center. The next two hours were probably the most powerful two hours of my career. Nowhere else on the planet could I find myself in the presence of the most talented, and passionate RTs our profession had to offer. I needed a recharge of my batteries and boy did I get one. "One day" I said, "I hope to be up on that stage too."
The next three days were mind boggling. I thought I knew a lot about mechanical ventilation until I heard lectures from Dean Hess, Rich Branson, Bob Kacmarek and Neil MacIntyre. I felt like a stalker in the hotel lobby watching the speakers from afar, wanting to approach them and ask questions, but figured "they were celebrities and wouldn't talk to common-folk."
I finally got up the nerve and approached a presenter I recognized at the Congress. To my surprise, I quickly realized that while they were incredibly intelligent, they were just average people like you and me.
I left my first Congress with a renewed vigor for the profession. Talk about recharging your batteries! That experience changed my career (and my life) forever. I have many memories about my first visit to the Congress. What are yours yours?
If you've never gone to an AARC Congress and are considering doing so, don't put it off. Register today!