Long Live Rebekah

Rebekah Catron

President

Future health professional

HOSA in One Word: 

"HOSA Means confidene, passion, and hope"

The last state officer I get to write about is the amazing Rebekah Catron, our state president. She is currently attending Westmont college as a biology major. She is one of the most energetic and fun people you will ever meet. She is always in a good mood but knows when he needs to be serious. She is a phenominal leader

To Rebekah HOSA Means confidene, passion, and hope. Her favorite thing about HOSA is the wide variety of events that build skills and leadership. She lose the real life expertise that it gives the members. Her favorite thing about being a state officer is being able to take what the members want an make it a reality. Rebekah always work to help the members and does an excellent job leading our team.

This year Rebekah has had a large impact on each of the officers. One of the most important things Rebekah teaches everyone is to be the best leader you can. She always works to help each officer reach their fullest potential. Another great thig Rebekah teaches everyone is the importance of a positive outlook. Despite te struggles she goes through, Rebekah faces every day with a smile. She is always happy to meet new people and have new experiences. She works with a smile on her face and a dream in her heart. She is a wonderful person and I am so happy to have experienced her amazing effect on others.

Rebekah's advice to the members is "Set a goal and go for it. Don’t let anyone stop you"

Kyle's Story

Kyle Damron

President-Elect

Future Medical School Professor 

HOSA in one word: Transformative

"HOSA leaves me speechless"

The current president-elect is the amazing Kyle Damron. Kyle is currently studying for his future as a medical school professor at Sierra college. Kyle is one of the most passionate, inspirational people I have ever met. He is constantly working for the good of others and will always give you 100%

To Kyle HOSA means family. When he is a part of HOSA he feels like he is a part of something much bigger. Kyle's favorite thing about HOSA is being a part of an organization with a common goal. He loves that there are thousands of members across the country that are all working towards bettering the world through our futures as health professionals. His favorite thing about being a state officer is being able to inspire and empower a future group of leaders.

Kyle has taught me so many things. He has taught me to work hard and take initiative. He has shown me the importance of communication and offering help. Most importantly, he has taught me the importance of passion and serving others. I remember when I first met Kyle at my Regional Leadership Conference. He was so excited to be there and be interacting with the members. I still remember him listening to me like I was the only thing that mattered as I prattled on about something implement unimportant. He never stopped me or interrupted me, he interacted with me and made me feel important. I remember watching him and thinking I wanted to be able to do that. His dedication to the members is one if his best qualities and his passion for others is beyond anything I have ever seen. He is one of the biggest reasons I became a state officer and my life is so much better because I met him.

Kyle's advice to all of his members is "Make every effort to avoid being satisfied, even when you think you’ve made it learn how to question your contentment because contentment will compromise your poteintial"

Kryz's Korner

Kryz Noack

Vice President of Membership

Future Doctor

HOSA in One Word: Opportunistic

“I love helping people”

The current Vice President of Membership is one of a kind. She is smart, fun, entertaining, and all around amazing. Kryz Noack is one of the most wonderful individuals you will ever meet. She serves Cal-HOSA as a part of John Muir Health HOSA. She is currently studying to become a doctor and hopes to one day work in the emergency room. She loves everything about HOSA and all it has to offer its members

To Kryz HOSA means student leaders. As a part of HOSA she knows that the students want to go for it in the health care. She believes HOSA is a place for leadership and a place to understand the professional, realistic side of the world. Her favorite thing about HOSA is that it exists to help student get real world experience. She loves the real world applications it has for its members. As a state officer Kryz loves leading and helping all of Cal-HOSA’s great members!

Kryz is a phenomenal member and an excellent leader. She offers so much to so many and will never say no when you need her. She shows the team professionalism, hard work, commitment, dedication, and perseverance. Above all else, Kryz teaches the importance of helping others. Kryz is always one of the first people to offer assistance and will always be there when you need her. She outs HOSA first and helping her team, chapter, and members throughout the state is one of her favorite things to do. Kryz is a remarkable person and when she touches your life you know it has been changed for the better

Amit Who?

Amitoj Sandhu

Vice President of Leadership

Future Physician

HOSA in One Word: Unique

Amitoj Sandhu is a hard person to forget about. Amit serves as Cal-HOSA’s Vice President of Leadership from Ohlone College where he is studying to be a physician. Amit is an incredible individual. He is charismatic, fun, and an amazing person to be around. He loves serving Cal-HOSA and we love having him

For Amit  hosa is an opportunity, an opportunity for people to find out who they are in the best way possible, in their best form. Where they can become the best leaders possible. Where every member can realize their potential to become a leader. His favorite thing about Cal-HOSA is Being able to meet so many passionate and driven student dedicated to the same vision as he is. Students who inspire him to be the best Amit possible. He loves serving as a state officer because it gives him a chance to take his commitment to HOSA to the next level and the opportunity to impact HOSA in his own way.

Amit has done so much for our organization and has taught our team a variety of lessons. He has helped us understand the importance of teamwork, speaking up, and patience. One of the biggest thing Amit has taught me is the importance of fun. Amit shows everyone that even in the most serious situations there is still room for a little fun. It can be as simple as cracking a joke or giving a hug. He has a way of lifting up spirits and making everyone happy to be there. He shows us that you can be fun and professional at the same time. Amitoj Sandhu has been a pleasure to work with and I would never trade the experience.

Amit’s Advice to the members is to do your best because each of you has the potential to be great. All you have to do is try and give it your everything… You just have to believe in yourself

Albert the Great

Alberto Vargas

Region 5 Vice President

Future Health Professional

Albert Vargas is the current Region 5 Vice President. He is almost ready to graduate from Southwest High School and is very excited about his future as a health professional. Albert is the kind of person who will always surprise you. He is quiet and thoughtful in meetings and fun and talkative with friends. He loves the gym and is insanely smart. He is the kind of person who breaks every stereotype you throw at him

Albert has taught the entire team a lot of things by just being himself. He shows us the importance of careful thought and thinking through things on a regular basis. He teaches us the importance of health. One huge thing he teaches us is to put yourself out there and break the stereotypes. He shows us that nothing should stop you from going after what you want. He never lets fear or negative people get in his way. He is always striving for the best and it has been an honor to serve with him.

Life with Camille

Camille Cooley

Region 4 Vice President

Future Doctor

HOSA in One Word: Enlightening

“All of my friends come from HOSA”

The current Region 4 Vice President is the Amazing Camille Cooley. Ms. Cooley is currently studying at Cerritos High School. She hopes to one day become a doctor serving with a non-profit organization such as Doctors Without Borders. She is very excited about her future and it definitely show through. Camille is bright, hardworking, and she never stops heading for her goals. She an independent individual who always pushes herself to be the best. These great qualities have made her an excellent student, leader, and state officer

To Camille HOSA means having the opportunity to not only learn about people but to learn about yourself as well. She loves the journey HOSA puts you on and how much you can see yourself grow and learn throughout your time with HOSA. Her favorite thing about HOSA is the people you get to connect with. She says “all of my friend come from HOSA. We all like the same things and love the organization”. As a state officer Camille loves knowing that she has  an opportunity to make a difference and doing it with people you enjoy working with. She is so excited to be a part of this years.

Overall, throughout the year Camille has taught the entire team so many things. She shows us what hard work and dedication to your studies can accomplish. She shows us that if you manage your time well you can have time for everything. Most importantly, she shows us the importance of embracing yourself. When camille talks about something she loves you can hear the passion in her voice. She will always express her passions even if no one else appreciates the same things she does. She is proud of who she is and it always show through. Camille Cooley is a remarkable individual and an amazing person to work with. I am so happy to have met her and been allowed to serve on the same team as her.

All About Amy

Amy Kelley

Region 3 Vice President

Future Nurse Practitioner

HOSA in one word: Leadership

“To understand the meaning of HOSA

you must first understand the meaning of life”

Amy Kelley is this year’s Cal-HOSA Region 3 Vice President. She is Currently preparing for her future as a nurse practitioner at Palmdale High school. She hopes to someday work in the oncology department at Children’s Hospital in Los Angles. She is an amazing individual who’s wonderful personality shines in everything she does. She works extremely hard for HOSA on all levels and is an amazing individual

To Amy HOSA means an opportunity to become a leader as well as a professional and to expand your way of thinking. She loves the opportunities presented by Cal-HOSA and encourages everyone to take advantage of them. Her favorite thing about HOSA is all the wonderful people she meets. Whether it's forming bonds with members, advisors, or students Amy is always happy to meet a new person and make a new friend.One of her favorite things about being a state officer is not only getting a chance to connect with so many people, but also being able to help them the same way previous state officers helped her. She is so proud to have been chosen for this amazing position and to have been given the opportunity to represent so many wonderful students.

Amy is one of the most amazing individuals you will ever meet. She is funny, crazy, and absolutely fantastic. One of the biggest things she teaches everyone who knows her is to never be afraid to be yourself. She teaches confidence and independence. Amy never doubts who she is and is always proud of herself. She will always love herself no matter what and will never let anyone tell her that she shouldn’t. Her self-confidence and independence is something everyone should hope to one day obtain. She is a remarkable girl and has absolutely changed my life for the better.

Amy’s biggest piece of advice to members is that if at any point in life if you have an opportunity to do something you should always take it, because you may never have that opportunity again.

The Amazing Nelish

This year as Region 1 Vice President has been an amazing experience. I have had so many amazing chances to learn and grow throughout the year. During this year I have had the pleasure of working with an amazing group of individuals. I have chosen to create a blog post for each of the phenomenal group of individuals on my State Officer Team so you can see them the way I do and understand what fantastic people they are! So let's start it off with a post about Region 2 Vice President Nelish Ardeshna.

Nelish Ardeshna

Region 2 Vice President

Future medical scientist

HOSA in one word: family

Nelish Ardeshna is the current Cal-HOSA region 2 Vice President. He is studying for his future as a medical scientist at U.C. San Diego. Nelish works extremely hard in his studies and as a member of our state officer team. He has accomplished amazing things on this year’s team and will continue to do so throughout his life.

To Nelish HOSA means preparing for the future. It is working towards the life you want and never giving up. His favorite thing about HOSA is meeting so many great people on the path to his future. Nelish's favorite thing about being a state officer is working, traveling, and being friends with a great group of people. Nelish loves Cal-HOSA and everything it has to offer. He has definitely shown the members and the state officer team his commitment to Cal-HOSA.

This year Nelish has taught me so much, but if there is anything that had been engraved into my mind it is the importance of commitment. Nelish pushes himself to do so many things and come through beautifully. Ha has showed me the importance of pursuing an education and creating time to do the things love. Nelish has also taught me that you have to find balance in your life. He has shown me that it is always possible to do what you are passionate about as long as you work to make the time and if you don't feel it's worth your time you shouldn't commit to it. Nelish shows the entire team that hard work and time management are some of life's most important skills and that you should always honor your commitments.

Nelish's advice to all of his members is to always have fun.

Risk and Reward

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you finally did that one thing you have always been terrified to do. Maybe it’s auditioning for a play or raising your hand in class. Maybe it’s telling someone you like them or going out of your way to talk to someone new. There are little things in life that will trip us up and it is important to have the courage to work around the fear and do it anyway.

Why are people so afraid? Why don’t they just do it? Maybe they're worried about how someone will react. I know I won’t walk up to my crush and tell them I like them because I’m worried they’ll laugh in my face. Maybe they're worried about what other will think about them. I remember all the times I was terrified to speak in front of a crowd because I was afraid they wouldn't like me. Maybe they think a certain way about themselves because of years of societal pressure to think that way. Not many girls have the confidence to wear a bikini to the beach because they don’t have the “ideal body” society has described to them. I certainly  get nervous about being judged for the way I look. There are so many reasons to be frightened of doing simple things because people are worried

But isn't the reward worth the risk sometimes? Imagine how it will feel if you can look back in twenty years and remembering the day you told your spouse you had a crush on them. Think about how great it would be to get the main lead in a play or be able to sing the star spangled banner in front of everyone even though you were terrified to audition. Some of the world’s greatest accomplishments were done despite the fear that was felt. If America’s founders had been too afraid to sign the Declaration of Independence there would be no USA. If Rosa Parks had never started the bus boycott where would civil rights be? If great leaders throughout history had let a little fear get in their way then the world would be a much different place. It is easy to be afraid. It is harder to push through that fear, but it isn't impossible

"Safety is a myth. Risk is reality. Fear is the mind killer.     
Seize the day. Take the road less traveled. Dare to be different. 
Nothing ventured, nothing gained. The adventure is within.   
Boldness has magic. Take the first step" 

Maybe it’s time to take a risk! Maybe it’s time to go out and try something new and reach out of your comfort zone. Here’s my goal! I’m going to do at least one thing that scares me each week. I’m going to to take a chance and see if my reward is bigger than the risk I’m taking. This week I will venture out of my comfort zone and talk to a random student at my school and try to make a new friend. What about you? What risk do you want to take? What risks have paid off for you in the past?

           

The Fear of Judgement

I’ll be the first to admit what my biggest fear is being judged. It’s scary to think that people might be talking behind your back or that someone doesn't like you. It’s not fun to be constantly worried about your appearance, the way you talk, and the way you act. I feel like my entire life has been focused on being who everybody else wants me to be because I’m terrified of being judged for being myself. But recently I have discovered the importance of being yourself despite what others think.

The truth is there is no one out there who is like you. There is no one who thinks the same way, likes the same things, and has the same way of doing things. We are all individuals and we each add something to society. The world needs every one's personal touch. If we live our lives focused on being who society wants we will all end up as mindless zombies doomed to spend our lives pleasing others. How can we do that to ourselves? We are individuals and we need to start acting like it.

Do you remember when you were in second grade and if you wanted to wear a tiara or crazy hat to school then you would wear it! You would raise your hand in class because you weren't afraid of being called a nerd. You didn't care if your hair was messed up as long as you got to play in the dirt! In second grade we didn't care about being judged. We were so confident in who we were that other’s opinion just didn't matter. Why did we change? When did we start being who others wanted instead of being ourselves?

I want to go back to being me without being afraid. So I’m done being afraid of being judged and you should be too. Embrace everything that makes you and individual. If you love wearing cowboy boots then wear them! Wear your favorite shirt even if it is totally “last season”. If you love school and learning then start raising your hand and stop worrying about being called a nerd. If you're a boy who loves dancing or a girl who loves football then show off your passion and talent. If you have something to say don’t worry about what other people will think about it. Stop worrying about what others will think about you and add your own touch to the world because the world definitely needs it. So comment and tell me how you're going to make your true self shine?

Time To Compete

Competition

Compete, compete, compete! It seems like competition is the main focus of our lives. We are constantly competing. We all want to be the star player on the sports team or have the highest rank in our class. From the time we started out we have been competing. We even compete in HOSA! But there’s something a little different about HOSA competitions. We don’t just compete to prove we’re the best. We compete to learn skills and gain knowledge. So here are a few tips on how to succeed in your HOSA Competition.

1) Pick a competition you're interested in: If you love to write then you’re more likely to enjoy extemporaneous writing than you are extemporaneous health poster. The more interested you are in something, the more likely you are to practice for the competition.

2) Challenge yourself: If you find your competition way to easy then you’re more likely to get bored with it or stop working to get better. If you pick a competition that is a little more challenging you're more likely to succeed

3) Practice! Practice! Practice!: The more you practice the better you will do in your competition, but be careful not to burn yourself out

4) Find a study system that works for you: Everyone likes to study differently. Maybe you hate quizzing yourself. Try finding a friend to quiz you. Do you hate memorizing facts? try making up a song or a funny story to remember them.

5) Relax: Everyone wants to do well in competition but you want to make sure you don't let the stress get to you.

6) HAVE FUN!: Winning is great, but it’s not everything. The point of our competitions is to learn skills and gain knowledge. Have fun learning everything you can!

Overall competing is a fantastic experience! It gives students a great chance to learn and thrive. If you have any competition tips or questions please feel free to comment and share them. I hope everyone has a great time and best of luck in your competitions!

The Truth About Bullying

Recently I had the extraordinary experience to go to an assembly and hear from Teen Truth. This assembly was all about how we make people feel different and bully others. It’s an amazing presentation that take these problems and gives teens a voice on them. So here’s my truth.

I’VE BEEN BULLIED. I've been called names like fatty, brat, and other slanderous terms. I've been EXCLUDED and shut-out. I've been pushed and shoved for no good reason. People have spread rumors about me and told lies. Others have made me feel like I DON'T MATTER. They have made me feel like nothing. They have HURT ME in one way or another. I’ve been bullied-but so have a lot of other people.

Others have been OUTCASTED and pushed around. They have been treated differently because of race, sexual orientation, and disability. They have been pushed, hit, and kicked. . They have been lied to and lied about. They have been made fun of because of the way they look, talk, and behave. They have had their REPUTATION DESTROYED and their CONFIDENCE STRIPPED. In some way or another EVERYONE HAS BEEN BULLIED

But most people don’t just get bullied, they have BEEN A BULLY. They have said a rude comment. They have called someone a mean name. They have left someone out. They have JUDGED SOMEONE and talked about them behind their back. They have heard or even spread the rumors. They have has stood by and DONE NOTHING. At some point in time EVERYBODY HAS BULLIED.

So here's what I'm doing. I'm becoming a better person. I'm done talking about others behind their back. I will stand up against the bullies I see. I won’t walk by people who look upset. I will be kind to others. I will TELL THE TRUTH. What about you? How have you been bullied? How have you bullied others? How will you change? Share your truth about bullying with me in the comments.

Speak Up and Be Heard

     Speaking isn't always easy. It means getting up in front of people and trying to explain your own thoughts for them to judge. The idea of doing that is scary to a lot of people, including me. There is always a chance that someone will argue or talk back or ask questions or judge you. It’s frightening to think about how people will see your ideas. Will they agree? Will they understand? What will they think? When you speak up you put yourself out there to be judged and the idea of doing that can be absolutely terrifying.

     So why do we do it? Why is speaking out and sharing your opinion valued so highly in our lives? We do it because we believe in a system. We believe that if you share your thoughts they will be heard. Even if there are questions and people telling you you're wrong somewhere there is a person who understands and you've planted a seed in their head. We believe ideas are collective. That what we think comes from what we experience, understand, and from others opinions. If you don’t share your opinion then how can you be sure others will form there’s? If nobody ever shares then people will never be able to formulate their own opinions again and we will be forever stuck in the exact way we are thinking now. Lastly, we believe in being heard. We believe that every individual’s idea has some value because every individual thinks differently. Overall there are a variety of reasons that people believe it is important to share your opinions.

     But having good reasons to share doesn't make speaking out any less frightening. Getting up in front of people and speaking terrifies me. I’m always worried I’ll mess up and say the wrong thing or that people will lose interest. So how do you conquer the fear? The truth is there are different ways to conquer the fear because there are different reasons people get scared. Maybe you think you’ll say the wrong word. If so, one thing to do is work on your confidence and practice what you want to say. The best advice I can give you is that if you mess up just keep going. The mistakes you make may be huge to you, but most people won't notice them. Now you could worried about people losing interest. A great way to become a more dynamic and entertaining speaker is to practice. Stand in front of a mirror and talk about random topics. Focus on the way you look and sound and make adjustments. What if your worried about what people will think about what you say? The truth is people will always judge what you say, but the way you say it can make a big difference. If you speak with confidence and passion then people will listen and value your opinion, even when they don’t agree with it. The most important things to remember when your speaking are to be confident in yourself and your opinions, to focus on what matters, and to relax and trust in your own abilities. Realistically, speaking up is scary, but if we never worked to persevere and overcome our fears then we would never accomplish anything. So please comment and share with me some of the techniques you use to overcome the fear.

The HOSA Journey

With the new year starting and everyone gearing up for the State Leadership Conference in a few months, the HOSA year is in full swing. Its times like these that it’s nice to take a step back and look at the great things that HOSA has done for you throughout the years. HOSA is such a great experience for everyone who joins. It gives students confidence, skills, and empowers them to do phenomenal things. In the years I have been in HOSA I have learned so many wonderful skills and met so many fantastic people. When I first started HOSA I had just switched to a new school and I didn’t feel like I belonged anywhere. I felt like a complete outsider. I walked up to a teacher and told them I wanted to go into the medical field and they told me to join Medical Pathways and join HOSA. Making the choice to join was the best decision I ever made. When I first started out I was just another student. I had ideas to share and things to say, but I refused to stand up and speak out. I knew what I wanted to be but no idea how to get there.

When I first started I was completely out of place in a new environment with no idea what to do or how to get to where I wanted to be. Now that I’ve been in HOSA my entire life has changed.  Now that I’m here my perspectives have changed. I don’t just try to meet new people throughout my school but from all of California and the rest of the nation. The girl that once refused to speak up is a state officer.  I share ideas constantly and talk to large groups without batting an eye. I may not know the exact path I’m going to take, but I have the resources to get to my destination. I’m not just another student, I’m a HOSA member and I have never felt better about who I am. I’m not going to lie and say the path here was easy. It was challenging and I stumbled throughout it but it’s the stumbles and conquering the challenges that make the experience memorable. So tell me, what's your HOSA experience and what has it done for you?