February is CTE Month®, a time to bring recognition and awareness to the impact Career and Technical Education has on the lives of so many hospitals, patients, teachers and students, like Omar.
Omar Mohamed Aly is a 2017 graduate from Glencliff High School, where he completed the Academy of Medical Science and Research, Health Sciences pathway. He was also part of the St. Thomas Scholars program, where students receive weekly, hands-on certification mentoring from a Saint Thomas Health professional.
Many recent high school graduates don't know what's next for them. Even if they do know they want to go to college, they might not have a clue what to major in.
Omar knew exactly where he was headed, thanks to his health science education from Glencliff and his hands-on experience through St. Thomas Scholars. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry (Pre-Med), and his plan is to earn a master’s degree and become a physician assistant.
"Having a little bit of hands-on experience provided me the knowledge that I need and even increased my passion toward my career," Omar says. "Having someone from the real world working with me to explore my career while I am in high school is something totally amazing to have."
Omar's experience and his CCMA certification landed him a job as a phlebotomist for Saint Thomas Health - which means he can continue to gain valuable experience, boost his resume, and earn some money while he's furthering his education.
Omar is thankful for his health sciences teacher, Mrs. Rebbeca. "Having a phenomenal teacher working with us has motivated me to achieve my academic goals and my personal goals as well," he says. "She played a big role in our life and prepared us for college."
We're also grateful for Rebbeca, Omar and all the health science teachers and students who are thriving thanks to the power of education.
Join us in celebrating CTE all month long. Head over to our CTE Month® page, where you can access CTE resources, submit your own success story and even enter a weekly giveaway.
