CTE Graduate Profile

CAREER PATH

Kimberly Penaflor

Starting my sophomore year of high school, I chose to be in a program known as HOSA where they provided us with healthcare courses and programs such as CNA certification, EMT, or phlebotomy. Senior year of high school one of my teachers encouraged me to apply for a scholarship, which I got, and that helped start my journey of becoming a nurse. I graduate high school 2016 and attended Bethel University fall of 2016. I enrolled myself into nursing courses starting my freshman year. At the end of freshman year, I applied for the nursing program and got accepted. I later started my nursing courses sophomore year and then graduate May 2020. I took my NCLEX in September and passed! Now I am officially a registered nurse.

EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS NEEDED FOR THIS CAREER

HIGH SCHOOL ATTENDED

West Aurora High School Aurora, Illinois – Kane County

There are many skills a nurse needs but some big ones are critical thinker, leadership, communication and problem solver skills.

CTE DEPARTMENT/CLASSES ENROLLED IN DURING HIGH SCHOOL

Health Occupation Students of America

ADVICE TO HIGH SCHOOL CTE STUDENTS

CURRENT JOB TITLE

Registered Nurse

The advice I would give these high school students is to never give up on their dreams no matter the circumstances. To always believe in themselves and even when classes get hard or stress overwhelms them to keep pushing through because good things don't always come easy and it will be worth it.

PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT

West Aurora District 129 Aurora, Illinois

CAREER PATHWAY

HOW HAS CTE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR LIFE/CAREER?

Health Sciences and Technology

My high schools CTE program helped me realize early on what I wanted to do as I got older. It helped prepare me for some of the college courses I would be taking such as Anatomy and physiology, and chemistry.