Each weekday morning, before most of their classmates have even begun their first class, three Shawnee Community Unit School District 84 seniors are already on their way to becoming healthcare professionals.

Daisy Taylor, Emma Young, and Alana Davis arrive at the Shawnee Extension Center in Anna at 7:30 a.m., ready to learn the skills that will prepare them to care for others. It’s part of the district’s Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program, a rigorous, hands-on experience that allows students to earn professional certification while still in high school.

For these young women, the program is more than an academic opportunity. It’s a first step toward futures built on compassion, skill, and service.

Five days a week, they spend their mornings learning essential medical skills—how to safely assist patients, take vital signs, make beds, and provide the daily care that forms the backbone of healthcare. In the classroom, hospital beds and medical equipment help them practice real-world scenarios, preparing them for the responsibilities they will soon carry.

But some of their most meaningful learning happens during clinical rotations at the Anna Veterans Home, where they shadow experienced CNAs and observe patient care firsthand.

“We’re just shadowing a CNA and doing the things they do during the day,” Alana said.

Those clinical experiences bring both excitement and nervousness. Each student remembers feeling unsure at first, stepping into a professional environment where the work carries real responsibility.

“I was nervous about clinicals in general,” Daisy admitted. “I was nervous about messing up on something.”

Emma felt similar uncertainty, especially when working closely with residents for the first time. “I was nervous about going to clinicals and being around the residents,” she said. “But honestly, it doesn’t bother me now. You get more comfortable the more you do it.”

For Alana, her concern wasn’t about the tasks themselves, but about making sure she cared for residents in a way that made them feel comfortable and respected. “I was nervous about feeding the residents,” she said. “I didn’t know what they liked or how they liked being fed, and I didn’t want to make them uncomfortable.”

Those early nerves have been replaced by confidence as the students continue to learn and grow.

The program also gives them a head start on their future careers.

Emma, who has already been accepted to McKendree University, plans to pursue a career in occupational therapy. She sees the CNA program as a crucial foundation.

“I joined the CNA program to get a feel for it and learn the medical terms and anatomy,” she said. “It will help me later, so it won’t be as hard when I go through college.”

Daisy is already working toward her EMT license and plans to become a paramedic while working part-time as a CNA. She knows the experience she’s gaining now will serve her well in both roles.

Alana hopes to become a registered nurse, with a dream of working in labor and delivery. She plans to attend Shawnee Community College and remain close to home, serving the community that has supported her.

All three students recognize that the CNA program offers benefits beyond those pursuing medical careers.

“I think it’s essential,” Alana said. “Even if you don’t want to be in medical, there might be a time when you have to take care of a relative, and you need to know those things.”

Daisy agrees that the skills they are learning have lifelong value. “It could help them in life in general,” she said. “It’s always a good skill to have.”

The program also provides immediate opportunities. After completing the course and passing their certification exam, students can begin working as CNAs right away, gaining valuable experience and income while continuing their education.

Beyond technical skills, the program teaches responsibility, empathy, and confidence. It challenges students to step outside their comfort zones and learn how to care for others with dignity and respect.

For Shawnee District 84, the CNA program is more than a career pathway. It’s an investment in students and in the future of healthcare in southern Illinois.