My relationship with @aarc_tweets and the growth and knowledge that came along with it. I hope this helps someone or at least sheds light on professional growth.
A thread.

I became a @Michiganrc and @aarc_tweets member as a student in 2006 when I started the program at Oakland County Community College in Michigan....because my teacher, Sue Work, made me. Thanks Sue.

I only went to the @aarc_tweets site to complete assignments that required it and to make sure we weren't forgetting anything we needed to complete in the Sputum Bowl. We were the 'Spitoons' one year & 'Puff the Magic Draegers' the second year. @DraegerNews, you owe me .

Majority of my clinicals were at @HenryFordNews and I spent most of my time in ICUs. Those RTs spoke very fondly of @Michiganrc & @aarc_tweets & told me to stay a member after I graduated. Unsure if they were being truthful or just being good preceptors. Either way, THANKS!

During my last year, I got a job as a respiratory tech at @BeaumontHealth. I chose Beaumont because it was easier to get a job there because I already worked there and I was simply interested in getting paid. Again, I was a struggling student and needed more cash.

When I graduated, I kept my membership at @Michiganrc, but not @aarc_tweets because...still broke. Eventually, I got my membership back, but found myself uninterested in attending national conferences or participating for a few reasons. So I let it go. Again.

After moving to Illinois in 2014 (I think), I decided to get my membership back and support the organization that has pushed or field forward for so many years. Still didn't participate outside of reading the articles and CEU completion, but felt the need to support.

In 2016 I was completing a degree in public health. I decided to create my capstone (40 pgs) about endotracheal tube cuff pressures because the professor was a RT. I relied heavily on @aarc_tweets during those times. I also never want to talk about cuff pressures again.

In 2016, @ProfessorSDavis and I moved to Idaho so she could work at @BoiseState. This was the first time I was disillusioned with the state society until I realized it was because no one participated. My colleague was the president & encouraged me to run to be a delegate. I won.

Attending the House of Delegates (HOD) meeting in 2018 was my first national event with @aarc_tweets. Because I had never participated before, I found out what a delegate was while I was running. I was excited to attend, but didn't know what to expect.

I'll be honest, the first thing I noticed was how many White folks were there. There was a lot of them. All of them actually. Well maybe just 99%. I was shocked, but remembered my thoughts when I perused the conference agenda in my early years. Where were the brown folks?

As my back was turned while making a cup of tea, a woman tapped me and introduced herself and asked how was I doing. She said nothing else besides, "I'm happy to see you here". She was the first RT to approach me in the hours I had been there already. I felt relieved.

This woman was @jakkigrimball. I now secretly refer to her as my AARC auntie. Mrs. Jakki is also the first Black woman I noticed there and served as the past Speaker of the House. She spoke eloquently when she did and was clearly highly respected and regarded in the room.

At the end of day 1 of the HOD meeting, I approached @aarc_amanda and asked her if there was some type of diversity or inclusion group I could be involved in. Honestly, all questions I had I went to @aarc_amanda or @AARC_Asha as they have all the info anyone needs! Thanks y'all!

That fall (2018), I went to my first @aarc_tweets and was overwhelmed to see how many RTs came and all the options that were truly available to get involved. If you can afford it, go!

In 2019, after previous similar proposals, my session about diversity and inclusion was accepted for Summer Forum. It was also the same year I learned what 'plenary' meant (shook). The room was filled. Auntie @jakkigrimball, my wife and my mentors sat in front for support.

I spent 45 minutes afterwards talking with people about the concepts introduced in the session. Many of them was just happy to hear this type of topic presented. None of the negative folks had the guts to converse. My sweat finally began drying.

Later that day, my first preceptor from @HenryFordNews approached me and reintroduced herself. While I didn't remember her face immediately, I could never forget her voice. It's Theresa. She told me how proud she was of me. I quickly brushed away a tear before anyone noticed.

This provide another reminder that I was in the right place and proved that she was not lying when she told me to participate after I graduated. We all have our different routes to get to where we need to be. It is up to us to figure out the path and use the resources provided.

During this crisis many RTs have used the opportunity to bash @aarc_tweets for providing guidance. This type of passion is useless unless you use it positively. If anything, it sheds a negative light on the speaker as a professional versus the organization.

It also sets a bad example for students and young professionals. Let us all do better, read thoroughly and provide suggestions as a side item to a complaint.

@aarc_tweets Thank you for all you have done and will do for the respiratory profession. While I believe that there are things that need to be updated and changed overall, I am also prepared to participate in that change. RTs---Y'all can be a part of change too! AARC rocks!!!