Deborah Okbaab, a recent John F. Kennedy High School graduate, is already a certified nurse assistant, successfully completing all requirements for her license and landing a paid position while still a student.
Okbaab participated in Kennedy’s Patient Care Pathway, a specialized program designed to immerse students in the medical field through hands-on experience. Along with her other high school courses she was getting a comprehensive introduction to health care while engaged in clinical practice and conducting research.
Although she said it was a bit stressful at times, her favorite part of the program was “learning the different skills and being in an environment where everyone wanted to help others through health care.”
During the second semester of her senior year, Okbaab took the California CNA exam and passed. With that certification in hand she got her first health care job.
“I felt that nursing was the right field for me,” Okbaab said. “I then asked myself how I could get my foot in the door. I did my research and learned about Certified Nurse Assistants.”
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Okbaab credits Jenice Garcia, her teacher in her medical careers course, for “aiding her in this journey.”
Garcia said that she realized quickly that Okbaab “stood out from the seniors in the class.”
“She was always working and researching what her next steps would be and carefully strategizing how she would invest her time today for a promising tomorrow,” Garcia said.
So while she works she also plans to be completing the requirements to become a registered nurse. She aspires to be a pediatric nurse practitioner, fulfilling her dream of working with kids in healthcare.
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