Amanda, Goodwill SWPA EARN Success Story

  Amanda came to the Goodwill SWPA EARN program in May 2019. She had already taken steps to enroll with Pittsburgh Career Institute in their Respiratory Therapy Licensure program. Amanda is a 29-year-old, single mother of five children, and she successfully remained in the Respiratory Therapy Program until becoming severely ill in August 2020. At that time, she had to take a medical leave from EARN and school. However, in February 2021, she returned to both the EARN Program and Pittsburgh Career Institute to continue her education. She utilized everything EARN offered that could help her succeed. She borrowed a Chromebook to continue classes remotely. When in-person classes and clinicals began, she was required to travel to several locations. The EARN team worked with the PA Department of Human Services to provide her with transportation assistance so she could fulfill her hours at each site. Amanda also successfully finished an externship, which was required for completion of the Respiratory Therapy program. She stayed in close contact with her EARN team so she could avail herself of any additional support, resources, and information that may be helpful. 

  In January 2022, Amanda was hired by UPMC in McKeesport as a Certified Respiratory Therapist. She works full-time and receives a wide array of benefits. She has persevered through illness, a pandemic shutting down her educational institution, working with her children on at-home schooling, and navigating an extended process to complete her own education. She overcame these hurdles, along with many other unexpected challenges, to achieve her goal of full-time employment as a Respiratory Therapist. As of November 2022, she has successfully maintained her employment for ten months, and her career continues to flourish. We wish her continued success as a Respiratory Therapist and want to extend congratulations to Amanda for a job well done!