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Teen Gets CNA Certification at 17

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Last updated:Tuesday, Feb 03, 2009 at 05:27 AM Posted:Monday, Feb 02, 2009 at 07:34 AM

This story is printed with permission from The Mountaineer
By Kim Gardner
Staff writer
kim@themountaineer.com

Chris Stewart is on his way to professional success at the age of 17. Stewart recently passed the state boards to receive his license to be a certified nursing assistant and has already gotten a job in the field. What makes this feat so unusual is that he is still in high school.

Stewart is a student at Haywood Early College, a program designed to allow high school students to complete high school and college course work. After hearing about Haywood Early College at an information assembly while in middle school, Stewart decided to pursue the opportunity.

“I was very interested and felt it was something for me,” he said.

Since his parents did not have an opportunity to attend college, Stewart said they have been supportive.

“They felt it was a great opportunity to get a free (college) education,” Stewart said. “My parents are supportive. They’re very involved in my education.”

Students in Haywood Early College take high school and college classes simultaneously, graduating after five years with both a high school diploma and an associate’s degree. But Stewart wanted to go one step further. He decided he wanted to get a jump-start on his nursing career and made his case to Haywood Early College administrators.

Matt DeLozier, high school program liaison, said Stewart came to him about wanting to get into the CNA program, so he steered Stewart toward what he needed to do to get in. One requirement for the program is to be 17 years old, something Stewart already was.

“We had a meeting with his parents because we wanted to see how to make it work,” DeLozier said. “We were able to adjust his schedule so Chris could go to the CNA class. The amazing part is he was able to be successful in both.”

Stewart felt he was up for the challenge and rearranged his schedule to accommodate the three-month CNA course.

“It was difficult, but not impossible,” Stewart said. “It took effort, and I applied myself.”

The teen switched his work schedule at Ingles to just weekends and took the classes he needed. Study time was also worked into his busy schedule. But the end result was worth it.

“It’s a great accomplishment,” Stewart said. “It had its rough patches, but I was able to work through it.”

Following the course, Stewart was prepared to take the state boards and he passed them, which allowed him to be a certified CNA. He is ready to move forward in his nursing career.

“It gives me points toward the nursing program,” Stewart said. “It gets you in faster and you have a head start on other applicants.”

He would like to attend either Haywood Community College or Western Carolina University, which he said both have good nursing programs.

While the CNA certification will help Stewart get into a nursing program, it has also given him the chance to learn more about his chosen career. Stewart recently landed a job at Canton Christian Convalescent Center.

“It feels great,” Stewart said of his accomplishment.

He anticipates graduating from Haywood Early College in either late 2010 or in 2011.

Echris_stewart Chris Stewart, Haywood Early College student, recently passed the state boards to receive his license to be a certified nursing assistant and has already gotten a job in the field.