Congratulations to Ashleigh M. Gil
The EPISD is proud to announce that Health Occupation Student Association (HOSA) member Ashleigh M. Gil has reached national level recognition in this years annual HOSA competition.
Nationally, HOSA is the one of largest student organizations that prepares members to enter the health care field. This is a tremendous accomplishment for Ms. Gil, instructor Mrs. Sandra Mello-Lopez and the entire CATE program. In the past, the CATE program has had previous national titles under the then-direction of Mr. G. Gonzalez.
Included is an essay that Ashleigh wrote about her experience in HOSA,
From an early age, I always knew I wanted to join the
healthcare profession, but I didn’t know what I wanted to be. One day I knew I
would figure it out. During my freshman year of high school, I enrolled in
medical terminology taught by Mrs. Elizabeth Rodriguez and she informed me
about the Senior certification program. At the time, there were three programs
to choose from: certified Nurses Assistant, Emergency Medical Technician, and
Pharmacy Technician. With this opportunity to become certified presented to me,
I explored more possibilities for my future. However, I needed to gain all my
pre-requisite classes and decide which certification class to choose.
Apart from the
senior certification program, Mrs. Rodriguez introduced me into the Health
Occupations Students of America (HOSA) club. The following year, my sophomore
year, I joined the club fundraising, community service, and online competition
were all important aspects of the club. Since I was a new member, I focused on
fundraising and completing my community service. My sophomore year ended and
junior year as well on its way.
I returned back
to the HOSA club, but instead I focused on preparing for online competition.
Out of all the events, I decided on nutrition because I simply liked to eat. I
thought to myself, if I liked something, shouldn’t I also want to have some
knowledge behind my interest. So I studied as much as possible and I took my
first nutrition test as a junior. When the results were announced, Mrs.
Rodriguez informed that I placed 1st in Area One. I advanced to
state automatically.
After this I began studying harder. I read every day
for an hour or two for four months. In April 2013, at state competition, I
placed 6th out of 21 people. The top five are recognized and the top
3 advance to nationals. Disappointed but not discouraged, I vowed to compete in
nutrition again to have a second chance the following year.
As my junior year ended, my HOSA club sponsor was
promoted. Unfortunately, she could no longer be in charge of the club. Thankfully
Ms. Amanda Garcia stepped in and organized the beginning of the club. With the
help of Ms. Deborah Lopez, the club gained stability. It is because of these
two ladies that the club continued to exist and allowed me to compete once
more.
I dedicated myself to studying despite having prior
knowledge from the previous year. I competed and when the results were
announced, I placed third in Area One; I advanced to state again. When I
realized this, I studied harder than ever before because I knew I wanted to go
to nationals-especially since it would be at Disneyworld in Orlando, Florida.
All of January and February of this year, I read for two hours five times a
week. When March approached, I read an hour a day seven days a week.
My motivation to advance to nationals was simply that I
wanted to go to Disneyworld. With all my preparation, I finally put my
knowledge to test on Saturday March 29, 2014. I placed third in the State of
Texas and advanced to Nationals. Currently, I am studying for my nutrition test
and my pharmacy technician test. I hope to receive my certification by the end
of May and place at Nationals in June. In the fall, I will attend Texas A&M
University in college station and begin my four year journey to obtain my
nutrition and dietetics degree and become a registered dietitian.
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