On her busiest days, while most teens are still sleeping, Isabelle Larabie is up, fed, and being dropped off at school early to finish homework before class. By the end of the day, she’ll have met the demands of volleyball practice, a workout with a trainer and a shift at CMH, all while navigating a full academic course load, with a smile.
A volleyball player on two teams—the KW Predators and Team Ontario—Isabelle commits to six (6) practice sessions a week in Kitchener and Toronto. Aspiring to be an elite athlete for Team Canada, she continuously works on her volleyball craft—improving her technique daily through specialized training.
It takes discipline, commitment, and patience to manage a schedule like Isabelle’s—qualities she brings to her ‘budding career’ in healthcare. As part of the Health Information Management (HIM) team, she scans and logs patient information, navigates complex requests, and provides support where needed.
The experience opened her eyes to roles she never knew existed: “I get to see the different steps that are involved in patient care—how the whole hospital works together,” she says, adding, “Every day I learn something new—my team puts faith in me and I get handed bigger tasks. It feels really good—and challenging.” That’s just the way Isabelle likes it.
When it comes to prioritizing what’s most important, Isabelle leans on her strong foundation as a volleyball player: she understands that real growth takes time and sacrifices.
“Learning new skills can be really hard,” she says, “You’re going to get worse before you get better. I’ve learned the value of patience.” Drawing on this experience, she drives her goals forward, knowing that the sacrifices she makes now will pay off.
Her packed schedule is backed by her own team of champions—her family, teammates, and HIM colleagues—that help her stay on track. Isabelle recognizes that her path may change—that’s okay.
At 16 years old, she believes growth needs flexibility and a strong mindset. She’s ready for what’s next: “If you stay positive instead of tearing yourself down and believe that things will work out—you can do anything."