Cool Kid Aubrey Schumacher volunteers for health-care causes

OJAI, Calif. (KABC) -- This week's ABC7 Cool Kid is Aubrey Schumacher, who volunteers for causes like cooking meals for recovering addicts and raising funds for hospitals.

At 16, Aubrey has had her share of health problems over the years, fighting a chronic stomach disease. That is one of the reasons she wants to become a doctor. Another reason is she comes from a long line of medical professionals, including her mother and grandmother who were both nurses.

"She is a rare person and she is very kind, in addition to being wicked smart," said her science teacher, Lisa Porto. "But at the same time she is also very generous with her time and is very nurturing and always willing to help others."

Porto said Aubrey is top of her class and was recently invited to attend any medical school of her choice for a nine-day conference. It is designed to help students talk to doctors and nurses and find out what it might be like to go into the health-care field.

The high school junior chose University of California Berkeley, but there's one problem: It's expensive.

A GoFundMe page has been established to help the high school junior attend the conference, with a goal of raising $5,000.

No matter what, her teacher says, nothing will stop Aubrey from reaching her goal of a career in medicine.

"Nobody can do it for you," Aubrey said. "If you want it you have to do it."