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HOSA Week: Bringing Awareness to Health at WCS

By Eden Williams, Westbury Christian School, School Buzz Reporter | December 14, 2023

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Students helping at the stress ball station on Mental Health Awareness Day. (from left to right: Alexis Carlson, Oluwaseyi Adodo, Eden Williams)

At Westbury Christian, the HOSA club (Health Occupation Students of America) recently held a highly successful HOSA Week. Every year, this week brings awareness about health and health issues around the world. Every day in the third week of November, students dressed up according to the theme for each day. On those days, the HOSA club was sure to inform students of the significance behind each awareness day.

The president of the HOSA club, junior Oluwaseyi Adodo, shared her view on HOSA Week. “HOSA Week is a time for students in HOSA to show the rest of the school what our club is about,” she stated. “It’s important for people who want to be in the healthcare industry to find their voice and speak up about their passion.”

The HOSA Week days included Sleep Awareness Day, Mental Health Awareness Day, Future Profession Day, and Heart Health Awareness Day. Each day was filled with activities or special events that gave students special insight into those subjects. One day that stood out to the school was Mental Health Awareness Day. The day started with a brief meditation on the morning announcements, preparing students for the day. Shortly after, one of the parents at WCS, Mr. Kevin Simmons, spoke to high school students about his career as a pharmacist. “We discussed things from psychiatric medication to education needed to get a job in the healthcare field,” Oluwaseyi said.

Additionally, the HOSA club created a station that same day, with the purpose of having students make their own stress ball. Many students participated in this craft, resulting in a shortage of supplies relatively quickly! As for the other days, everyone was constantly participating, especially for Future Profession Day. That day, everywhere you looked, there would be students with scrubs and doctor coats around you! Even students who are not looking for a career in healthcare enjoyed being very involved in HOSA week.

“It genuinely surprised me when I announced the activities we had planned, and the students were eager and excited to engage,” Oluwaseyi shared, “You shouldn’t be afraid to step up and put yourself out there because in the end, it may turn out to be great!”

HOSA Week once again proved the importance of health awareness, thanks to the HOSA club’s hard work!