Kootenai Kid: Senior goes ‘above and beyond’

COEUR d’ALENE – The first year of high school can be an intimidating time in a teen’s life. But as a member of the mentoring group at Coeur d’Alene High School, Haley Anderson volunteers her time to help ease what can be a difficult transition from middle school to high school for the incoming freshmen.

“It is mostly about knowing someone who knows the ropes and who you can go to, to ask questions,” said the 17-year-old senior.

Andersonstarted as a mentor her junior year and has enjoyed the friendships she has made.

“I remember how hard it was when I was a freshman,” said Anderson, who is mentoring five kids this year. She said the group of mentors meets once a month to receive instruction on a lesson they then teach to the freshman class.

“We teach things like how to deal with peer pressure and that first impressions aren’t always the truth,” said Anderson. The mentors share their life experiences to help lend credence to the message they are trying to convey. Anderson said the kids often ask questions and they all end up learning from one another.

Abby White, a counselor at Coeur d’Alene High School, said Anderson is an exceptional student whose dedication is unique.

“Anderson goes above and beyond to give to those around her,” White said.

But the upperclassmen and freshmen in the mentoring program don’t limit the time spent together to the classroom.

“Sometimes we’ll go skating after school or something like that,” said Anderson.

An exceptional student with above a 4.0 grade-point average – honors-level classes are weighted on a 5.0 scale – Anderson works hard to maintain her grades while juggling extracurricular activities and a 30-hour-a-week job.

“It’s all about finding little pieces of time to get things done,” Anderson said.

One of her extracurricular activities is the Business Professionals of America. The group is made up of students in their junior and senior year of high school who are interested in business. They learn about topics such as accounting, banking and interview skills. And like most other extracurricular activities there is a competition.

“We can compete in events either individually or as a group,” Anderson said.

Last year Anderson placed first at regionals in the fundamental accounting field and second in the payroll accounting category and went onto compete at state in both fields.

“I took tests for 4 1/2 hours straight,” Anderson said. The winners are determined by how many questions the individual answers correctly and if there is a tie, then the judges look to how long it took the student to complete the test.

This year Anderson plans to compete at the regional level in the banking and finance category.

But Anderson’s education extends beyond the walls of Coeur d’Alene High School. At noon each day she travels to Riverbend Professional Technical Academy, where she is enrolled in a course which offers an introduction to health care occupations.

“It is a jump-start for someone who wants to work in the medical field,” she said. Anderson would like to be a nurse practitioner or a medical doctor one day.

She will earn four high school credits for her work in the yearlong course, and she will be able to transfer those credits to North Idaho College. At Riverbend, she studies subjects such as anatomy and physiology, privacy laws as they relate to health care and also gains practical experience.

“We are required to have 20 hours of clinical,” said Anderson. “Ten hours in long-term care and 10 in acute care.”

During the first semester, Anderson spent time working in a nursing home where she helped with rehabilitation, took vital signs and answered call lights. She then moved on to Kootenai Medical Center, where she was stationed on the general surgery wing.

She will also do 20 hours of job shadowing, hopefully with a nurse practitioner, this spring.

When she completes her day at Riverbend, Anderson goes to work at Ameritel Inn, where she is a front desk clerk. She works 30 hours a week, but said that she is still able to complete her schoolwork.

“I’m pretty quick, so even if I get home at 10, I can still have time to finish my homework,” said Anderson.

Her supervisor, Jenni Bilbrey, said Anderson is an exceptional 17-year-old.

“Haley received three promotions within the first two to three months of working here,” said Bilbrey. “She is always positive, has a great work ethic and is always willing to go the extra mile.”

Anderson is keeping her options open, but it is likely that the medical field is where she will end up. It is a field she has been interested in since she was 9 when her mother suffered serious complications following surgery and Anderson helped take care of her.

Anderson said that while high school is a time to have fun, it is also a time to prove yourself and take advantage of available opportunities. She points out that if a student works hard at honors level classes, he or she can automatically transfer those credits to college credits which saves time and money.

“It’s all about being dedicated,” said Anderson. “And that doesn’t mean you have to get all A’s. Just do your best.”