Melinda Kassandra Lopez loves to plan. That's a good thing, considering all she's balancing.
Lopez isn't just taking eight classes as a full-time student at Fairmont High School in Fairmont, Minn.
She's also studying nursing.
Her dual efforts will soon end as the 18-year-old graduates in May from Minnesota West Community & Technical College, earning her associate of science degree in nursing. A few weeks later, in June, she'll graduate from Fairmont High with her high school diploma.
She'll be the first high school student to graduate with a nursing degree from Minnesota West — and possibly Minnesota.
"These last few weeks have been a lot, but I'm excited to keep moving forward," Lopez said, noting that the next step is to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination to officially become a registered nurse. "I really love what I do. I have passion to live my life in service to others, to advocate and be a leader for others through health care."
For Lopez, this is only the next step in a long-term plan of becoming a sub-specialist in pediatric surgical gynecology.
"I have my next 10 years planned out," she said with a laugh. This summer, she'll take classes at Southwest Minnesota State University and plans to graduate with her bachelor's degree in nursing next spring.