Introduction to My Education and Background

My name is Richard Martin. I am a husband, father, an educator, gardener, respiratory therapist, a disabled Veteran, and a lifelong learner. I was born in Grants Pass, Oregon, and went to Hidden Valley High School. Even at an early age, I knew I wanted to do something, but I just did not know what.

I got my G.E.D. at 16 from Rogue Community College and proceeded to Western Oregon University with an undecided major. After taking logic courses, walking & jogging, and techniques of relaxation, I decided it was time to transfer back to Rogue Community College to pursue a degree in nursing. After completing my prerequisite courses for the nursing program, my counselor told me that I still had 2 years to wait to get into the program, so I changed my degree to an Associate of General Studies, to graduate and join the military.

The US Navy sent me to boot camp in Great Lakes, Illinois where I learned to become a sailor. After graduation, I went to “A” school in San Antonio, Texas, where I became a Hospital Corpsman, making the Dean’s List, and was finally able to iron a job title onto my uniform. I was then accepted to the Interservice Respiratory Therapy Program through an Army program, where I obtained my Associate of Applied Science in Respiratory Therapy through Thomas Edison State College; I even made the Dean’s List there too. From here, I finished out my military service contract in Portsmouth, Virginia, while also obtaining certificates in Adult Critical Care Services and Neonatal and Pediatric Specialty Provider. During this, I worked in my full-time position for the Navy, as well as a full-time employee at a local trauma unit, gaining loads of experience working an overall 80+ hours per week.

After my military service, I went to work in Oregon as a Respiratory Therapist in various positions throughout the state. While finding my place, I attended Oregon Institute of Technology and completed my Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy. I completed this degree while I was working in New York during the height of the 2020 pandemic. A combination of things happened in the world that mired my desire to work in healthcare, so I decided to move my career in a different direction. But which direction would suit me best?

I started attending Southern Oregon University in the Fall of 2022, working towards my MBA in Hospital Administration, and was doing well, but still had not found a career spark outside of respiratory therapy, and was still working in the sector at the time. It was time for an overhaul. I was able to change my academic path by invoking Chapter 31 Vocation Rehabilitation benefits from the VA and changed my major to obtain a Master of Science Education with a focus on Adult Education. During this program, I acquired a job at a national respiratory therapy company and was streamlining to become their training coordinator once I finished my degree.

My graduation date came and passed, and it was clear to me that I was not going to get the new start that I wanted from this company, and would never get out of respiratory therapy, unless I made drastic changes in my life. I officially returned my professional license to practice, to focus on therapy from my military career and New York. I have spent the last 2 years working on my health, my family, and finishing my MBA degree. This time, however, my degree focus is in two areas: Accounting and Marketing.

During all of this, I have turned my love of hot sauce into an LLC so I can keep my mind busy, and be able to apply what I am learning. I started Three Little Peppers Sauce Co. last year when I was invited to participate in a local bazaar and really love creating and sharing my sauces with others. I plan to use this class to create a functioning website for my company. I already have a domain name purchased, and previously created a website through Canvas, but I think I am going to like WordPress better. I am currently on my last term here at SOU and looking toward whatever the future brings. My children need more of me each day, and it is hard not having a work purpose at 38 years old. I know from an academic standpoint; it is time to take a break. However, I still have 6 months left of GI bill to use, so I will be back someday. Until then, I’m ready for whatever life brings at me.