Last year, Kathryn Murphy had more than enough credits to graduate early from Skaneateles High School. But medical professionals in the area told Murphy, who at the time had just turned 17, to wait, and they directed her toward the New Visions program at Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES.

Murphy, a senior at SHS and an Owasco resident, doesn't have one ounce of regret about her decision.

“This is one of the best programs I've ever gotten involved with,” said Murphy, who has also racked up more than 150 volunteer hours as a member of the junior corps of Four Town First Aid Squad, which serves southeastern Cayuga County. “I wouldn't change this for the world.”

On Friday morning, Murphy had the opportunity to share her medical experiences and knowledge with students at Millard Fillmore Elementary School in Moravia. Along with her Four Town colleagues, she showed the students the ambulance and the tools of the trade. The presentation was in honor of National Emergency Medical Services Week.

Such programs are important for young students to observe, Murphy said, “so that they can be comfortable if they ever need to ride in it or their family needs to ride in it.”

Murphy was just 5 years old when she first became interested in medicine. At the time, her 14-year-old cousin died from cancer, and Murphy later decided that she wanted to be an oncologist.

However, through her work with New Visions, those plans have since been amended. The program, which is run through BOCES, allows her to observe everything from the maternity ward to gallbladder operations at Auburn Memorial Hospital, and she's found that she also has a passion for emergency medicine.

“I'm determined. I want to make a difference,” said Murphy, who will study at Daemon College to become a physician's assistant and plans to go on to med school after that. “I want to know the answers. I don't want to have to sit back and wonder. I want to have hands on.”

Kelly Harrington, a teacher with New Visions' medical professions program, has been impressed by Murphy's work ethic and compassion.

“It's been rewarding to have her as a student,” Harrington said, noting Murphy's dedication to New Visions and her work on the first aid squad. “She has a very high level of motivation and independence.”

In addition to her work with News Visions and her position as head of community relations and a resource officer Four Town's junior corps, Murphy also volunteers for AMH, the American Red Cross, Matthew House and Finger Lakes Center for Living. Somehow, she also finds time to hold down two part-time jobs at Kabuki and Sweetwater Cafe, both Skaneateles eateries.

As for the future, she's hoping to somehow combine her enthusiasm for oncology, emergency medicine and paramedics.

“The ambulance is just a part of me,” Murphy said.