Katelyn Hernandez, a senior in the CNA program at Sunlake, is seizing her moment. “I knew I wanted to go into the medical field, so when I heard about the CNA program, I knew it was a perfect chance to start working my way up.” She said, explaining why she first decided to join. “In the program, we learn all types of skills and then practice them as a class. As well as going to clinicals and experiencing the real-life medical field, which then will help us decide where we want to work after high school.”

“The most interesting thing I’ve learned in the CNA program has been how real it can get in the outside world. Being able to go and work at nursing homes and hospitals has taught me so much about how important this career is and what it means to other people.” She said. The lessons and experiences the CNA program offers are invaluable to someone like Katelyn, who is setting big plans in motion in order to achieve her goals. “I do plan on attending nursing school programs and plan to start at HCC for two years, then transfer to USF afterwards. I want to get a nursing degree or health science degree to help me get to be a pediatric nurse.” In a broader sense, she wants to “always remember why I chose to do whatever I’m doing as well as never giving up no matter how hard it gets. The medical field is not easy, but I’m ready to go into the path I desire. I know that at the end of the day, working with kids is what I want to do for my career, which is why I’ve set up those goals.”

Katelyn thinks others should pursue what they want to achieve, too. ” If you want to become a nurse but don’t know if you are capable of doing it, I say: just know if it’s what you really want to do, it’s not easy and sometimes you will want to give up, but patience and effort will really get you there. It’s just a matter of time before all the hard work will pay off!”