Buhach Colony High School recently hosted a regional Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) Officer Retreat. The event was attended by 56 student leaders and 10 advisors from across the region with a focus on leadership, collaboration and connection.

 

HOSA is a student-led club that prepares young people for a career in the medical field. For many of the students, the retreat was more than an opportunity to learn about their responsibilities as HOSA chapter officers. It was a chance to meet fellow student leaders, exchange ideas and realize they were part of something much bigger than their individual campuses.

 

“The goal for the event was to bring student leaders from across the region together to build their leadership skills, better understand their roles and responsibilities as HOSA chapter officers,” said Jenna Ipock, BCHS CTE Health Science Teacher.

 

Buhach Colony HOSA president Lynn Hill enjoyed getting to know some new faces. “It's been really fun,” Hill said. “I've gotten to meet a lot of people. I haven't really gotten out in HOSA yet since this is my second year, and it was really fun planning for (the event), knowing I'd meet a lot more people.” 

 

The retreat was a great opportunity to connect because many of the participating schools are newer chapters or chapters with new advisors or new officers. Organizers wanted to provide students with practical tools and real-world guidance they could take back to their campuses and use throughout the year. The event was designed to help students build relationships with students from other chapters. “We wanted students to see that they are a part of a larger regional HOSA community, not just their individual chapters,” Ipock said.

 

Students attended presentations, but also actively participated in hands-on activities. Students were encouraged to work with their own chapters and officer teams, as well as in mixed-school groups. “One of my biggest takeaways has been learning how different schools run their chapters and how they work together to create opportunities for different students and help build leadership skills for them,” said Golden Valley HOSA president Jazmin Morales. 

 

There were leadership sessions that included mock meeting scenarios that gave students the opportunity to practice running effective meetings. There were icebreakers that helped students form new friendships with students from other schools and they also participated in team-building exercises.

 

“From the feedback given and talking with the students, they left with a clearer understanding of what it means to serve as a HOSA officer and how they can make a meaningful impact within their chapter and their campuses,” Ipock said.

 

Students were able to practice their public speaking and worked together to set goals for their chapters. Students also exchanged contact information with students from other schools, collaborated on Tik Toks and brainstormed other events they could work together on. One such event will be another regional gathering in December for a White Elephant party at Le Grand High School.

 

One of the most rewarding moments for Ipock was watching the transformation that took place throughout the day. “The students went from arriving not knowing anyone to leaving with 50-plus new friends,” Ipock said. “Seeing the students from all the MUHSD campuses come together and collaborate was amazing.”

 

Joining HOSA has been a rewarding experience for Golden Valley student Juan Badillo. “I joined HOSA because I wanted to open myself to more healthcare opportunities, and I found this as a really good way to improve my leadership skills and learn more about the healthcare pathway as well. I feel like this club not only focuses on health healthcare, but it also helps improve leadership and different skills that you can use for when you grow up.” 

 

The goal is for students to return to their campuses with renewed confidence and energy for the year ahead. “Our hope is that these students return to their campuses feeling more confident in their leadership roles and excited to bring new ideas and energy to their chapters,” Ipock said.

Shawn Jansen is the MUHSD Program Manager Digital Media. He can be reached at Sjansen@muhsd.org.