Rosy Avendaño and her supervisor, Teresita Madrigal, pose with Santa Rosa Community Health’s Certificate of Recognition at the Path to Purpose Employer Celebration on June 11, 2026. 

By Rosy Avendaño 

A year ago, I never would have imagined myself writing an opinion piece for CTE Foundation, or any organization. I was quiet. I avoided speaking in class whenever I could. Even though I cared about my future, I did not really see myself as someone capable of doing big things. 

Then I got accepted into Path to Purpose, an internship program through CTE Foundation Sonoma County and the Sonoma County Office of Education. And honestly, it changed my life. 

Through the program, I was placed at Santa Rosa Community Health. Before this internship, healthcare was something I found interesting, but I did not really understand what working in the field looked like. I had never been in a professional environment like that before. 

At Santa Rosa Community Health, I got to see how much work happens behind the scenes to support patients and families every day. I saw how many different people it takes to keep a community health clinic running. It was not just doctors and nurses, but entire teams working together to care for the community. 

The more time I spent there, the more I started to picture myself being part of that world someday. 

But the biggest thing I gained from my internship was not just experience. It was confidence. 

One moment especially changed me. 

I attended a networking event with my supervisor, Teresita, and from the second I walked in, I felt completely out of place. Everyone around me seemed so confident and experienced. They knew how to introduce themselves, how to hold conversations, and how to belong in that kind of environment. Meanwhile, I was standing there trying not to panic. 

I remember thinking to myself, “I do not belong here.” 

But after a while, I realized something important. The people in that room were not confident because they were somehow better than me. They were confident because someone had taught them how to show up in spaces like that. Someone had opened a door for them and given them the opportunity to learn. 

So instead of leaving or staying quiet, I pushed myself to try. 

I introduced myself to people. I asked questions. I joined conversations even when it felt uncomfortable. And by the end of the night, I felt proud of myself in a way I never felt before. 

That experience completely changed how I see myself and my future. 

This internship did not just expose me to healthcare. It helped me discover what I actually want to do with my life. I realized I am interested not only in caring for people, but also in leadership and making healthcare more accessible for communities. Seeing how a clinic operates helped me understand the impact strong leadership can have on families. 

Now, for the first time, I feel like I have a real direction. 

I will graduate from Santa Rosa High School and continue my education at Santa Rosa Junior College with a clearer understanding of what I want to study and why. And one day, I hope to become the CEO of a community health clinic so I can help create the same kind of support and care for other families in Sonoma County. 

Students like me are not statistics or problems that need to be solved. We are future nurses, educators, business owners, and leaders. Sometimes we just need someone to believe in us enough to give us an opportunity. 

That is what my internship gave me. Not just professional experience, but confidence, direction, and a clearer vision for the future I want to build here in Sonoma County. 

Watch Rosy Avendaño’s Path to Purpose journey on our YouTube Channel, and please consider supporting our work at CTE Foundation by donating today.