Lilly's Journey to Nursing: From Patient to Professional

Lilly Williamson, a senior at Lake City High School, has a clear vision for her future. She wants to be a nurse, inspired by her own experiences with medical care. At just seven years old, she faced a serious bacterial infection called mastoiditis, which led to multiple surgeries. This tough time in her life made her look up to her doctor, who she now wants to be like. Today, Lilly is taking steps towards her goal by studying in the Health Professions program at KTEC. She's working hard to get her Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification. This will help her get into nursing school and eventually work in a hospital or assisted living facility. KTEC is a special school in North Idaho that helps high school students learn skills for jobs in high-demand fields. It's free for students, and the money comes from local taxes. The school offers programs like welding, construction, and healthcare. Lilly's program, Health Professions, has a great track record of placing students in jobs. Lilly's instructor, Jenee Weirick, thinks highly of her. She says Lilly is a natural leader and is very focused on her goals. With the training she's getting at KTEC, Lilly is well on her way to a successful career in nursing. After high school, Lilly plans to go to North Idaho College to earn her nursing degree. Her long-term goal is to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist. She wants to be that person who others in the medical field look up to.