Osseo High School senior Maren Strootman is already well on her way toward a career in medicine. For proof, consider this: Strootman is just one test away from becoming a nationally registered emergency medical technician.
This week, Strootman was tested by having to insert an IV line into her teacher’s arm to draw blood. She also had to do it while our CCX News camera was rolling.
"We like to test our students and give them a chance to have that pressure of the real deal," said Osseo High School emergency services instructor Dave Casella.
If you're wondering why a 17–year–old is putting in an IV line, it's all part of Strootman's story in the health science magnet program.
"Last year we went through and learned C.P.R., First Aid, E.M.R. skills, and then we also took an E.M.T. class," said Strootman.
Strootman is in her second year of the school's OEC program or opportunities in emergency care. She'll soon take a test to become a nationally registered EMT.
"That's one of the things we try to push at OEC is when you walk out, you either want to do medicine or you don't want to do medicine. And Maren, she's got all the skill sets ready to go and fly," said Gary Leafblad, emergency services instructor at Osseo High School.
A career in medicine awaits Strootman, but she's also a four-sport athlete, a straight "A" student and she's fueled by service. Strootman recently earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest achievement possible in Girl Scouts for a service project at Eastman Nature Center.
"They needed a new tracks display, so something that could show different animal tracks. Basically my project was we were researching animal tracks that were found around the park, and then we were making sure we had the right dimensions and the right lengths between strides and everything," said Strootman of her service project.
But now back to the results of that IV line demonstration that Strootman did on instructor Dave Casella while our camera was rolling. Casella gives his student a thumbs up.
"I think she did a great job, not painful, got right where it needed to be, so I'm going to make it for another day," said Casella with a smile.
If the test is any indication, this Standout Student is on her way toward a career sure to help others.
"That's definitely something that I want to do with my life is make sure that I'm there whenever people need it and just to do my part to make other people's lives better," said Strootman.
Strootman plans to attend Boston University on a conditional Army ROTC scholarship.
Alexandra Renslo reporting
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