"Coming out of high school, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in healthcare, and through some job shadowing, I narrowed my path down to nursing or respiratory therapy. Knowing that my strengths were in biology, math, and physiology, I knew my struggle in RT would be on the technological side of things and learning the equipment that we use daily. By focusing hard on learning the tech side of the job, I have been able to continue learning and adapting throughout my career as the technology has changed so much in the years I have been in the field."

Sometimes the most difficult aspect of training for a new career is finding balance and managing stress. You may have also enrolled in a class that provided an extra challenge for you because the professor moved too quickly or didn't clearly present the information. Maybe you struggle to memorize medical terminology. Regardless of the difficulty, explain what it was and then elaborate upon how you handled it. The interviewer is more interested in how you overcame the challenge than the challenge itself.

"When I was attending my two-year program, I was young and raising a family, so I also worked part-time to help support my family, along with my spouse. Attending school and balancing a job and family was hard at first, but I learned quickly to prioritize things and keep myself healthy in the meantime. This juggling act became very helpful as I entered a career in the fast-paced field of respiratory therapy in the hospital setting."