When Oak Harbor High School junior Cory Winget accidently enrolled in a Health Careers class, it turned out to be a serendipitous event that changed his life.

“I needed a health class for credit,” he said, “so I signed up for ‘health car. ed.’ I didn’t know what it was. I asked my friends if I was going to be working on cars, or what.”

When he learned it was actually a career class for those interested in the medical field, he tried to get out of it. His post-high school plans included music, not medicine.

Winget has a talent for making “beat box” music with his mouth, and is known by his peers as “Boom Box.” He was named “Best in the Northwest” for his talent by a Seattle radio station, and dreamed of starting a record label.

“That was really his only focus when he came into the class,” Health Careers teacher Jennifer Rucker said.

Winget credits Rucker for coaxing him to stay in the class, and changing his life.

“If it wasn’t for her I wouldn’t be here,” he said.

Within two weeks, he was hooked. The young man who admits he “made a lot of mistakes” in his freshman year, and was drifting without a real plan, now wants to become a doctor.

He went from nearly failing grades to nearly perfect.

“I was the one that people didn’t expect would go anywhere,” he said.

He is currently one of seven students working as volunteers at Whidbey General Hospital as part of the high school career program, and that experience has increased his desire to go into medicine.

After the eight-week rotation is completed he will be eligible to take the Certified Nurses Assistant test, and he is earning six college credits.

He would like to go on to become a registered nurse, then continue in medical school to become either a pediatrician or cardiologist.

In his first week at the hospital he worked in medical records and central supply, a department that sterilizes all equipment used in the hospital and packages it up for use.

“At first I thought it was going to be about cleaning things,” he said, “but it’s not — it’s really interesting.”

Dressed in blue scrubs, Winget listened attentively while Central Supply Supervisor Harry Hawn explained what some of the equipment was used for. In the process Winget got a mini-medical lesson in medical procedures, from how to pump a stomach to how artificial knee joints are fitted.

He said his new goal keeps him going, even though he knows he will have to take correspondence courses and extra work at Midway High School to make up the credits he needs to graduate on time. But that’s a good thing.

“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t have to work so hard,” he said. “If I’m not challenged I won’t do it.” He felt his previous poor showing in school was because he didn’t have that type of challenge.

He is so enthused about the new direction his life has taken that he would like to share it with other students, possibly as a motivational speaker.

“Adults tell them what to do, but they’re not there to listen.”

Through the career and technical education program Winget also got a position as an assistant trainer with the girls basketball team, which has led to an interest in sports medicine. He travels with the team and helps attend to their medical needs.

Sally Fox, Whidbey General Hospital volunteer coordinator, called the student volunteer program a “win-win situation.”

“The students’ enthusiasm is a plus,” she said. “It validates the professionals’ years of service.”

The hospital offers two lucky students a chance to intern at the facility the summer after they graduate. The job pays minimum wage, but the experience is invaluable, Fox said.

Rucker said Winget’s acquired interest in the class was unusual, as most students who enter the program already are attracted to the field. She estimated 75 to 80 percent of the students take the class to get the CNA certificate.

The class has more hands-on opportunities this year, with 17 students in the class rotating between medical and veterinary facilities in the area. A student at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station hospital last week was in the delivery room for the birth of a baby, and this week students will assist with a spay-neuter clinic at Best Friends Veterinary Center.

Winget, the son of Tim and Robin Burklow, has three siblings, and he hopes the younger ones learn from his experience.

“No matter how hard it gets you have to live through it,” he said. “It’s not worth it to sit around and do nothing.”

You can reach News-Times reporter Marcie Miller at mmiller@whidbeynews

times.com or call 675-6611.