FEATURE EDITION
Polk State Respiratory Care Student Works Hard To Reach Her Goals story and photos by PAUL CATALA
S
DETERMINATION & DREAMS 10 | CFHN
haledra Turner says it was her “best friend” who motivated her to work hard, focus, study and strive for success in life. That “best friend” was Turner’s grandmother Doris Wade. And even though she died in December 2014, her words of wisdom and support inspired Turner to further her education, scholarships, training and a career in the medical field. “She (Wade) was a strong force in my life, and me and my mom stayed with her most of my life. Between her and my mom, they are the reason I am what I am today,” she says. Turner, 26, is currently enrolled in Polk State College Lakeland’s Respiratory Care program. She started the program in August 2020 and hopes to complete her courses and graduate by spring 2022. The Lakeland native has a lifelong history of asthma, so as a child she would often end up in the hospital emergency room. Those experiences allowed her to see and experience firsthand what respiratory therapists do to help those who are struggling. “As a kid, you know someone is there to help you, and you learn the difference between the different medical fields. That made me want to help kids the way the therapists helped me when I was younger,” says Turner. “When my grandmom died, I hit rock-bottom. I didn’t know what I wanted to do, and I was always angry and upset,” says Turner. Turner channeled those emotions into her education. With the help of a continuing education scholarship, she’s been able to climb back onto the ladder of success. Through the Philanthropic Educational Organization based in Iowa, Turner received a $2,000 scholarship, offered to women who began college but left after a minimum of two years and decided to return. Lynn Sward, president of the Winter Haven PEO, says Turner was selected for the scholarship based on what she overcame to get into and finish college. “We were impressed with what she overcame in her life. Once she realized her goals, she’s been very dedicated in pursuing them and succeeded, she has good grades and a good work ethic. We were impressed with her drive to succeed,” says Sward. That financial aid helped Turner advance her RT studies, which at one time, seemed unattainable. Since enrolling in PSC’s RT program, Turner also had to deal
centralfloridahealthnews.com
