From terrifying accidents leaving patients in critical condition, to the glory of delivering a baby and bringing a new life into the world, medical assistance is a necessity all over the planet. Since she was young, Highland’s Sarah Spencer understood this need and was curious to learn more about the human body. Spencer’s thirst for knowledge is what ultimately led her to study medicine in high school.
Spencer, Highland’s 2025-26 Skilled and Technical Science Education Sterling Scholar winner, is a dedicated student who loves learning and furthering her medical knowledge.
“I got my CNA license last year, and its been super cool,” Spencer said. “I just get super curious on how we all work, it feels very universal.”
By completing 100 hours of class time and 24 hours of CNA clinicals, Spencer received her Certified Nursing Assistant license (CNA) as a junior. Since then, she has enjoyed learning more about the body and diving deeper into the study of life.
One of Spencer’s most supportive teachers, Robert Campos, is someone who can vouch for her incredible qualities.
“Sarah is a very hard worker, she put forth a lot of effort in all her classes,” Campos said.
For anyone, earning a CNA license requires hours of in class commitment, and endless time studying outside of school.
But for Spencer, this was an ever more difficult task.
Juggling various sports and her rigorous school schedule, it was difficult for Spencer to prioritize these aspects of her life while remaining focused on her CNA license. But with hard work and the support from her family, Spencer was able to achieve this task.
“Sarah is the definition of determination and grit,” Spencer’s mother Laura Spencer said. “She does hard things when she doesn’t want to and pushes through things to get them done.”
Laura specifically finds Spencer’s determination in her academics. When Spencer does her homework, she does it well and makes sure she understands every aspect of it. She doesn’t want to do things the easy way; she wants to envelop herself in new information that can further her knowledge.
Commitment like this is vital when working in any healthcare profession. In the medical field techniques are constantly changing as new discoveries are made. This introduces the need to be adaptable and dedicated to keep up with the constant change.
Practicing medicine also involves teamwork, a skill Spencer developed by participating in many extracurriculars and sports. Whether she’s on the soccer field, tennis court, or just out for a leisurely run, Spencer has the ability to bring people together with her leadership and calm nature. Spencer is always cheering others on and lifting up her peers with her positive attitude.
“She (Spencer) is someone that shows a lot of care and help,” Campos said. “She is someone who really looks out for others and has other people’s interests in mind.”
As a medical professional Spencer would also be constantly surrounded by patients. Often patients are young, elderly, sick, or struggling mentally and physically. Spencer’s ability to be calm and compassionate when dealing with these different people, while keeping her positive moral, would make patients feel comfortable in any circumstance.
Aside from her CNA class (which is orchestrated through SLCC), Spencer also took intro to health science, medical anatomy/physiology, and medical terminology at Highland. Through each class her love for medicine grew larger, as did the workload.
But that didn’t keep Spencer from prioritizing her favorite activities.
“Outside of school I really enjoy hanging out with my friends,” Spencer said. “I have been running recently, and I love to go to the gym.”
Exercise and spending time with the people she loves are just a couple ways that help Spencer decompress when her crazy schedule gets stressful. She also enjoys babysitting her neighbors, eating her favorite foods, and watching a good movie.
As for the future, Spencer still isn’t sure where her interests will take her, but as she continues to learn and grow the right decision will approach her.
“I still am not sure, I am definitely going to college, and possibly something in health science,” Spencer said.
No matter what she decides to go into, Spencer’s friends and family are confident that she will be amazing at it.
