This year, students have stepped out of their usual routines and into opportunities that deepen their learning. Health science students traveled to Atlanta for the HOSA conference, where they explored careers in nursing and medicine, while theater students watched Hadestown live to prepare for our school’s upcoming production. Together, these experiences highlight how school events can inspire creativity, curiosity, and career exploration.

“I think that going to these conferences and having these experiences has definitely shaped how I view my grades and what opportunities I can have,” sophomore Wren Booker said. “I also think that going and talking to a bunch of medical professionals and learning about all of the opportunities throughout the summer to shadow people and do different stuff throughout our medical community is really inspiring.”

While the HOSA conference opened doors for future medical careers, students in the performing arts found their own source of motivation during a recent trip to see Hadestown. Each trip has created a hands-on opportunity for students to visually relate in many ways, while also carrying over into academic classes.

“Being able to watch and relate was really helpful to see how each of the characters moves and interacts together on stage,” sophomore Abby Kate Jackson said. “It was very beneficial to me as well as the other cast members to see how everything works together, and it gave me an idea of what I need to do in order to be the best that I can be on stage.” 

On February 20 through 22, our own Hadestown crew will perform their own version of the show, and being able to perceptibly see a live production of the show helps carry over into class. From all members of the cast to the lead role, background members, to the ensemble, all were able to visually prepare and create new ideas.

“I think that going to Atlanta for the conference taught me a lot of critical thinking and teamwork, especially when diagnosing people, but also in the classroom. Taking what I learned and got to see and applying those in school helps me work and strive for my goal,” Booker said.

On November 14 and the 15, 13 of the HOSA club members took a trip to Atlanta for a fall conference where they were able to learn more about the different medical careers and experience real-life situations, such as diagnosing patients, as well as learning about the different jobs and what they do.

“One thing that stood out the most to me was going to the Grady Trauma Center,” Booker said. “I think one of the main things I want to do is ER medicine. We met with pretty much everyone across the board, dental professionals, nurses and surgeons. We also took a wound-making class, which was very interesting, being able to do that ourselves.”