TEMPLE, Texas — Temple High School senior Andrea Olivos-Gutierrez has had a life-long dream of working in health care. Now, Olivos-Gutierrez is taking two big steps toward reaching that goal.
Olivos-Gutierrez has been accepted to attend the prestigious Explore Cru Nursing Summer Camp at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor this summer. The camp only accepts 24 students each year and will give attendees a chance to experience nursing school and the nursing profession. Students will have opportunities to learn core concepts of nursing through classroom and lab simulation settings and also participate in small group discussions and programs. Participants are also introduced to college life by staying in the dorms, eating in the dining hall and engaging in social activities. The week-long camp is scheduled for June 11-17th. The application process also includes transcripts and an essay describing the applicants experience and reasons for wanting to attend.
“I am extremely excited because I know that I will get to experience so many things during the camp,” Olivos-Gutierrez said. “I have been looking forward to it ever since I applied. It is crazy for me because I didn’t know about some of these opportunities when I was a freshman and now that I have a chance to take advantage of them, it is like a dream come true.”
Acceptance in the Explore Nursing Camp is the latest item on a list of achievements for Olivos-Gutierrez this school year. She also passed her certification test and is now a Certified Nursing Assistant. Olivos-Gutierrez has accepted a job as a CNA at Cornerstone Gardens Healthcare and Rehabilitation in Temple and is looking forward to the opportunity to make an impact on patients’ lives. She is already familiar with the facility after earning her clinical hours there during her experience in the THS Career and Technical Education Department.
“I have a passion for helping people and making an impact,” Olivos-Gutierrez said. “I know as a CNA, I will be able to help people and the joy I get out of that is greater than anything I could imagine. I am really looking forward to the chance to connect with the patients, communicate with them and build trust with them, because that is so important.”
“She is such an inspiration to others in our program,” said Kimberly Compton, registered nurse/CNA director for Temple HS CTE. “They know how far she has come. Andrea has made it through, and our students know that she is ‘on the other side.’ That’s why she is such a great speaker for us. I am so proud of her for having the opportunity to attend such a prestigious program that will greatly benefit her skills.”
In addition to the summer camp and CNA job, Olivos-Gutierrez would like to attend nursing school to become an LPN or RN. Her ultimate goal is to become a doctor, a cardiologist to be specific. She is quick to credit the curriculum in the CNA program for helping prepare her for the opportunities she has, but also says the support of her family is the main thing driving her success.
“When you have the trust and love of your family, they will support you,” Olivos-Gutierrez said. “My mom has done so much to support me and when we talk about these opportunities, seeing her smile just makes my day better. I can’t wait to become a doctor for her and my family. My main goal is to help people. I want to continue to grow and grow and as you learn and study, all of that knowledge can build up into something really big and change your life forever. Without the support of my family and my teachers, I wouldn’t be here. That’s not something that everyone gets, and I am so lucky to have that.”