MARIETTA, OHIO (August 30, 2018)–You might say it was asthma that brought Andrea Greynolds to Washington State College of Ohio (WSCO).
From the time she was about four years old, Greynolds suffered from asthma, a condition in which your airways narrow and swell and produce extra mucus, making breathing difficult and triggering coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
As someone who‘s been on the receiving end of the services of a Respiratory Therapist, she knew she wanted to help people the same way she had been helped countless times. “I felt like I could relate to respiratory patients because I know what it’s like to have trouble breathing,” said Greynolds.
However, enrolling at WSCO was fueled by more than just her desire to become a Respiratory Therapist. She wanted to pursue her degree close to home. “Without WSCO, I would have had to move out of the area to pursue my degree in Respiratory Therapy. WSCO allowed me to stay in the area and get the job I wanted.”
In 2009 she graduated WSCO’s Respiratory Therapy program summa cum laude and was recognized during commencement as the college’s 7,500 graduate. She also left the institution with a job in place at Doctor’s Hospital in Nelsonville, and shortly after she assumed that role, had two additional job offers.
She quickly accelerated in her career and after only two years with Doctor’s Hospital, she was promoted to a management position in the cardiopulmonary department. Today you can find her in cardiac and pulmonary rehab at Camden-Clark where she helps patients improve their quality of life through exercise and education. “It’s very rewarding.”
And nearly a decade after earning her degree she maintains her connection to her WSCO instructors, specifically Rob Kinker, Director of the Respiratory Therapy program. “Rob Kinker has continued to be there even post-graduation. I know I can shoot him a question about anything and he’ll take the time to answer,” Greynolds said.
Greynolds, who was a nontraditional student at WSCO, confesses that she has only one regret with her career, “I would have figured out what I wanted to do earlier.”
For more than 45 years, Washington State College of Ohio has fueled the community’s future through education. We work to make a positive impact by providing opportunities for growth. Whether you are a recent high school graduate or an adult student looking to enrich your life, we cultivate pathways to guide you toward future growth. Be inspired. Be WSCO. For more information about Washington State College of Ohio, visit www.wscc.edu or call 740.374.8716.
