Richardton-Taylor senior Elijah Vogle works as a certified nursing assistant at Marion Manor Healthcare Center, a nursing home in Glen Ullin.
He was looking for a job during the summer of 2017. After fencing didn't work out, he thought he'd try working as a CNA at Marion Manor, where his grandmother had been working for about 30 years.
"My grandma said they had openings in the CNA courses. They pay you to take the classes, but you have to work there for a year," he said.
The nursing home has nurses on staff who are qualified to teach, and it was through them that Vogle got his certification.
"I didn't even know what (a CNA) was, actually. At first I wasn't too sure about it, but once I started everything, I enjoyed it because during your free time, you have time to sit down with the residents, talk with them, make their day," he said.
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He said they talk about their careers, give advice and tell stories.
"They love to hear about someone else's day, because they don't really get to get out much," he said.
Vogle works at the nursing home every other weekend. He plays football and basketball for Richardton, and the nursing home is flexible with his schedule.
"Work's pretty good about sports and stuff. They have a couple of high school CNAs, so they work around their schedules pretty good," he said.
When he graduates high school, he plans on attending Bismarck State College.
"Then I will be applying for the nursing program through NDSU ... After that, I want to specialize in dermatology," he said.
Vogle's had experience with dermatologists in the past, having had a couple of warts.
"I think I would enjoy it. I'm a CNA right now, and I enjoy that," he said.
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He's volunteered at the school and nursing home in Richardton.
"I have donated time to the school for cleaning the gym and running concessions, and I have donated time to the (Richardton Health Center) nursing home ... cleaning up rocks and stuff. They had a bunch of rocks in the grass. When they mowed grass, a rock one time flew and broke a window," he said.
Though Vogle was born in Minot, both of his parents were from Hebron and moved back when he was just two years old. He's the oldest of four kids. His father works as an electrician in a mine, and his mother is a principal at Richardton.
