HOSA officers took a trip to Dallas Oct. 29 for a healthcare panel and a Dallas Mavericks game.

“The trip was so fun,” senior Brennan Herring said. “I really enjoyed it, and Mrs. Baker is amazing!”

This is Health Science teacher Karalyn Baker’s first year teaching at the high school.  

“I decided to take the officers on the trip because I was told they had done it in the past,” Baker said. “I believed that this was a fun opportunity for the officers to talk with healthcare workers in the DFW area, but also be able to enjoy an NBA game as well.” 

The officers and chaperones had to stay at the American Airlines Center once they entered the arena, but had plenty of options for activities inside. 

“The trip itinerary was the HOSA Healthcare panel at 3:30 p.m, and it lasted for one hour,” Baker said. “We were unable to leave the American Airlines Center once we entered, but we were free to explore the American Airlines Center, eat and shop in the center if we wanted to. Then we were free to go to our seats to watch the game that started at 7:30 pm.” 

The panel provided students with the opportunity to learn all about the healthcare industry from professionals. 

“[Students] were able to learn about different career paths in the healthcare field, such as being a research scientist (one of the doctors on the panel was a research scientist),” Baker said. “They also learned there are different career paths that they had no idea existed.” 

From the panel, students could see the diverse career opportunities that exist within the medical field. 

“There were so many areas in the medical field that I did not know about,” Herring said. “There was one guy on the panel who was a medical scientist.”

Herring said that the highlight of the trip for her was the Dallas Mavericks game.

“[The game] was so fun, but stressful because I wanted them to win,” Herring said. 

Herring said she has continued to be an active member of HOSA because of the early experience she is getting in the medical field, but also to serve the community. 

“I have wanted to be in the medical field since middle school,” Herring said. “When I was a freshman, I heard of HOSA, and I thought it was a really fun and great way to get involved in my community.” 

Baker said that the positive reactions from students who went on the trip are a sign to continue doing something similar in the following years. 

“I do believe we will do this in the future,” Baker said. “It was a fun and great opportunity for the students.”