University of Hawaii at Manoa NLC Newsletter

The University of Hawaii at Manoa Issue 1, July 2012

HOSA AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA

HOSA at UHM Making an Impact Jenna Maligro, 2011-2012 President

HOSA 2012 National Leadership Conference Orlando, Florida | June 20-23

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With 20 delegates competing in 9 different events, HOSA at the University of Hawaii at Manoa was ready to make an impact at this year’s National Leadership Conference in Orlando, Florida. This year’s NLC had 7,800 attendees from all over the nation, including 5,800 competitors and the rest judges, guests, delegates, advisors, and staff. Students who aspire to become healthcare professionals come together to network, compete, improve themselves, and make memories at HOSA’s annual NLC. This was HOSA at UHM’s third year representing Hawaii HOSA in the post-

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secondary division. 13 of the 20 attending UHM delegates had their first experience at a HOSA NLC this year.

From the enchanting lights and exciting music at the opening ceremony to the highly professional, mind empowering educational symposiums, the experiences at HOSA’s annual NLC are very difficult to put in words. This year marks my fifth HOSA NLC and I still find it difficult to describe how it has impacted me.

In this issue, delegates of the HOSA at UHM chapter will uncover their experiences at this year’s NLC in Orlando.

Issue 1, July 2012

This Issue:

v HOSA at UHM Making an Impact

v Anatomy in Clay v Medical Reading

2011 – 2012 National Theme “HOSA: It’s in our hearts to keep yours beating!”

v HOSA: A Life Changing Experience

v J.R. Martinez: A Shining Light

v HOSA: More Than Just a Competition

v First Time Experiences

v HOSA, Coronado Springs, and The Magic of Disney

v A Document of Memoirs

v Fourth Time’s the Charm! v HOSA in College v First Time Experiences


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During the 2012 HOSA National Leadership Conference, educational symposiums on various health topics were available for the HOSA delegates to attend. Our group chose to participate in the “Build the Digestive System in Clay” symposium conducted by consultant and teacher Ms. Leslie Peterson. We worked in groups of three to construct the various organs of the digestive system using colored clay with the guidance from Ms. Peterson. Starting from the mouth, we molded the organs onto a model of the human body, connecting the parts into one complete digestive system. Ms. Peterson also spoke about the structure and function of each organ as we worked on creating them in clay.

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Ms. Peterson was very knowledgeable in the subject. As she discussed the course of the digestive system along with each organ’s structure and function, she walked up and down the aisle with her model in hand, as she helped the students locate the position of each organ. In addition to this lecture, her enthusiasm in teaching this course motivated students to participate and interact in this activity, which developed a student-teacher relationship. We had to have a clear understanding of structure, pathway, and function since it was our responsibility to shape, place, and connect each digestive organ. By molding each individual organ with clay, it was easier for us to visualize the pathway of how food travels throughout our bodies.

Anatomy in Clay Michelle Choe, Samantha De Leon, and Rebecca Nguyen

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Hands-on learning taught us how helpful it is to work with a model. It also gave us a better understanding of the digestive system because we had to think critically, recollect, and apply the information that we had just learned. This was a fun method by which to learn human anatomy. We hope to implement this learning strategy as a method of study in the future.

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I’ve always believed HOSA to be an integral part of my education ever since I joined in my second year of high school. Despite the obvious differences the post-secondary division presented— it required me to be more independent; I still managed to walk away with new knowledge and insight on the medical field. This year I competed in Medical Reading, a group event that tests our knowledge on the five assigned medical-related books. Although we placed 3rd in the state conference, this event proved to be a challenge. The books were really interesting and inspiring, albeit lengthy. We focused heavily on the main ideas of the books, not knowing that we were going to be tested on the minute medical facts scattered throughout each

Medical Reading Sairel Labasan

Medical Reading Team (From Left to Right): Cristina Felicitas, Jenny Liu,

and Sairel Labasan Continued…


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book. When I first flipped through the test, I couldn’t help but stare in awe at the questions. There were questions such as ‘how many lobes are in the lungs?’ and ‘where is the inguinal canal located?’ Our studying didn’t quite cover the specific details but we had enough background knowledge on the body and the books to answer correctly. When the second round came around, we knew exactly what we were going to be asked and what we needed to brush up on. The state conference was definitely a huge help in our study process for the National Conference. We knew what we needed to study and focus on and also how hard we needed to study. In the end, I probably studied a total of 30 hours a week prior to the National Conference. Luckily, the pages and pages of notes and the hours and hours of studying paid off because we managed to clench 3rd nationally. Although I may have learned the lifecycle of cryptosporidium, Fleming’s miraculous discovery of penicillin, and even cholera’s journey from Calcutta to the West, what really made a huge impact on me was Christine Montross’ Body of Work: Meditations on Mortality from the Human Anatomy Lab. Montross takes her readers back to her first year of medical school

Medical Reading (Continued)

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when she is first introduced to the human anatomy lab. As I read through her book, I couldn’t help but put myself in her shoes. It’s not everyday that I get to read the memoir of a first year medical student and follow along with her self-discoveries and emotions. I have always had reservations and fear of cadavers but Montross makes it very clear that this kind of reaction is very normal. She even goes so far as to describe how the world of anatomy has evolved and how it is perceived in different cultures. She fills her book with her inner feelings and balances it with facts resulting in a book that was oddly familiar and somewhat comforting. Competing nationally was definitely a highlight for my freshman year in college, I not only met people with the same passion and drive for health but I also got to challenge myself and compete with them. There aren’t a lot of organizations around that would provide such an amazing environment as HOSA. It is definitely one of a kind in providing students a place where their passion for health is celebrated.

This past June I had the amazing opportunity to travel with nineteen other delegates representing UH Manoa to Orlando, Florida for HOSA’s National Leadership Conference. The conference was being held at Disney World’s Coronado Springs Resort – a place where memories can be made, and dreams can come true. My experience at the National Leadership Conference has been phenomenal. My experience at HOSA’s National Leadership Conference in Florida has been inspiring and eye opening. Before this conference I had little confidence in my abilities and myself when it came to academics. This conference has been able to show me what I am capable of achieving when I apply myself and work hard. I’ve been able to network with other students across the nation and within the state of Hawaii while learning new things about different areas of health care. I’ve been given the confidence to continue pursuing my dream of becoming a D.O. in Sports Medicine. The conference has shown me being from a smaller state does not mean I can’t be competitive with other mainland students. Most importantly, this conference has shown me that as long as I continue to put in the extra effort and don’t give up, all of my goals are attainable. I will never forget my first HOSA National Leadership Conference and the opportunities I have gained because of my attendance. I look forward to next year, and will continue to study with enthusiasm while keeping the big picture in mind.

HOSA: A Life Changing Experience Chelsie Smyth


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There are always times in one's life when a little inspiration is needed to keep one moving forward, and one such time in my life was during the HOSA National Leadership Conference's opening session. My competitive event was less than a day away and, since it was an extemporaneous event, I did not feel prepared in the least. Also, the fact that I was competing against the previous year's winner in the event was the icing on my cake of uncertainties. All my anxieties kept escalating in my chest as I kept asking myself, "Will I know enough about the topic to write a comprehensive essay? Is my writing style unique enough to stand out amongst all the others? What if my writing cannot compete with that of another competitor who has had higher level writing classes while I have not even taken Freshman English?" It was not long before I thought I would explode in a burst of screams. However, my anxieties slowly ebbed away and my eyes began to open to a new reality as I listened to keynote speaker J.R. Martinez's incredible story of dreams, hardship, and triumph. For the first portion of his speech, Martinez spoke of his experiences of being thrust into a new environment twice. During both of those times, Martinez explained that he needed to use his strengths in order to create a new "comfort zone" or a place for himself in his new

J.R. Martinez: A Shining Light Carianne Matsuo

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environment. As he spoke, I realized that I was in a very similar situation as Martinez had been in all those years ago - it was my first time competing in extemporaneous writing and I was definitely out of my established comfort zone of having teammates that I could rely on. So, his story of how he utilized his strengths to overcome his unfamiliar and frightening circumstances inspired me to attempt to use my strengths as well to make myself more comfortable with my participation in my event. With this new inspiration, my drive to do the best that I could in my event was rejuvenated. Martinez also spoke of how he worked to pursue his dreams and how he found a new dream to pursue when he believed that his previous dream was destroyed. After an ankle injury in high school, Martinez explained how he pushed through the difficult process of rehabilitation so that he could recover enough to continue his dream of playing football professionally. This made me think that even if I did not win in my event, I could work to overcome my "injury" and eventually recover enough to continue to pursue my dream of becoming a medical professional. Martinez then reinforced this point when he told us of how he triumphed over the his

Continued…


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inner demons caused by the belief that all his dreams were gone and even gained a new dream to pursue. As he continued with his story, I came to the realization that even when we believe that our dreams are destroyed, it is possible to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and move on. Thus, with these revelations, I began to become at peace with myself and my anxieties about failing to place dissipated. Throughout his speech, Martinez managed to touch my heart in such a way that, like a shining beacon of light, decimated the darkness of the anxieties that I held and illuminated my life to a new reality. I was finally able to clearly see the reality that even if we feel uncomfortable or make a few blunders along the way to our dreams, that should never be enough to deter us from pursuing them and trying our best to meet the little goals that help us to reach those dreams. With a clear heart and shining determination, I was able to do my best in my event to work towards the realization of my dream. While I'm sure that there will be more times that I waiver in my determination to pursued my dreams as I make mistakes or have fears of failure, J.R. Martinez's words will always be the light that guides me back from darkness.

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First Time Experiences

Charmaine Naanos “I was surprised to learn that I was in

the top ten. It was a bittersweet feeling. I felt that I could have studied harder. My overall experience of my first NLC was a memorable one. I met students from different states and bonded with people from my chapter. It was also a learning experience. Now I know what to expect the next time I make it to nationals.”

This is my first year in HOSA, and it has been a blast to travel to Orlando and participate in health education at the national level. I have learned that HOSA is so much more than a competition. My experience in the inspiring opening ceremony presented by the HOSA national leaders and J.R. Martinez, and the many symposiums and showcases showed me that HOSA is a fun and exciting organization that helps me to meet new people and learn from others, and has provided me with more fuel for my passion in health. The gold medal in health education is confirmation for our progress in the development of our skills in leadership, professionalism, teamwork, and the communication of our knowledge through teaching – skills that are highly developed in outstanding health professionals, and skills that HOSA has helped us to develop.

HOSA: More Than a Competition Katharine Wong

“I competed in the post-secondary Biotechnology event. At first, I thought I didn’t do so well because I didn’t have a lot of time to study or prepare but I ended up placing second. In my event, there were at least 50 people competing, high school and college combined. Only 18 high school students and two college students continued to the second round of my event in which we got tested on our practical laboratory skills and knowledge.”

Michele-Kay Saiki

Taumata Vaea “HOSA’s NLC allows members to

be immersed in opportunities and competition. National HOSA provided an abundance of health symposiums, ranging from physical exercises to neural science. By attending this year’s NLC, I was able to network with other future health care professionals from around the nation and was encouraged to continue to pursue a health career by the inspiring words of the keynote speaker J.R. Martinez.”


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This was my first national conference and national competition in my life. I had never been to Orlando before, but I had a wonderful time there and at the competition. The Coronado was a beautiful resort with many amenities and the best Mexican style dining I have tasted. I had dinner my last night there at the Maya Grill and was astounded at the atmosphere and taste of the food. If I had eaten there earlier in the week, I would have gone broke going back for more every day! The rest of the resort was spectacular as well, with the decoration reflecting the ancient Mexican styles while still inspiring awe with its enormous convention rooms.

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The magic of the resorts and parks made this trip completely worth it, even though I did not think I would be able to attend due to monetary constraints. My group first visited EPCOT for about five hours on Wednesday, followed by orientations for myself. After that we had competition on Thursday but still found time to go to dinner at Downtown Disney. On the following day, we went to Magic Kingdom and Downtown Disney again, even managing to enjoy the extended hours at Magic Kingdom until 2 am. Only four hours after this, we were on a bus headed to Universal Studios to ride all the rides and visit the Harry Potter Attractions.

HOSA, Coronado Springs, and The Magic of Disney Harold Griffin Smyth

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All these visits and attractions coupled with the spirit of our competition made this a truly magical trip with HOSA, and further solidified my involvement with the group. I will return next year, ready to try for a winning spot at the convention in Nashville, Tennessee.

A Document of Memoirs Brittney Acoba

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In my five years as a HOSA member and in my four years of being a Hawaii delegate to the National Leadership Conference, there is not much that can surprise me at Nationals. During my time at the National Leadership Conference, I was able to get the chance to explore new territory outside of the Coronado Springs Resort and the World Famous Walt Disney

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Parks. I regained my sense of wonder and awe when I went to the Grand Floridian, and this will be the experience that I will remember most from the NLC. For extemporaneous speaking, I was required to go off of Coronado Springs Property and to go to the Grand Floridian. My competitive event is unique because there is no way to prepare for it. That being said, arriving at such an elegant hotel to compete for my event filled me with anxiety and awe. For me, arriving and actually being at the Grand Floridian only served to heighten the excitement and excitement that I felt for my actual competition. It really felt

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like I was about to give the most important speech in my life. No matter how many times I attend the National Leadership Conference, there is always a new experience waiting for me. This time I got to experience having to compete in an unfamiliar environment in an event that I was unable to prepare for. Although I was placed in this situation, and I managed to somewhat overcome my nerves and anxiety; this event shows that I still have a long way to go before I can completely overcome my fears and be able to truly enjoy and appreciate all of the experiences that comes with HOSA membership.


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First Time Experiences

“In the end, my team won 3rd place for the post-secondary medical reading event; but, it was not the heavy bronze medals that labeled us as winners. It was the hours of reading and typing notes, our stacks of printed information and facts, our collaboration and team effort, our newfound knowledge, and the blossomed friendships—the things that the judges never saw. This trip will have a lasting impact as an important part of my undergraduate experience and as a firm confirmation of my desire to contribute to the medical field. Even now, my head is buzzing with ideas for recruitment and studying strategies for next year, to once again represent our state as a top medical educator in the nation.”

Jenny Liu

This was my fourth year competing in Health Education. I’ve been competing in this event ever since I was a sophomore in high school in 2007. The topics of my previous Health Education projects have been: Melanoma, Noise-Induced Hearing Loss, and Nutrition. This year, my teammates and I decided on, “A Collegiate Addiction: Energy Drinks,” as our topic. All four of these projects earned second place medals at the Hawaii HOSA State Leadership Conference. Unfortunately, every time I went to the NLC, my teammates and I never made it on stage as a top ten finalist or a top three medalist…until this summer. My teammates and I were doubtful when we were called up on stage with three other finalists at the post-secondary awards session. The third place winner was announced, then the second place winner and in my head I thought, “There’s no way that we’re first place.” I was starting to loose hope until the announcer said, “And in first place from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Chung, Maligro, and Wong.” My teammate turned around towards me in disbelief as we made our way to the front of the stage. Although I’ve been to several NLC’s, this year’s one was by far the best. Hearing my team get called up for first place is a feeling that I will never forget. This is definitely an NLC to remember.

Fourth Time’s the Charm! Shanyn Chung, 2011 – 2012 Vice President

“It was a great experience to go to Nationals to experience the competitive side while having fun between the NLC events. I had the chance to meet new people from different states and make new friends. This is something I can cross off my bucket list.”

Marissa Yoshikawa

Stephanie Steuri “This was just my first year

competing in HOSA as a freshman. Now, I know what to expect, how to prepare, and how to succeed! Without a doubt I’ll be in Nashville, Tennessee next summer competing once again in the Veterinary Science competition and hopefully bring back a medal for Hawaii HOSA!”

HOSA in College Cristina Felicitas

This is my fourth year that I have been a part of HOSA, and my third year that I have attended the national leadership conference. I was a HOSA member in high school and now I am a part of HOSA in college. Every year at nationals, I was able to meet more and more people. This time, I got to know more people in my school, which is a good thing because University of Hawaii is a big school. Overall, this was a great experience for me. It was the first time that I was able to go on the big stage and place at nationals after my three years at nationals.

Documents

University of Hawaii at Manoa NLC Newsletter