PINEHURST, N.C— What began as a curious fifth-grader’s STEM lesson quickly sparked a career journey for 18-year-old Kymora Poole, a Hoke County High School senior who now works as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital.
With plans to attend nursing school next fall, Poole represents the next generation of health care talent emerging from FirstHealth’s teen volunteer and workforce development programs.
Poole’s interest in health care took shape early. As part of her elementary STEM program, she remembers a classroom project dissecting pig ears.
“It was kind of weird, but I kind of liked it,” she laughed. By middle school, she became captivated by forensic science and, while researching career opportunities, discovered the unique role of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners—professionals who blend nursing with forensic practice. The idea stuck.
Exposure Through FirstHealth’s Teen Volunteer Program
When she entered high school, Poole joined the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) club and, on the advice of her advisor, began exploring volunteer opportunities at FirstHealth. That’s when she met Sheryl Brownlee, teen volunteer coordinator at Moore Regional Hospital.
Brownlee worked closely with Poole to match her interests with meaningful experience, ultimately placing her on the medical floor at Moore Regional as a teen volunteer. There, Poole offered warm blankets to patients, assisted with intake and output documentation and shadowed CNAs—each encounter fueling her passion for patient care.
“Even as a volunteer, I felt like I was helping people,” Poole said. “It made me less nervous about working with adults, and it helped me grow up a lot. I realized I could really make a difference.”
From Teen Volunteer to CNA
Her volunteer experience also prepared her for the next step. While still in high school, Poole enrolled in the CNA program at Sandhills Community College. At just 17, she was hired at FirstHealth as a CNA on the 2 Neuro unit—an area that has given her new perspective.
“Seeing patients who can’t do the things we all take for granted is eye-opening,” she said. “The team on 2 Neuro has been amazing. They support my school schedule, and they even help tutor me in chemistry. They truly want me to succeed.”
Poole also credits her parents, both retired military, for her strong work ethic and perseverance. She said their discipline and willingness to support her dreams made her journey possible.
“They drove me from Raeford to Pinehurst and would shop or wait for a couple hours while I volunteered,” she said. “I couldn’t have done this without them.”
Growing the Next Generation of Health Care Professionals
Poole is one of hundreds of students who have participated in FirstHealth’s teen volunteer program, which matches young people ages 16 and older with roles across the health system. Teen volunteers gain firsthand exposure to patient care, hospital operations and health care careers—experience that often sparks long-term interest in nursing and allied health professions.
Her experience also reflects the goals of FirstFutures, FirstHealth’s innovative workforce development program. FirstFutures offers sponsorships for career pathways into high-demand roles within FirstHealth. The program is designed to build a strong, sustainable pipeline of health care professionals across the region.
“Kymora embodies everything FirstFutures and our teen volunteer program aim to achieve,” said Carolyn Helms, FirstFutures director. “We want to inspire students early, give them hands-on experience and support them as they grow into the next generation of nurses, technologists and health care workers.”
As Poole prepares for college and a future in nursing, she hopes her story encourages other teens to explore hospital volunteer opportunities.
“If you’re curious about health care, just try it,” she said. “Volunteering helped me find my passion.”
To learn more about FirstFutures and the teen volunteer program at FirstHealth, visit www.FirstHealth.org/FirstFutures.
