Reflecting on Two Years as a State Officer

As a junior in high school, I began my HOSA journey at Hoosier Hills Career Center in my Health Science Education I class. After attending Fall Leadership Conference (and LOVING it), I decided that I wanted to be able to lead like the state officers did. When I got to State Leadership Conference, with a bucket full of “Buergalicious bubble gum” to hand out to fellow members and some “Vote for Lauren” posters, I was more nervous than I could have ever imagined. I can still remember how it felt to hear my name called as the 2017-2018 State Representative and how fast I ran to the stage to be recognized.

My first year as an officer, I had the opportunity to travel to Orlando, Florida (which was my first time ever on an airplane) for International Leadership Conference, and to Washington D.C. to share the importance of Career and Technical Education with legislatures. I loved growing closer with my officer team, as well as meeting members across the state of Indiana.

However, as the end of my term in April grew closer, I knew I couldn’t be done yet as an officer. I made the decision to re-run, which turned out to be just as nerve-wracking as the first time I had ran. This SLC was a little different, as I wasn’t able to campaign for myself, so I had my friends (some of which were holding pictures of my face on sticks) pass out candies that said “Lauren Buergler: Stole your Heart and your Vote”- clever, right?

Standing on stage, I took a deep breath in as the 2018-2019 Vice President was being announced. Hearing

my name called a second time around felt even better than the first! And while it was hard to say goodbye to my first team, I couldn’t wait to meet the officers on my new one!

This year, I traveled to Dallas, Texas (in a walking boot, which I don’t recommend) and will be traveling to Washington D.C. again in March. I have gotten to present at five statewide conferences, and speak in front of many members about leadership and HOSA. Every minute of being a state officer has been a dream, as I love getting to be apart of this wonderful organization.

Being a state officer requires hard work and dedication to this organization, yet it is has been most rewarding thing I have ever been apart of. If you’re considering running to be a state officer, feel free to reach out to me, the rest of the Executive Council, or Eddie Erickson, our State Advisor.