HOSA: the future of health professionals and the current passion project of many OHS students. From competitions, student-led meetings and unified goals, HOSA is a CTE program and evolving club that has more to offer than just what is on campus.
Catching more attention than ever, the club seeks accomplishment and growth this 2024-25 school year.
“I think more people know about it; we’ve done more trying to get it out there that HOSA is not just for sports medicine. They have a lot of programs for other aspects of healthcare; Veterinary [interests], EMT, [and more], and knowing that, we’ve been able to grab a lot more people,” said Akayla Dolezal, Sports Medicine teacher and HOSA advisor.
With more eyes on the program and students joining, HOSA is on the rise of setting a new reputation and raising expectations for the OHS brand.
“I’ve been organizing all the meetings, organizing fundraisers, getting together lists of all the people who go on the field trips. This year there’s actually like 120 members, which is the most that we’ve ever had, which is really good,” said Emma Hesse, senior, HOSA president.
With a competition based program, advantageous students across campus invest their talents, time, and efforts into succeeding within the club. Although open to anyone, HOSA requires the aspiration and motivation of OHS’ best to move up the ranks within the program.
“As much as you put into it is how much you’ll get out of it; you can do the bare minimum, show up to the meetings, and just take your tests, but you’re not going to get as rewarded from the club as someone who is committed to their events and really putting in everything that they can to gain the full experience of what HOSA has to offer,” said Ryan Morris, senior, HOSA secretary.
Between internal and external competitions, both state and international, this year brings a new hope and sense of determination that is sure to be bright, and sets the club apart from previous years.
“I would say their enthusiasm; I think before, they just wanted to say they were a part of the club, but I think this year they actually want to do things in it. Whether that’s testing to go to state, or to help with our volunteer drives, I think they are a lot more enthusiastic about being involved,” Dolezal said.
With HOSA being a student-led organization that chases the careers of many students’ prospective futures, it can be intimidating to join, but it never fails to both welcome and push those who take the chance.
“I actually joined late my freshman year, because I decided not to, but then I started hearing good words about it…since then, I’ve become more invested each year. The field trip in the spring down to the Tucson convention center was when I really became a part of the club and when I really felt like it was a home for me,” Morris said.
With a multitude of opportunities, the club pushes its members, and itself as a whole, to prepare throughout the school year to chase their goals, and achieve success wherever they are called to — putting the ‘student’ in ‘student-led’.
“Last year we had one place at nationals, so I would like more to be able to go and place at nationals. Then I know our big goal, there [are] different tiers for HOSA clubs in general, and we want our chapter to reach platinum this year, so that’s our goal, individually and as a club,” said Dolezal.
By setting up OHS students for success within not only their high school careers, but their futures within the medical field, HOSA creates an environment suitable for those who are passionate about finding out what they are good at. Creating excitement around healthcare, and testing the limits of each individual, HOSA produces a beneficiary relationship between student and effort.
“I really feel like I’ve taken more of [a] role, leadership wise, and I’ve had the experience of these four years so I kind of know the direction the club is heading, and I want to set that trajectory up for the next four years, so that everyone can enjoy it,” Morris said.
