From High STEP to Healthcare: Alexandra’s Pathway to a Nursing Career

South Central Service Cooperative’s Health Science High STEP Academy is a regional high school program that combines high school credit, college credit, industry credentials, and real-world industry exposure — providing students with a direct pathway to rewarding careers in our region.

In a recent interview, 2025 Madelia High School graduate Alexandra Castro discussed her time in the High STEP program during her senior year. Through the program, Alexandra explored a wide variety of healthcare careers firsthand at Madelia Health, giving her a clear sense of direction as she approached graduation. Alexandra highly recommends the program to anyone interested in healthcare. She enjoyed learning about the different roles in healthcare and learned a lot from her teacher, Dr. Julius.

With that foundation in place, Alexandra pursued a position at Madelia Health as a Nurse Assistant the summer after graduation. She is currently working toward her Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification as she prepares to advance into her next role. Her experiences in the Health Science High STEP Academy, combined with her hands-on work at Madelia Health and the amazing nurses she works with, have strengthened her skills and deepened her confidence as she works toward her goal of becoming a nurse.

“The High-Step program has provided students with meaningful access to explore health science careers through engaging, hands-on experiences. It has become a dynamic and valuable addition to our career pathway programming.

Alexandra embraced this opportunity wholeheartedly, demonstrating unwavering dedication and a steadfast commitment to giving her very best. She transformed this experience into a powerful stepping stone toward a future defined by skill, compassion, and purpose. She is a shining example of what can be achieved through a strong partnership between school and community.”
— Megan Ward, School Counselor at Madelia High School

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