Aleah Hayes, a Baker College Running Start Student at the HOSA Competition
Aleah Hayes, a Baker College Running Start student from Lapeer STEMM (Lapeer County Education and Technology Center), earned a place in the national Future Health Professionals (HOSA) competition and journeyed to Houston, Texas to compete in the Home Health Aide category. Her preparation included a heavy focus on analyzing the guidelines for her specific category and reviewing medical terminology for the written test questions component– which she notes was tough to navigate during the Michigan state competition.
The experience was rewarding for Hayes, who had the opportunity to engage with various health professionals, discussing their careers and education. This exposure provided her with potential career leads and valuable insights into the industry.
HOSA has actively promoted career opportunities in the health industry and to enhance the delivery of quality health care to all people, with a mission to empower HOSA-Future Health Professionals to become leaders in the global health community, through education, collaboration, and experience. It now reaches more than 260,000 members through 54 chartered HOSA Associations.
“HOSA has taught me a lot about myself, especially the motivation that I get when I have a goal. Going against hundreds of other students pushed me to have a reason to study hard and put in extra effort, Hayes said.”
The Baker College RunningStart program allows high school students to accelerate their academic and career ambitions. It provides four different ways to earn college credit in high school for free or at a low cost. Additional benefits include standing out on college applications and the opportunity to complete a degree at a faster pace.
“Running Start has helped me tremendously in shaping my career path by giving me a taste of what my college courses are going to be like while still maintaining my comfort as a high school student. Because I was able to do so many college level classes, I feel much more prepared for being on campus full time this fall,” Hayes said. “I’ve gained a sense of independence and time management skills that I don’t think I would have so soon had I not enrolled in Baker College Running Start.”
“Aleah, specifically, has given herself a tremendous head start on her college education by embodying the kind of commitment and perseverance that make us so proud of our Running Start students. Her hard work not only saves her time and money in the long run, but it also allows her to begin college already knowing that she has the skills to succeed in a post-secondary environment,” said Katelyn DeKam, Director of Running Start.
For more information about this program, visit Running Start at baker.edu