Future medical professional gets early career start at international competition

This paid piece is sponsored by Bishop O’Gorman Schools.

Many high school students dream of a career in the medical field after graduation, and a nationwide program is helping students make that dream a reality even before they receive their diploma.

HOSA, or Health Occupations Students of America, is an organization that hopes to raise student interest in a future in the medical field and start their foundation of medical knowledge before reaching medical school.

O’Gorman High School had one student attend the International HOSA Leadership Conference this summer as part of her pathway to a medical career. Junior Rayna Schoenfelder shared her story of her journey to the conference and how she hopes to use her skills in the future.

How did you first hear about HOSA?

I first heard of HOSA my eighth grade year and knew immediately it was something I wanted to do. I remember many friends in the group were competing and thought it could be a great opportunity to learn more about where my future lies in the medical field.

Tell us about how HOSA works and your involvement in it.

HOSA includes local and national competitions to test knowledge in a specific medical area. Some events involve a written exam, and others involve a judge watching students carry out a medical task. I decided to compete in the written exam medical terminology category.

How do you prepare for competition?

Whenever I had the time, I would study quizlets I had made or take practice tests from the book I used on medical terminology. I was nervous going into the test because I found out there were more testers this year than in a typical year, but I earned second place! I also qualified for a chance to compete at the International HOSA Leadership Conference this summer. I knew that nationals was going to be somewhat intense, but I felt ready for the challenge.

What was it like to travel to Nashville?

I admit I was a little scared about the trip because it was my first time traveling without my family and I didn’t have any fellow classmates attending. However, my teacher and HOSA adviser, Mrs. Odenbach, was with me every step of the way, and I met so many people from all over the country. It was thrilling to discover the medical passions and interests of students my own age.

At the conference, I had the opportunity to dive deeper into the field and learned more about essential careers that I never imagined would be so interesting and important. I never knew there were so many directions a person could take to become a medical professional! I also learned more about what I can do now to promote better health care. Even though I didn’t make it into the top 10 in my competition event, I felt accomplished coming out of the testing room and felt confident in my ability and what I’ve learned over the past two years. I learned more about my own unique future in the medical field, and that’s an experience that I can never forget.

How has HOSA impacted your planning as you get closer to college?

I’m still uncertain what exactly I want to do in health care. I never really thought of myself as capable of being a medical professional, but HOSA has taught me the medical field isn’t just surgeons, doctors and nurses. I’ve not only learned about the different and special careers that lie in the field, but also learned that I am skilled enough to achieve any career I work toward.

As of now, I’m very interested in med-lab science or research. I love the idea of diagnosing or investigating a problem through scientific testing, really anything that involves using my own knowledge and ideas to find a solution. There are still so many new things and intriguing professions to discover, and I’m so glad I have the opportunities to learn them. I plan to continue HOSA throughout high school and hope to compete in medical terminology again, as well as some new categories. All in all, I’m so grateful I was able to gain so much from one trip and feel closer than ever to a bright future.

If you’d like to learn more about the HOSA program at O’Gorman High School or how you can join the O’Gorman community, please contact the admissions director at [email protected].