Oakdale Patch Whiz Kid: Dar’ya Tenenbaum

Oakdale Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Dar’ya Tenenbaum, 11^th grade

School:

Accomplishment: Tenenbaum placed second at the state Health Occupation Students of America competition held last week in St. Cloud in the nursing assistant category, which qualifies her for national competition.

Key to Awesomeness: Now, making a bed might not seem like a challenge worthy of competition, but try making a bed with someone in it—someone who happens to be blind and paralyzed on one side. That’s what Tartan High School junior Dar’ya Tenenbaum was challenged to do in the state Health Occupation Students of America competition. What made it even tougher is that the contestants don’t know what skill they’re going to have to perform for judges until the competition begins, she said. You have to think on your feet, said Tenenbaum, who will head next to the national competition in Anaheim, CA, June 21-25. Tenenbaum is part of the Northeast Metro 916 Intermediate District’s medical careers program, she said. She plans to become a pediatric surgeon in the future because it combines her two loves of medicine and kids, she said. She said she’s looking forward to getting clinical experience in nursing homes through the 916 program, although she finds ways to learn more about medicine outside of class as well—like asking her doctor lots of questions. “I think my doctor is a little annoyed with me,” she said.

Each week, Oakdale Patch will seek suggestions from readers for individual kids, youth groups, teens and even sports teams that wow us with their accomplishments. We want to hear about these amazing children and teens and select one each week as the Oakdale Patch Whiz Kid.  Submit your nomination in our comment box below or e-mail the information to patty.busse@patch.com. Be sure to include all of the following information: nominator's name, nominator's e-mail, Whiz Kid's name, Whiz Kid's age, Whiz Kid's school, Whiz Kid's accomplishment, Whiz Kid's key to awesomeness (what made him/her successful?)

If your nominee is selected, we'll contact you and assign a photographer to take a photo. For questions, e-mail patty.busse@patch.com.