Team 20: Hindsight is 20/20

Team 20: Hindsight is 20/20

Intro: 

The 2021-2022 term for your State Executive Council has truly been one for the books. With your continued support and involvement throughout the toughest of circumstances, Georgia HOSA was able to continue being one of the most prevalent and engaged CTSO’s in the state. This team knows that the events of the year challenged us to be the stronger leaders we are today, as we hope it did for you, and we truly hope that the opportunities we provided created a sense of connection while we distanced. As the term comes to an end, Team 20 has written this e-Magazine to send our members and advisors our love and admiration.

From your President...

I have spent my HOSA journey “Creating my Future”, Defining My Purpose, moving “Towards Tomorrow, and “Unlocking My Potential”  alongside my fellow Georgia HOSA members, and along the way I have learned an irreplaceable amount of wisdom from every member I had the pleasure of meeting. Between both of my teams within my terms as President, I have seen some of the brightest leaders this organization has had the privilege of seeing. To my current team, Team 20, thank you for your constant hard work and passion that you put into Georgia HOSA this year. Through uncertain times, your drive for motivating your fellow members never let up, and ultimately led to our HOSA year being as successful as it was. Georgia HOSA members, do not cease to give our organization your best. Your creativity and determination is the reason Georgia HOSA remains to be one of the best chartered associations in HOSA- Future Health Professionals. 

From your President-elect…

Team 20’s term coming to a close genuinely feels surreal. The rush of speaking to, discussing with, and learning from hundreds of members while campaigning at SLC feels like yesterday. I’m so proud of everything we were able to accomplish within this year, regardless of its seemingly endless obstacles. Through social media, conferences, chapter visits, and more, Georgia HOSA stayed connected. The shared struggles facing the healthcare community brought us together for the mission of service to one another. Most importantly, Georgia HOSA’s chapters did not back down from the challenges the pandemic and social injustices brought. Witnessing the advocacy, fundraisers, guest speakers, and service projects that your chapters put forth filled me with joy every single day of my term. To Team 20: Thank you all for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. To our members: continuing pushing the envelope for leadership within this organization and within your communities. I can’t wait to experience what we will all accomplish together in the next term. 

From your Vice President...

There are truly no words to describe how truly grateful I am to the members of Georgia HOSA. As my term as your State Vice President is slowly coming to an end I keep thinking about last year’s SLC. I have always had an amazing experience at HOSA conferences, but the 2020 SLC will always have a special place in my heart. It was at that conference that I campaigned for the position in which I currently serve. On the second day of the conference, I spent the whole day campaigning, talking to, and working with dozens upon dozens of HOSA members from across the state. We talked together, laughed together, worried together, we even drank milkshakes together. It was, simply put, wonderful. Many of the members that I interacted with were the same voting delegates that, when given the opportunity, voted for me to serve this organization. Your vote for me is what I am still in awe of to this day. It means more to me than you know. You trusted me, you trusted me enough to allow me to lead and guide you. You trusted me enough to allow me into your chapters and your classrooms. You trusted me enough to open up to me about the challenges and obstacles that you faced over the course of the year.  You trusted me enough to believe me when I told you that no matter what this pandemic would throw at us that HOSA would still go on. You entrusted this organization into my hands, and for that, I will always be grateful. Serving on Team 20 has been one of the greatest experiences and honors of my life. Thank you for trusting me, thank you for all the encouragement and support, thank you for always encouraging me and lifting me up. You all decided not to play games, and so I did the same. I’m not even sure how to end this paragraph but I can say this to you, HOSA goes on. Keep moving forward. Move forward, laugh often, and use all your gifts, talents, abilities, and resources to continue to build this organization into what you and I both know it can be. 

From your Secretary...

In the beginning of our term last March, we expected to lead Georgia HOSA in the same way that each team before us had. However, we immediately came face-to-face with change--change that none of us expected, much less in any of our lifetimes. Despite these challenges and hardships, Team 20 took every opportunity to embrace every challenge with a new perspective, a bold heart, and a team of awesome people supporting us. Without a doubt, this year, we worked courageously to continue on the great strides of Georgia HOSA- Future Health Professionals. It truly has been an incredible privilege and honor to serve at a time such as this. This team reminded me of the (1) importance of listening to everyone in the room-even the quiet people, (2) that with great power comes great responsibility, and lastly, (3) that passion is something that cannot be taught. To the next team of state leaders, Team 21--work creatively, work from the bottom of your hearts, and most importantly, work until you do not think you can push any further--and then, keep going. 

From your Reporter…

If there’s one word I would use to describe this year, it would be unprecedented. Kidding, I’m sure you’ve heard that one enough. But the word I’d really use? Acceptance. Georgia HOSA, we have faced tremendous obstacles. Without live conferences, chapter visits, officer jumpstart, the networking and connecting that’s at the heart of our organization, we’ve had to accept that things weren’t going to be the same. And yet, we persevered, making the best of the situation at hand, and still making unique memories that will last a lifetime. With my officer team, I’ve embraced the concept of accepting our collective differences, and instead focusing on what makes them our unique strengths, harnessing that potential to serve our organization. I’ve learned so much from each of you, skills and a positive attitude that I will take with me wherever I go. 

It feels like just yesterday, that I was shaking hands, exchanging conversation, campaigning to earn your vote. And now, Team 20’s term is coming to a close. While it may be that we didn’t accomplish everything we set out to, the fact remains that Georgia HOSA’s dedication, commitment, and unwavering spirit will never cease. And that is something I am proud to accept.