Tennessee High School students are gaining real-world healthcare experience before graduation through one of the many industry certifications offered as part of the school’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) programming.
Emma Woodmore, Victoria Harman, Elizabeth Harrison, Andrew Sargent, Preston Blankenship, Brodie Meyers, and Barron Harkleroad all earned their pharmacy technician certification in December and are already working in local pharmacies, building professional experience while completing their senior year.
For these students, all juniors or seniors, the opportunity provided a head start toward careers in healthcare.
Emma Woodmore said the program first caught her attention because it offered the chance to begin working in the field while she was still in school.
“I thought it would be a good job opportunity, and it pays well,” she said. “It’s been fun, too.”
Victoria Harman said one of the most eye-opening parts of the certification process was learning how much responsibility pharmacy technicians have when it comes to patient care.
“The most surprising thing I learned was how you interact with patients,” she said. “There are a lot of guidelines and laws you have to follow for privacy, safety, and everything related to patient care.”
Elizabeth Harrison is already putting those lessons into practice while working at Walgreens.
“It’s been really great,” she said. “They’ve been super flexible with my school schedule, and the pay is really good compared to other jobs I could have right now. Getting pharmacy and healthcare experience before I graduate is really valuable.”
For Andrew Sargent, the experience has helped confirm his long-term goals in medicine.
“I’ve always wanted to be a doctor, preferably a neurologist,” he said. “This pathway gets you into healthcare early, and being able to do it while you’re still in high school is a really good opportunity.”
Brodie Meyers believes graduating high school with a professional certification already in hand can give students a meaningful advantage.
“It’s a rare opportunity,” he said. “Not everyone gets something like this in high school, and it can put you ahead when you’re applying for jobs or other opportunities.”
Barron Harkleroad said working in pharmacies has also shown students how different each workplace can be.
“Even though we all work in community pharmacies, they’re all a little different,” he said. “Some are national chains, and some are local pharmacies. There are differences in how they operate and manage things like inventory. It’s been interesting to learn about those differences.”
For these Tennessee High students, the experience has already provided something even more immediate: the chance to begin building their futures while still in high school.
Preston Blankenship encourages younger students to consider the healthcare pathway, even if they are unsure exactly where it may lead.
“If you’re thinking about doing it, try it,” he said. “If you end up not liking it, you can switch paths. But if you do continue, there are so many different things you can do in healthcare.”
Students earn their pharmacy technician certification through coursework in Tennessee High School’s Therapeutic Services pathway, taught by instructor Sandy Anderson. This is the third consecutive year Mrs. Anderson’s students have achieved a 100 percent pass rate on the certification exam, a reflection of both their dedication and the strength of the program.
