CCHS Students Taking The Fast Track To Health Careers

LA QUINTA – “Good morning, everyone! Welcome to LifeStream!”

LifeStream’s Kevin Taylor greets Cathedral City High School students on Tuesday morning. His mission: giving them a reality check in the health profession.

They are members of a career club known as H.E.A.L., an acronym for “Health and Environmental Academy of Learning.” They shadowed several companies — like LifeStream and Burrtech Waste & Recycling Services in Palm Desert.

Some of them already know what they want to pursue: a critical care nurse, a special needs doctor, a coroner (yes, a coroner).

Think of the academy as their first job search, and they’re ready for the challenges ahead, especiallyif it means going to school and hitting the medical books for a long time.

“It’ll be hard,” says Ryan Yahut, who wants to be a pediatrician. “But, I’ll get through it. It’s just will.”

Sixty-sevenstudents are part ofH.E.A.L.This is the academy’s third year at the high school. Next year, they’ll get to do internships.

They may be on the right track to a successful future. According to explorehealthcareers.org, healthcare has added more than 500,000jobs since the beginning of the recession; the healthcare support industry, such as physical therapists and home health assistants, will experience a 48% growth; and healthcare dominates as the fastest growing field.

But honestly, these students say they just want to help others.

“I love kids andI love helping others,” says Stephanie Resendiz, who wants to be a special-needs doctor. “Why not help kids, you know? It will brighten your day.”

Kenia Castro, a budding paramedic, adds: “You’re treating people, and you’re on the road. You’re always doing something. It’s not boring.”

The members ofH.E.A.L. are set on doing just that — on healing the rest of us.