GRAND FORKS – Grand Forks student Avery Lafferty always knew she wanted to go into medicine. The Grand Forks School District's Work-Based Learning Program helped her build the skills and experience to achieve her dream.

Lafferty, a Grand Forks Red River High School senior, said she grew up “surrounded by doctors” as her family dealt with various health issues. On her birthday one year, while at a hospital for her mother's surgery, one doctor's kindness inspired her to pursue a career in medicine.

“One of the doctors got me a cake and apple juice, and they sang to me, and it was just such a great experience,” she said. “So I always knew I wanted to do something in the medical field.”

Last year, Lafferty heard from a friend about the Work-Based Learning Program, an opportunity for student

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