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It was a scary moment that made Warren High School senior Mikalah Bailey realize she wanted to help take care of people as a career. When Mikalah was about 15, she said her grandmother suffered a heart attack.
"I didn't know the signs or the symptoms. I thought that if I had known that stuff then, maybe I could have helped her a little bit more. But I didn't know what was going on," she said.
Bailey was named Student of the Month for May at the Washington County Career Center because of her great work ethic and career-minded focus. She plans to attend Ohio University and hopes to one day become a nurse practitioner.
Question: Tell me a little bit about why the nursing field interests you.
Answer: I just like the thought of being able to help people. With nursing, there is a lot you can learn to make people feel better. I want to be able to help if someone needs it.
Q: So what is the process to prepare you for that field?
A: I had Patient Health Care for two years (at the career center) and I've applied to work at Marietta Memorial as a patient care tech, where I would go around and take people's vitals and stuff. I got my STNA in Patient Health Care a couple months ago and I have shadowed people in the field. You go and take care of residents to get a certain amount of hours in the field and just learn how it is. It's a lot different to work on a person than the mannequins that we practice on.
Q: What is it that inspires you?
A: The thought of helping somebody. It's a motto that I keep through my life. If there's something you can do to help somebody, do it.
Q: Have you been inspired by any teachers in particular?
A: One teacher is Mrs. Heydt, because she helps us through a lot of stuff. She gives us a lot of work but she prepares us for what we will be seeing in college. It gets frustrating but I know why she's doing it. She also encourages us to look for scholarships.
Q: What would be your dream future for yourself? What do you envision yourself doing?
A: I see myself as a nurse practitioner, maybe staying here but also maybe moving to Colorado because I hear they pay better there. I'm planning to work at Marietta Memorial and, hopefully, if I stay with them, they will help pay for my college.
Q: Why did you choose OU?
A: It looks like a really nice school and the classes don't seem too big. I'm not really good at learning in big classes and they said they try to keep the classes small.
Q: What do you like to do for fun?
A: I work. I'm working to save for a car. And I spend time with my family. I'm really into music. I like to sing and I used to be in choir (at Warren). I like all kinds but lately I've been into country. It helps you get through stuff.
Q: How are you feeling about wrapping up this whole high school experience?
A: I'm scared to become an adult but at the same time, I'm excited to see what I can do.
Erin O'Neill conducted this interview. To nominate a student for Teen of the Week, email news@mariettatimes.com.
Mikalah Bailey
¯ Age: 18.
¯ Hometown: Marietta.
¯ School: Senior at Warren; two years at Washington County Career Center.
¯ Family: Father , Stanley; stepmother, Denise; sister, Kaitlyn; brother, Nathan.
¯Activities: Church of Christ, church camp at Hervida 4-H camp; employed at Qdoba; SkillsUSA; Interact Club; principal's list.
¯ Future plans: Attend Ohio University to obtain a bachelors degree in nursing; hopes to become a nurse practitioner.