Finding Greatness: Jacob Whatley

Author: News Bureau
Posted: Monday, October 19, 2020 12:00 AM
Categories: Students | Finding Greatness | Pressroom | School of Health and Natural Sciences

Macon, GA

MGA senior Jacob Whatley decided to become a respiratory therapist because of the care he received as an asthmatic child. His goal is to work at Egleston, the children’s hospital where he frequently was treated.

Full Name: Jacob Whatley.

Age: 23.

Hometown: Atlanta

Residence: Macon

High School: Heritage High School, where he played varsity football and successfully completed an EMT dual enrollment program.

 Family: Mother, Jean Muskelly; sister, JoiShalom; father, Jamie Whatley.

Employment: Full-time student.

Degree Objective: Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy.

Class Rank: Senior

 Activities: “I am the president of the respiratory therapy department organization known as MGREAT (Middle Georgia Respiratory Education Action Team)."

Career Goals: “Once I graduate I plan to work as a respiratory therapist at Egleston, which is a children’s hospital in Atlanta. Working at this particular hospital has been a dream of mine for years because I was frequently hospitalized there for asthma as a child. I want to help children who come into the hospital with breathing issues and educate them and their parents on how to better manage their condition to improve their quality of life.”

He chose Middle Georgia State University because …”It is not far away from my hometown, it is affordable, and after finding out about the positive reputation of the respiratory therapy department my attention was pulled toward MGA even more. I knew that I would be provided with the necessary knowledge and skills to mold my future into what I want and need it to be in order to establish success.”

The greatest thing he discovered about Middle Georgia State after he enrolled was … “The willingness of the professors to be a part of the lives of students to ensure their success.”

His greatest academic experience as a Middle Georgia State student has been … “Becoming the president of my program’s organization (MGREAT).” 

To him, greatness means … “Being faced with a hardship or even several hardships that may seem impossible to overcome but still managing to strive and be successful. Maintaining resilience when faced with adversity is what describes greatness for me.”

In five years … “During the first two years after I graduate, I plan to work in the hospital as a respiratory therapist, preferably at Egleston. I then hope to further my career as a travel respiratory therapist and help children at hospitals in other states. I also want to work on my master’s degree.”