After nearly two months of filling out applications, preparing for interviews and campaigning, Lambert Future Health Professionals of America (HOSA) has selected its new officer team for the upcoming school year. This includes the two Co-Presidents, Jacqueline Nguyen and Anushka Nag, Vice President Vishesh Sood and multiple Comp Chairs and Lieutenant officers. This process, while known for being extremely rigorous, gives students a chance to become a leader in one of the most renowned organizations in the country.
HOSA is a club designed to prepare students for future careers in healthcare fields, especially through competitions and leadership. It also highlights community service, hosting many fundraisers and volunteer opportunities throughout the year.
Officers serve as leaders in the club. They organize events, host meetings, and do their best to ensure each member feels included and supported. Each officer has a specific role in running the club. For example, Lieutenant officers are a key part of the team. They take on multiple responsibilities, assisting both other officers and general members in various tasks. This includes doing small parts of other officer’s tasks and giving information and updates to members.
“What a lieutenant does is that they are technically a grade representative, so people first go to you before they go to an actual officer, and then we also just help the officers,” Lieutenant Officer Ria Punukollu explained.
However, the journey to becoming an officer is very long and challenging. Students must first fill out a detailed application, emphasizing their involvement in the club, leadership experience and ideas for improving the chapter. From there, a select few move on to the next step: interviews. This can be a tough process as students are expected to answer questions confidently and thoughtfully, all while thinking quickly under pressure. After interviews, candidates begin campaigning, which is often the most exciting part for them. It allows students to connect with others and showcase their talents.
“For campaigning…when they do the hallway campaigning, they tell about what their plans are, what they would like to do to improve HOSA and that sort of thing,” HOSA advisor Mrs. Tracy Floyd said.
There are many different ways students can campaign, including posting on social media and putting up flyers around the school. These methods allow candidates to express their views to a large audience, while being creative and drawing people in. Additionally, a few days before voting occurs, students set up tri-fold presentation boards in the hallways, which show their experiences and goals. During this time, members can talk to the candidates and learn about their approach to becoming an officer. These presentations can be extremely beneficial because it allows the candidates to build connections with students, which is the goal of the entire campaigning process.
Additionally, as advisors watch the progress and candidates, they are looking for officers that fit in well with the team and can lead. Officers are expected to be approachable, good communicators and be able to manage a team.
“We want somebody who is an independent thinker, they’re motivated. They don’t have to be directed at each step,” Mrs. Floyd explained. “They can take on a project and then they can delegate to other members of the team.”
Students often find the process of applying to become an officer long and stressful, but despite this, many of them pull it off. They find the reward of being a leader outweighs the stress of the process. Through making connections with voters and acquiring necessary skills over the months, the new officers have earned the title and responsibilities of being a leader. Each officer is dedicated to using their voice to make sure people feel seen in the club and do their part to ensure HOSA continues to thrive for years to come.
