From Fitting In To Standing Out

Coming into High School I had just one goal: fit in. I wanted to find friends and get by with good grades. But of course I was interested in medicine so I became involved in the Health Careers Academy, where I began my transformation from fitting in to standing out. Coming from a huge school made it difficult to stand out among others. There were so many inspiring students and I wanted Amy Kelley to be one of them.

All of my friends raved about HOSA, how it was so much fun and you had to do it. If you would have told me my freshman year that I would be speaking in front of hundreds of people and leading an organization with a team of eight other individuals, my reply would have gone something like this, "You're crazy." But then I saw it for myself. Walking into my first State Leadership Conference and seeing the frenzy of blue suits, students preparing for competitive events, and  young leaders on the stage speaking as if we were just friends and not a crowd of 2,000 HOSA members.

 In my mind it was so insane, scary to even think of something like this, but I grew to love HOSA, it became my passion, it was where I fit in. I thought about state office that year and when my advisor asked the chapter, "Is there anyone interested in running for state office?" my hand felt like it weighed 3 million pounds when I raised it and asked to run. From that point on I was determined to stand out, to be someone unique.

The day before I won my election I sat at the President's breakfast and talked with a chapter president who told me that being a state officer is not about being known or getting credit, but serving the members behind the scenes, when they aren't looking. I take this to heart and every day I serve as an officer, I question not just how my decisions will affect myself but also the members of my region.  

Standing on stage with my newly elected team I heard my favorite thing about HOSA, screams and cheers enveloping the entire room. Cheers from my chapter, my friends, and my region. They had taken a leap of faith and voted me in; they chose me to be their voice.

Every time I speak to a crowd I feel as though I am raising my 3 million pound hand at that meeting where I decided to become an officer, although I am shy and nervous, I took a step up when I decided to stop fitting in and start standing out, striving to make Cal-HOSA better everyday.