The room was quiet except for the rustle of scrubs and the scratch of pens. At 16, surrounded by classmates decades older than her, Mackenna Morales (11) adjusted her notebook and prepared for another day of Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training. After two and a half months of balancing school, club volleyball and early morning weekend drives to a CNA training center 30 minutes away, Morales earned her license in December. 

In clinical settings, CNAs support residents with daily care that ensures patients feel comfortable, dignified and safe. Their responsibilities range from assisting with hygiene and mobility to monitoring basic needs. 

Through hands-on training and patient interaction, Morales said her perspective on healthcare began to shift.

“Healthcare became more than just an interest when I realized how meaningful it felt to care for others and meet their needs in moments when they truly depend on someone,” Morales said.

This school year, Morales is enrolled in Advanced Placement Chemistry with Michael Rall, who also teaches Honors Chemistry.

“Most high school students don’t even know what they’re interested in yet,” Rall said. “Mackenna already has a very strong sense of where she wants to be.”

Morales began searching for healthcare opportunities beyond traditional volunteering when she discovered the CNA pathway. 

“After learning I could pursue this certification at 16, I immediately began searching for CNA programs throughout San Diego,” Morales said. “I believed earning my CNA license while still in high school would be a meaningful extracurricular.”

What followed was months of intensive preparation that included textbook readings, weekend quizzes, exams and memorizing nearly 500 medical vocabulary terms. Her program required 100 hours of theory and 60 hours of clinical experience. Morales and her classmates completed clinical rotations at Aviara Healthcare Center in Encinitas, where they worked hands-on with residents for about a month. 

Rall described Morales as “tenacious and driven” within the chemistry classroom.

“She approaches challenges with purpose,” Rall said. “She does not just want to succeed. She wants what she is doing to matter.”

One of Morales’ classmates in the CNA program, Carly Magdaleno, described Morales “as hardworking, task oriented and consistently kind.”

“I think it is very rare to find someone who is so selfless and dedicated to helping others while also putting a smile on their face,” Magdaleno said. “It is also extremely rare to find someone who gives up their own break time because they are having so much fun working. On multiple occasions she gave up her breaks to continue working and serving those who needed help.”

Beyond patient care, Morales also fostered a positive team environment throughout the program. 

“Mackenna was constantly bringing up all of our classmates and making us all laugh,” Magdaleno said. “She would listen to others’ problems and help them come up with better ways to approach situations they encountered. Mackenna taught us hard work can be very fun and rewarding. She was truly the life and light of our class.”

One of the most demanding components of the program was the skills exam. Morales had to memorize 22 medical skills word for word and perform each in a strict sequence. 

“Missing even one step could result in failure,” Morales said.

When clinicals began, the pressure shifted. Instead of practicing from a checklist, Morales was responsible for residents with medical and personal needs. 

“My first day working with patients was unforgettable,” Morales said. “I met residents with so many different personalities and life stories.”

Her responsibilities included assisting residents with showers, measuring urine output, changing briefs and providing daily care. Morales also learned to operate a Hoyer lift to help move residents who were unable to get in and out of bed independently, a task requiring both technical precision and trust.

As the weeks progressed, Morales’ understanding of responsibility shifted from individual performance to patient-centered care. 

“I used to think responsibility was something I carried alone,” Morales said. “Now, I understand that responsibility in healthcare is always about the person you are caring for. Each resident has unique needs, and my responsibility is to fulfill them.”

Rall said Morales demonstrates “a level of maturity uncommon among high school students.”

“She genuinely cares about the people around her,” Rall said. “That quality cannot be taught.”

Morales’ CNA experience shaped how she views her future in medicine.

“In the future, I hope to become a neurosurgeon and neuroscientist, and this experience has given me invaluable insight into patient care and the realities of healthcare,” Morales said.

While her career goals look ahead, the core of Morales’ work remains rooted in compassionate care.

“Empathy is the foundation of being a CNA,” Morales said. “Caring for others is the job. Because of that, my work never feels like just work.”