Powell High School sophomore Sophie Czirr and juniors Maya Landwehr and Meaghan McKeen are getting a jumpstart on their health care careers. 

These three students are enrolled in the health care pathway through Powell High School’s Career Technical Education program; they also compete in health care categories as SkillsUSA members. 

Landwehr and McKeen have been with the health care pathway since it was first offered their sophomore year, “we were kind of like the guinea pigs,” Landwehr said. 

Czirr said she has recently found an interest in becoming a nurse midwife because of the fulfillment that comes with a health care career. Landwehr has always had an interest in medicine, she said that family and consumer science teacher Kandi Bennett’s classes are a good introduction, currently she is interested in becoming an endocrinologist where she will work with patients’ hormonal glands like the pancreas and thyroid. McKeen already knows she wants to pursue a career in physical therapy following graduation. Taking part in the health care pathway at Powell High School has allowed her to participate in field experience and shadow a physical therapist.

All three of these girls are also currently in Certified Nursing Assistant programs through the high school.

“So once you get your certification, you’re able to work at the nursing home, which is something I think all of us have been pretty interested in,” Czirr said. “It’s a good way to kind of start your health care career.”

Landwehr is a student aide at Powell Valley Hospital’s long-term care center. Once she has earned her CNA she can start working with residents and earn on job experience in her future career. Czirr doesn’t know if she’ll end up becoming a CNA later on, but said that working with patients of any age will prepare her in the future. 

“The experiences in this class have been amazing and being able to see what it would actually be like, as I worked in health care and Mrs. Bennett has been great at showing us how to do different things,” Czirr said.