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Kenneth Arteaga Lopez first encountered The DeBruce Foundation’s AgilitiesTM during a summer internship in 2024 as an interesting, introductory exercise. Two years later, he sees them as something much more powerful: a tool that helped him better understand himself, strengthen important skills, and gain confidence in his future career path.
A 2026 graduate of Van Horn High School and this year’s Agilities Award recipient through KC STEM Alliance, Kenneth has spent much of his high school career exploring different corners of the healthcare field. Through internships, dual-credit coursework, and career-connected learning experiences, he has discovered not only where his interests lie, but also how understanding his Agilities can help him build his future.
Discovering the Agilities Through a Public Health Internship
“The first time I took the Agile Work ProfilerTM was during my internship at the Kansas City Health Department through ProX,” Kenneth said. “I discovered my Agilities were Serving and Caring, Organizing, and Managing.”
During that first internship, Kenneth worked in gun violence prevention through Aim4Peace, a program focused on supporting youth and strengthening communities. Alongside his cohort, he explored neighborhood history, conducted community observations, and helped develop a proposal aimed at reducing youth violence.
The experience introduced Kenneth to the Agilities and opened his eyes to the many ways healthcare and public health professionals can make a difference.
Applying the Agilities in a Healthcare Research Internship
A year later, Kenneth participated in the STAR 2.0 program at the Children’s Mercy Research Institute, where he worked with Dr. Brooke Fridley and explored the field of biostatistics. The experience exposed him to a side of healthcare he had not previously considered and ultimately helped shape his long-term goals. “It showed me how multifaceted healthcare can be,” he said. “The program introduced me to the idea of becoming a physician-scientist, which is something I’m now interested in pursuing.”
A physician-scientist combines clinical care with research, helping translate scientific discoveries into improved patient outcomes. For Kenneth, the opportunity to learn about translational research helped connect two interests he had already begun developing through Project Lead The Way (PLTW) and other career exploration experiences. “Having participated in the PLTW Capstone Showcase, I realized I wanted to combine working as a clinician with doing research,” he said.
Today, Kenneth is exploring educational pathways that could eventually lead him to an MD-PhD program, allowing him to pursue both medicine and research.
How an Agilities Coach Helped Turn Insights into Action
After his initial introduction to the Agilities during his first internship, the STAR 2.0 program at Children’s Mercy Hospital provided the opportunity to build on his knowledge: “I really got to understand what the Agilities meant and how I could use them,” he said.
After taking the Agile Work Profiler again, Kenneth saw how his Agilities continued to develop. His top Agilities had become Serving and Caring, Organizing, and Innovating. A Certified Agilities Coach on the Children’s Mercy team met with students at both the beginning and end of the internship. Together, they discussed his results, identified opportunities for growth, and developed strategies for applying his Agilities throughout the program.
“We talked about how I could implement and enhance those skills during the internship,” Kenneth said. “The Agilities Coach helped me understand what I needed to build and how to apply those Agilities to my research project.” As the internship progressed, Kenneth found himself thinking about those insights: “I was referring back to them subconsciously as we visited different departments.”
“What really stuck with me was that the Agilities weren’t just about the internship,” Kenneth said. “We talked about my childhood, my learning style, and how my Agilities could play a long-term role in my life.”
For Kenneth, that shift was significant. Rather than viewing the Agilities as a set of results, he began viewing them as skills that could be intentionally developed over time: “That summer was the first time I felt like I could proactively build and enhance my Agilities.”
Building Career Readiness Through High School and College Coursework
The lessons Kenneth learned during his internships influenced more than just his summer experiences. They shaped how he approached his final years of high school.
After reflecting on his Agilities, Kenneth intentionally sought opportunities to strengthen the skills reflected in his results. He enrolled in rigorous dual-credit coursework that demanded strong organization, time management, and self-discipline while continuing to explore healthcare pathways. “I made an active effort to build my Agilities,” he said. “I realized these resources were helping me become a better person.”
His efforts paid off. By graduation, Kenneth had earned more than 65 college credit hours in addition to his high school diploma, making him eligible to receive an associate degree while preparing for his next educational steps.
He credits much of his success to the support of his teachers, including Debbie Cox at Van Horn High School, as well as school leaders who encouraged him throughout his journey.
Exploring Healthcare Careers with Confidence and Clarity
Throughout his experiences, one Agility consistently appeared at the top of Kenneth’s results: Serving and Caring. Today, his strongest Agilities are Serving and Caring, Developing Others, and Managing—an evolution that reflects both his personal growth and his increasing interest in leadership within healthcare.
“Serving and Caring consistently pops up for me,” he said. “That fits with my interest in nursing.”
After graduation, Kenneth plans to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing through an accelerated program while continuing to explore opportunities that could eventually lead him toward a physician-scientist career.
Why Understanding Your Agilities Matters for Career Exploration
Kenneth’s internships exposed him to both public health and clinical research, helping him see many ways healthcare professionals make an impact. Along the way, the Agilities provided a framework for understanding what energized him and where his strengths could be applied.
“My consistent Agilities are necessary for healthcare, which reaffirmed my decision,” he said. “The Agilities help you explore different areas.”
Kenneth also observed that his results evolved as he gained new experiences and responsibilities. “My Agilities shifted to match what each environment asked of me,” he said. “That gave me clarity and guidance for the big decisions I have to make as a graduate.”
For students preparing for their own first internships, jobs, or career experiences, Kenneth sees real value in understanding their Agilities early. “Knowing your Agilities helps you understand yourself,” he said. “It helps you see where your strengths are, what you want to build, and where you might fit best.”
Looking Ahead: Giving Back Through the Agilities
As Kenneth prepares for his next chapter, he plans to keep using the Agilities and hopes to eventually help guide other students on their own journeys. In fact, he can already envision returning to programs like STAR 2.0 someday—not as a student, but as a mentor. That goal feels fitting for someone whose strongest Agility continues to be Serving and Caring.
Sometimes career exploration helps students discover what they want to do. For Kenneth, understanding his Agilities also helped him understand who he wants to become.
