December 17, 2024
Forty future healthcare workers from Cardston High School explored the many careers available at the Cardston Health Centre during a November visit. Here they check out an EMS ambulance and chat with a paramedic. Photo by Kelly Morris.
High school students learned about a variety of roles in their rural health facility as well as the steps they need to take to kickstart their own healthcare careers. Photo by Kelly Morris.
Here students learn more about facilities maintenance and the systems infrastructure behind the scenes at Cardston Health Centre. Photo by Kelly Morris.
Story & photos by Kelly Morris
CARDSTON — Cardston High School vice principal and guidance counselor, Coralee Williams, often hears from her students interested in careers in healthcare, so she jumped on the opportunity to bring a group of students to the Cardston Health Centre for a day.
Students in Grades 10, 11 and 12 toured the health centre in November, talking about a variety of careers with Alberta Health Services (AHS) employees who shared their passion for their work.
“I think a lot of them are unsure of a career path right now,” says Williams. “This gives them an extra opportunity and information as they’re making these career choices, some of them really soon, and lets them know about careers that maybe they didn't even know existed.”
Student volunteers helped tour three groups throughout the health centre, seeing behind the scenes of everything from facility maintenance, food and environmental services to physiotherapy, EMS and diagnostic imaging.
Students enjoyed the chance to speak with nurses, physicians, pharmacists, lab technicians and more.
“I came today because I wanted to dive deeper into looking at some things I might want to be after high school,” says Mary-Lynn Hove, a student and AHS volunteer. “I really liked seeing the lab. When I was in Grade 8, that was something I was looking into. I just loved looking at microscopes, looking at different cells and find it really fascinating — so that was interesting to see how they do that.”
Hove signed up to volunteer at the health centre earlier this year after hearing through Williams that volunteers were needed. During a regular shift, Hove volunteers in continuing care, where she plays games and visits with patients, or delivers ice water in the acute care unit.
“I've always wanted to help people,” adds Hove. “And I kind of want to be a doctor; it’s kind of like my dream job. So, I thought it would be awesome to volunteer. I think it’s so much fun.”
Williams encourages her students to volunteer to gain experience and build their resumes.
“These girls that are here absolutely love it,” says Williams of the three student volunteers who assisted with tours. “It's a great experience for them — and it's going to be great on their resume, great for scholarship applications, and maybe great for them if they consider choosing a healthcare career.”
Walking through the health centre alongside her students, Williams met many former students who had followed their own healthcare career paths. “There are several of them,” Williams says with pride. “I saw one former student who’s now a nurse. There was one working in the lab, one in X-ray. It's fun to see them making these career choices, when I only saw some of them a few short years ago.”
New volunteers, of all ages, are always welcome. If you’re interested in volunteering at the Cardston Health Centre, contact Tristah McMillan at Tristah.Mcmillan@ahs.ca. See more information on volunteering at any AHS facility.
