Ashley Chattick’s journey to becoming a respiratory therapist was not the easiest, but she had cause to celebrate when she graduated from SC4’s program this August.
“Now that I have graduated, I have taken a job in my field,” Ashley said. “I absolutely love my job and the people I work with. Eventually I would like to get my bachelor’s degree in respiratory therapy or healthcare management.”
Since graduating with help from Community Foundation scholarships, Ashley accepted a job at Hills & Dales Healthcare, a critical access hospital in Cass City. She also still works part-time at Community Mental Health (CMH), where she worked as she put herself through college.
Ashley’s road to becoming a respiratory therapist started several years ago in Illinois. At the time, she had just given birth to a daughter with a serious heart condition requiring surgery at 4 months old. She was in an abusive relationship with her daughter’s father when she had the eye-opening realization – it was time to leave.
“Even though he was the father of my child, I had to put her first and give her the life she deserves,” Ashley said. “I packed all my belongings and daughter in my car and drove the 10 hours to Michigan. I had a job lined up here already. I was able to get into a housing program for those experiencing domestic violence and started going to counseling.”
Once Ashley and her daughter settled back into the area from out of state, more and more medical bills started to pile up. Her daughter had a couple of heart procedures and now has a stent. She was also diagnosed with epilepsy, ADHD, anemia and asthma.
Ashley knew she would need a better-paying job and started making plans. She earned her medical assistant certificate, started work at CMH and then earned her general associate’s while she waited to learn if she would be accepted into the respiratory therapy program. She was, but then the rising cost of tuition caused more financial concerns because now her financial aid would not cover it all. That’s when she applied to the Community Foundation for scholarship support.
“I went into panic mode because I am a single mom and I was worried about how I was going to pay for school,” Ashley said. “Receiving the scholarships has been life changing. I was able to stay in my program and finish my degree. I felt supported in my goal. It felt great to have people believe in me.”
Last year, Ashley received the Charles Myron & Betty Gossman Veterans Fund, which supports military veterans and their children attending SC4, and the River District Hospital Auxiliary McFern-Smeltzer Scholarship Endowment Fund for students in at least their second year pursuing a health-related field of study.
Ashley is grateful for the financial and other wrap-around support she has received from the Community Foundation as it has led to a better life for her and her daughter.
“My daughter is my strength and my heart,” Ashley said. “I want her to know that when she gets older she can truly do anything. It is never too late. I know when she gets older she will be proud of me and that’s what keeps me going.”
Everyone deserves a relationship free from domestic violence. If you or a loved one are experiencing it, please refer to the resources below:
Blue Water Safe Horizons hotline: 1-888-985-5538
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233