First year of health program HOSA

Holt High school brings HOSA program to the school for the first year

Mariahna hatfield STAFF WRITER

People who may be interested in a professional health career in the future have an opportunity to take part in a student-run health professions organization called Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA).

HOSA is a program that encourages students to go further in their life with a health services career.

According to hosa.org, its goal is entirely in empowering future health professionals, pushing them to be leaders in the global health community through one’s education and collaboration through their experience.

Health teacher and HOSA advisor Allison Ferris explained how HOSA is beneficial for students’ futures.

“Academically, HOSA allows students to learn more about health careers, meet health professionals, that is 100% health care,” Ferris said.

Already this year, HOSA has worked with Gift of Life and educated the public about organ donation. They also plan on taking a visit to a state forensic lab, a fire station and ambulance tour, and potentially even visiting the Gift of Life headquarters in Ann Arbor.

In the program, they complete multiple activities followed by many different trips and learning experiences.

Students get to take part in activities there that they may not do in a normal everyday class, like their involvement with Gift of Life.

This allows students to meet new people who may be interested in the same things as they are, giving them the opportunity to create new bonds and friendships.

Junior Crystine Guo expressed how she feels about the program and the participate in service-learning projects, gain leadership skills, compete and be recognized in health events, network with future employers and earn scholarships.

If anything at all, it exposes them to more opportunities to learn about health skills and career choices outside of the classroom. Just another way kids can get involved through an extracurricular,” said Ferris.

Participating in this program could help students learn more about something they may be interested in, but aren’t completely sure about.

According to Ferris, there are a variety of topics taught through HOSA that could benefit students with figuring out what direction to go with their health careers.

“HOSA was designed for students to get more exposure to health sciences outside of the courses they take here at Holt. It is the only professional student organization different aspects that have benefited her from participating in this club.

“There are a few people that I’ve become closer with because we share the same interests. A few members have classes with me, and they have started talking to me more,” said Guo.

Participating in this program could help to build interest in a health career or build upon the interests a student already has.

There are different steps to take to reach further and succeed further in the program, helping to lead students on to college, a job and life outside of school.

The program will teach students different learning experiences and how to handle different situations that could happen if one were to follow their health career

HOSA also gives students the opportunity to participate in competitions that imitate real world situations.

Participants test their knowledge in a certain medical field. They have six different categories they split their competition into: Health science, Health Professions, Emergency preparedness, Teamwork, recognition and Leadership.

Each of these competitions tests participants on their learning capabilities in those situations.

HOSA has been around nationally, since 1976, but in Michigan, 1981. Schools all around Michigan have been starting the program in their schools, but this is Holt’s first year introducing it.

Students are allowed to participate in this program at any point in their high school career, but in order to be a full time yearly member of the program, a $20 fee would be required. Contact Ferris in room E119 for more information on joining HOSA.