Amanda Rodriguez-Michel

Amanda’s bio on The Tide website says that “you can find her” in HOSA, (when not editing the La Marea section of the newspaper). What it doesn’t mention, however, is her four-year journey with the organization, culminating with her as the current president. 

HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) describes itself as an organization whose mission is to promote career opportunities in the healthcare field. Amanda sees it as more than that: an opportunity to learn, teach and grow.

In Amanda’s freshman year at Richard Montgomery, she attended the annual club fair. She was interested in STEM clubs, but didn’t have much experience, and was therefore cautious about joining hardcore science clubs with huge commitments. In her first year with HOSA, she didn’t participate in many of the more rigorous and competitive aspects of the club, but enjoyed the guest speakers that the club provided, and had an overall good experience that led her to return the next year, with an increased desire to become more involved with the club. 

As Amanda became more and more comfortable in HOSA, she began participating in more difficult opportunities that the club provided, and she improved her public speaking, as well as her ability to balance extracurriculars with school, and avoid becoming overwhelmed. 

Amanda then became vice president of the club, and as one of the older members of the club, made it her mission to pass on the knowledge and experience she had gained to younger students. 

Now as president, she is in the best position possible to reach out to students in the same position she was at the beginning of high school. Amanda makes sure that students don’t just learn in HOSA, but teach as well, and maintain the flow of knowledge and expertise to younger grades and future generations.

By Corrigan Peters