Respiratory Care Graduate Gets a Second Wind at STLCC

May 12, 2026

Posted by STLCC-Florissant Valley in Campus Life 

When Aaliyah Leggs was a little girl, she spent her days at the Child Development Laboratory Center on the St. Louis Community College-Florissant Valley campus. Her mom was a nursing student there and dropped Aaliyah off at the on-campus childcare center while she went to class.

“I don’t remember much,” Aaliyah said. “The only memories I have are playing outside, napping and snacking.”

Back then, Aaliyah had no idea that the same college where she played on the playground would one day change her life — twice.

Finding Her First Dream

Aaliyah grew up in North County and graduated from Hazelwood Central High School in 2014. During her senior year, something new caught her interest: nutrition.

“I became interested in nutrition during my senior year of high school and decided I wanted to become a registered dietitian,” she said. Her goal was to work for the federal Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program, helping families make healthier choices.

After high school, she enrolled at STLCC-Florissant Valley to study nutrition. She worked hard and earned her associate degree. Soon after, she found a job as an executive chef and kitchen manager at a St. Louis city elementary school.

She loved being around kids and providing them with healthy meals. Things were going well — until everything changed in 2020.

When the World Shut Down

In 2020, COVID-19 turned the world upside down. Schools closed. Students stayed home. And for Aaliyah, that meant something scary: no school, no students and no work.

Like many people during the pandemic, Aaliyah suddenly found herself without a job. On top of that, her plan to become a registered dietitian hit a roadblock. The program she wanted to join now required a master’s degree, and she only had her associate degree.

It would have been easy to feel stuck or give up. But Aaliyah had someone in her corner who believed in her: her mom.

A New Idea: Helping People Breathe

“My mom suggested looking into respiratory care,” Aaliyah said.

So, she started doing some research.

She discovered that STLCC-Florissant Valley offers a bachelor’s degree in respiratory care, which prepares students to become respiratory care practitioners. Students learn how to:

• Assess patients.
• Perform diagnostic tests.
• Treat and educate people with heart and lung, or cardiopulmonary, disease.

The bachelor’s degree track also includes classes in management, education, research and advanced clinical practice. It is designed to help students build strong careers in a field that is in high demand.

The more Leggs learned, the more interested she became. She decided to go for it.

This Time, It Was Different

When Leggs went to college the first time, her parents helped pay for her education. This time, it was on her.

“This time, I was footing the bill,” she said.

That meant she had to make tough choices and real sacrifices to make sure she got the most out of her investment.

“You see your friends going out on Friday, Saturday night, but you decide to stay in, ‘I got this. I got a test coming up,’” she said. “But the sacrifices are worth it when you put your all in it and you don’t have regrets. I don’t feel like ‘oh I wish I studied more.’ I gave it everything I had.”

A Student Who Stands Out

Her hard work did not go unnoticed.

Diane Dodd, associate professor and assistant chair for the bachelor of science respiratory care program, was impressed by Leggs from the start.

“Aaliyah is conscientious, eager to learn, and passionate as a student,” Dodd said. “She has always demonstrated enthusiasm and dedication to the program.”

Dodd also said Leggs has “wisdom beyond her years” and is very empathetic. She cares deeply about other people. The Florissant resident doesn't just study hard for herself; she also helps her classmates by studying with them and offering advice.

Dodd went even further, calling Leggs an “exceptional patient advocate” and saying, “I anticipate that Aaliyah will be an outstanding leader in the respiratory care profession.”

Learning in Class, Helping in Hospitals

Even before graduation, Leggs’ studies opened real doors. She has been working as a student respiratory therapist at two major hospitals: Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital and St. Luke’s Hospital.

As a student respiratory therapist, she helps with:

• Administering breathing treatments using nebulizers.
• Providing other therapies for children and adults.

Her classroom work helps her feel more confident in the hospital.

“Working in the hospitals, I can see the connection with what we’re taught in class,” she said. “Our professors are practicing professionals who have done this work for a long time. They can take what’s in the textbook, relate it to something they have actually experienced and help you make the connection. Between the classwork and the on-the-job experience, when I graduate, I’m not starting from scratch.”

Family, Support and a Big Decision

Leggs did not make this journey alone. Her family stood by her the whole way.

“They told me ‘you need to move back home’ and I didn’t need to get a job,” she said. “My mom told me this was an investment in my future and to focus on school. Without my family, I wouldn’t have been able to make it through.”

There was one moment that really stuck with her. When she was weighing the decision to return to school, Leggs told her mom, “I’ll be almost 30 by the time I finish” the respiratory care program.

“You’re going to be 30 either way; you may as well be 30 with a degree.”

That advice stayed in Aaliyah’s heart. 

Crossing the Stage and What Comes Next

On May 17, Aaliyah Leggs will cross the stage to receive her second degree from STLCC. This time, it will be a bachelor’s degree in respiratory care. But for her, this isn't the end. It's just the beginning.

She plans to take her board examinations and begin a full-time job as a respiratory therapist at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital.

She's excited about the future and grateful for every person who helped her get there, including her professors, classmates, friends and especially her family.

Her message for anyone who is unsure about their future is simple and powerful:

“We can make excuses and yes, things can get in the way,” she said. “I would tell anyone, just do it.”