Indian Hills’ HOSA (also known as Future Health Professionals) took on their first New Jersey Northern Regional Conference on Saturday, January 20, 2024. Here, they challenged their skills in medical terminology, math, writing, spelling, interviewing, and emergency response.
The team, which was first introduced in the spring of 2023, achieved several wins at the competition. Andrew Jabaly, IHHS HOSA Secretary, commented, “Last spring HOSA was barely an idea while our president, James Sabino, vice president Dan [Zeltzer], and I were searching for an advisor. Being in that auditorium hearing my name called as a finalist with my fellow competitors was almost euphoric. The field experience, networking, and general sense of community at the conference was incredible. It truly is a testament to the dedication our members and officers have to Hills HOSA.”
The competition’s events largely resemble what students may expect in their early years of their career in the medical field, aligning with HOSA’s mission. Ben Gerskowitz, senior, said, “My event was Dental Terminology and I mainly picked it because of my interest in dentistry. It’s something I want to pursue in the future and participating in HOSA was an opportunity to learn more about the profession and actually use what I learned in a competitive setting.” Similarly, Shannon Cassidy, sophomore, stated, “After reading through the other event descriptions I chose the prepared speaking event because it is best suited for skills I want to practice that are useful for leadership and not always taught in a classroom environment. It challenged me in a way I enjoyed preparing for and competing in.” The knowledge gained in preparation for the competition will prepare students better for life after high school.
The preparation for the competition was rigorous, including studying and simulation practice. Iulia Lupean, junior, explained, “I prepared for the competition by practicing with other people in my category after school. We wrote our resumes, personal statements, and revised them, and then practiced on eachother asking potential interview questions and then providing feedback. We even looked up interview questions from our specific category to be more realistic.” Though competition was fierce, Lupean successfully placed seventh in Job Seeking Skills.
The preparation for the state-wide conference begins shortly. Cassidy, one of two students on the team who will be progressing to states, said, “I plan to continue to ask for advice from my family, friends, and the HOSA club. Everyone has been so helpful and supportive, I couldn’t have done this well without the help of Ms. Murphy, fellow HOSA members, and my parents. I will continue to rehearse often so that I ensure my speech is memorized, and will potentially revise sections according to advice from others.” Sophia Reynoso, who will also be progressing to states, expressed her excitement: “[…] For the upcoming state-level competition, my preparation will evolve to include a broader array of potential interview questions, enhancing my insight into the judges’ criteria. […] Truly I’m looking forward to the prospect of participating in HOSA’s state-level competition, as it is exhilarating. The regional conference was my inaugural competitive experience, and the anticipation of building upon that foundation with further learning, networking, and the creation of lasting memories is something I eagerly anticipate.”
The following students placed at the HOSA regional event: Sophia Reynosa, first in Job Seeking Skills (state qualifying); Andrew Jabaly, sixth in Job Seeking Skills; Iulia Lupean, seventh in Job Seeking Skills; Shannon Cassidy, fourth in Prepared Speaking (state qualifying); Nehali Reddy, seventh in Medical Spelling; Ben Gerskowitz, eighth in Dental Terminology.
