Kimberly Serna is a first-year student attending KCC who is majoring in Physical Therapy. The 18-year-old, who graduated from Farrington High School in May 2017, said that she has felt a connection with the medical field since her junior year when she had the opportunity to do job shadowing and work-study as a physical therapy assistant (PTA) through the school’s health academy.

“I got interested in the way the [PTA’s] environment is and in helping the patients,” Serna said.

Although catching the bus from Kalihi to KCC can be lengthy and tiring, Serna said that she enjoys coming to KCC for her education. Upon receiving her associate’s degree at KCC, Serna hopes to work in Tripler Army Medical Center as a PTA in the future.