Second Career Success

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”

We ask children this question all the time but rarely inquire about the career goals of other adults. We assume they are set, satisfied, or stagnant – that what they are doing now is what they will continue to do and the window for change has closed. But what if this view of career paths is out of date? Perhaps rather than being straightforward, careers can be subject to twists, turns, and changes, with a wide shoulder for pursuing dreams.

Meet two who found a second wind of career success and satisfaction at Edmond’s Francis Tuttle campus.

Bobbi Peery: The Teacher Becomes the Student

Following 31 years of teaching middle school math, Bobbi Peery’s retirement was well-earned, if not entirely typical. Rather than retiring into a season of rest, Bobbi reversed her role and became a student.

“My time is worth a lot to me,” Bobbi said. “I wanted to continue investing in it in a way that would pay off for me and others.” She soon enrolled in Francis Tuttle, launching a second career journey in respiratory care.

“Every time I took an interest inventory test, it told me I was either cut out for education or healthcare,” Bobbi said. “After spending time in the hospital with my mother, I kept noticing respiratory therapists as a happy bunch doing important work.”

A Second Wind for A New Career

In today’s health scape, they are also incredibly in demand. Before even graduating from Francis Tuttle’s program, Bobbi secured a position as a Registered Respiratory Therapist at Baptist Hospital. Feeling valued, challenged, and rejuvenated in her new role, Bobbi offered encouragement to others considering a later-in-life career change.

“Do the research and find what interests you,” she said, “There is always an option where you can find employment and fulfillment.”

Chris Ramsey: Seven Months to Success

A desire for more reliable employment led Chris Ramsey to pursue a new career path in adulthood. Though he had successfully supported himself in roles ranging from construction worker to pharmacy tech, Chris eventually grew weary of the instability and unpredictability of his work.

“I found myself looking for a job for the second time in a couple of years,” Chris said. “I felt like I was too old to keep starting over, so I finally decided to go back to school.” Weighing the time and financial investment of traditional college, Chris found Francis Tuttle’s practical training and flexible schedule to be the optimum choice for continuing his education. He enrolled in Advanced Mechanics and completed the program within seven months.

“I was in a position where I wanted to reset and start over,” Chris said. “Vocational training was the best option for me because of the time frame, cost, and training that got me a job immediately after graduation.”

Broad Horizon, Bright Future

Chris greatly enjoys his current work at a natural gas processing company and feels confident knowing that regardless of the industry, his skill set will always be in demand. “My training opened me up to a variety of disciplines and industries,” Chris said. “I could work in oil, energy, power, technology – it really is a broad horizon.”

Along with job security, Chris says he’s experienced increased satisfaction at work, and in life in general. “I wish I would’ve done this several years sooner,” Chris said. “The thing that really helped me was having my wife there to support and encourage me to take the risk and just go for it.”