I have been a member of Health Occupations Students of America​ (HOSA) all four years of my high school career. Along with being in the club I have taken three healthcare classes over the last three years. I have learned so much about healthcare. In HOSA we focus on things that healthcare focuses on such as helping others in need. We have done food and book drives and sponsored children during the holiday. As a club we not only strive to learn about healthcare we also strive to make a difference in our community. Being in HOSA has given me the opportunity to surround myself with people who have similar interests as me and similar goals in life.
Honors Work Based Learning
I was accepted into the Honors Work Based Learning Program my senior year of high school. The program is an addition to the Work Based Learning Program offered at my school to select students. In order to become a member you must have an identified career goal, completed or enrolled in a pathway class that is related to your internship, willing to take on the responsibilities of the honors programs, have the requirements for work based learning (GPA, attendance, etc.), and be in other honors classes. When we meet we focus on community service projects and career builders. The program is split into two cohorts: a morning cohort and an afternoon cohort. Depending on when you leave school to go to your internship is what determines which cohort you are in. Since I report to my internship in the afternoon I am in the afternoon cohort. My cohort has adopted two community service projects: Backpack Love and Our Neighbors Inc. To read more about our involvement click here. The career builders we have been working on include our resumes and e-portfolios.
When I came to high school as a freshman my school offered a club called Partners Club. This year we are now called Anchor Club and are part of the nationwide club. The club is about working with and building relationships with the special needs students at our school. We get together and do community service activites together. We also have gone grocery shopping to prepare for a picnic. Each of the kids had to calculate how much we would need of one item and how much it would cost. Being in this club has given me the ability to make great relationships and shown me how much being kind to someone can impact their lives.
Youth Leadership Hall
I was recommended for the Youth Leadership Hall program my junior year of high school by one of my teachers. I then had to complete and application with teacher recommendations and complete an interview. I was later accepted into the program for my senior year of high school. The program includes juniors and seniors in high school and teaches us about our local government and economy and how we can one day help it reach its potential when our generation is running everything. We met once a month and learned about a different aspect of our county/state each time. Some of the things we did were going to the capital, local businesses, and learning about etiquette and how to dress in the business world. The program has taught me a variety of things about how our local government and economy operates on a daily basis. It has helped me learn more about the professional business world and given me tips on how to do better in interviews and getting my first real job.
When I was in 8th grade I applied to the Renaissance Academy of Creative Enterprises (RACE). I got accepted and have been in the program my whole high school career. The program accepts on average 50 students each year. It helps each student hone their skills and talents. It provides students with ways to work through real world problems. The program holds a high standard of rigor and pushes students to excel to their highest capability. This program has given me numerous opportunities to learn what my passions are, become educated on them, and make a plan to incorporate them in my life. It has helped me learn what hard work is and why it should be celebrated.
High School Ethical Leadership Program
I completed the two course ethical leadership program for high school students my senior year in high school. Each course was held at The University of North Georgia in Dahlonega and taught by one of the business professors. The courses consisted of talking about what ethics were and how they are part of our everyday life and decision making process. We learned about how they effect us and shape who we are. The professor asked us all to think about what we value most and try to see how they play a role in our ethics. In the second course we had to read two articles. One was about driverless cars and the other one was about Harvard taking back the acceptance of students based on social media posts. They split us all into groups and we had to have a representative from each group go up and debate each topic. It was a fantastic exercise to show how everyone has different ethics. It helped me see the world from different views and even reevaluate some of my own initial thoughts.
Extracurricular Activities
HOSA
Partners/Anchor Club
RACE Program
