For the last several years, our school has had a state representative in the Future Health Professionals (HOSA) committee. This year, seniors Sahara Garcia and Grace Cho continued that legacy, occupying two out of the six state officer spots. 

According to the HOSA website, it is a global student-led organization that empowers future health professionals to become leaders and actively promotes career opportunities. 

“With the roles and positions that I carry in HOSA, I have become a better leader and will continue to grow,” Garcia said. “More than anything, HOSA in itself is an opportunity for anyone who is interested in the healthcare field but to me it is one that opened my eyes and solidified my career choice.”

Garcia is the President of PHS’ HOSA chapter and she is also the Representative of Information and Recognition at the state level, where she will be upholding the recognition program set in place last year as well as making a monthly newsletter for the HOSA members. 

“Being a State Officer comes with a lot of planning and responsibility,” Garcia said. “There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes, and that is something that not everyone understands.”

Cho is the Vice President of PHS’ HOSA chapter. She has also taken the role of Representative of Relations at the state level. In this role, Cho will work with external partners to strengthen those relationships along with handling some events and managing social media. 

“These positions are meaningful to me because they allow me to contribute significantly to the growth and improvement of Kansas HOSA,” Cho said. “I will be enhancing communication and collaboration among members.” 

This is Garcia’s fourth year in HOSA, starting out as just a regular member, but wanting to do more. 

“To me, becoming a State Officer and President of our schools’ chapter was a grand accomplishment,” Garcia said. “I wanted to become a leader because of how helpful HOSA is to students. You get so many opportunities and learning experiences that you would not get elsewhere unless you were taking a class through healthcare or shadowing around town.” 

The positions that the two girls hold have provided them chances to expand their skill sets. 

“[These positions] have provided me with invaluable opportunities to grow as a leader, both at my school and on a state level,” Cho said. “It allows me to develop my leadership skills, build professional and personal relationships, and ensure that our members experience a supportive and successful environment.”

After being elected in March, the officers attended monthly meetings starting in May and attended a Career Technical Student Organization event in Topeka to learn how to lead the state HOSA organization. 

“[We do this] so that our members can trust us with whatever they need,” Garcia said. “Because at the end of the day, all of us on the team get elected to represent our members and we try to find ways to make learning fun and exciting.”

These events help all the officers learn how to use their positions to better their state chapter and individual chapters.

“I am dedicated to making HOSA better for current and future members, and these roles embody my commitment to smoothing the path for others, showing that leadership is about responsibility and service rather than control,” Cho said. “By serving in these capacities, I am able to represent my peers and my state, working toward a positive impact that reaches beyond our immediate community and elevates the overall HOSA experience.”