Samara McManimon-Myers

Practical Nursing Student Samara McManimon-Myers will receive her high school and practical nursing diplomas at the same time. Samara is an example of the increasing number of high school students attending Southeast Technical to get a jumpstart on their college career. The Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) program is a Minnesota state program that allows qualified high school juniors and seniors to take college-level courses while still in high school and receive both high school and college credit for courses that are completed with a passing grade at Southeast Technical.

At 17 years of age, Samara is the youngest student in a cohort of more than 30. As a young student she says that her peers are available to offer her valuable advice and "the teachers are so helpful and nice," she adds. Her advisor, Diane Spiten offers that Samara downplays her own accomplishments, "She has become a willing resource to students for material reviewed in class and assists others in maintaining organization in the nursing program. She is honestly concerned about putting her best foot forward, however quiet about her success." Clinical rotations are Samara's favorite part of class saying, "It's the best possible thing, putting everything you've learned into practice." During clinical rotations Samara and her peers spend time researching their residents, preparing med sheets, learning about charting, learning the computer system, providing nebulizer treatments, taking glucose readings and vital signs. "I’ve taken lots of vital signs," Samara remembers amusingly.

Her plans are to attend Winona State University to obtain her Bachelor of Science in Nursing after completing her coursework here at Southeast Technical. Samara's advice to other high school students, "Go for PSEO, even if you only take one class for the experience and to prep for college."