HOSA, or Health Occupations Students of America, is a student-led organization focused around health and leadership careers. HOSA is open to high school students, providing an opportunity to expand on skills they might not otherwise get a chance to undertake.
At the start of the school year, students pick from over 80 events such as Interviewing Skills, Clinical Nursery, Biology and more. These events can range anywhere from practicing medical services on dummies to speeches on leadership. Those who choose to compete will prepare for their events over the early months of the school year to get ready for the regional competition.
Because HOSA is so versatile, preparing for competition can look different for many students.
“For health education, I made a presentation about sleep with a group of friends, and we presented it to a fifth-grade class,” said freshman Andrea Skerlos, co-president and founder of CHS’s HOSA program. “We gave them a test before the lesson, then after we took the growth of what they learned and presented that to [the judges] at HOSA.” Skerlos and her team took first at States with the presentation of their sleep study.
CHS science teacher and advisor for HOSA Andrea Adams points out how there is an event for everybody’s interest. Whether you are interested in health, science, leadership, general presenting skills or anything else, there is something for everyone. She finds the skills learned in HOSA are applicable to almost any situation students may find themselves in.
Freshman Annette Dobson founded CHS’s HOSA program with Skerlos. Previously, multiple students split to one of the larger Ann Arbor high schools to compete. The start of the program creates an easier path for them to not only participate but also represent Community High School on a state level.
“I thought, why doesn’t Community have this?” Dobson said. “HOSA is student-led, and Community is a student-led school. Why is the student-led program not at the student-led school?”
Unlike Skerlos, it is Dobson’s first year in HOSA. She has competed in similar programs such as Science Olympiad. Dobson first heard about the program from a friend and immediately became interested.
Although CHS is a small school, leadership is confident that the team has what they need in order to succeed. They believe that the passion and commitment from students of the program are unmatched.
“We thought it might be a really good opportunity for a lot of students at CHS,” Skerlos said. “I know a lot of people here are very self-motivated, and they want to learn. This is a great way to [do so].”
The group urges those who are interested in the program to stop by. Even if you don’t have time to compete, you are invited to come and join the club. CHS HOSA meets on Mondays during lunch in room 315. The HOSA club plans to begin assigning events this fall, with competition season starting the following spring.
“I feel confident that the students are ready to go,” Adams said. “They’re fired up, and they’re gonna do a good job.”
