This summer, five Palm Springs High School (PSHS) students left the desert to compete on the national stage at the HOSA International Leadership Conference (ILC) in Sports Medicine and CERT (Community Emergency Response Team). These passionate students pushed themselves to proudly represent their school.

HOSA – Future Health Professionals, previously recognized as Health Occupations Students of America, is an organization that helps prepare students for health professions. Holding annual conventions for middle school, high school and college students, HOSA provides hands-on learning experiences through competitive events and workshops. The organization also gives students a chance to explore careers in the medical profession, offering mentorship and networking opportunities to connect students with peers and professionals.

In March of this year, the PSHS students competed in the state portion of HOSA, proudly finishing in the top 10 in their events. They moved on to ILC nationals and went to Nashville, Tennessee, with a clear objective of making the most of their experience.

Most students in the high school’s medical academy, referred to as PALM (Palm Springs Academy for Learning Medicine), felt very prepared for the sports medicine competition. They expressed gratitude for the materials taught in class, internships offered, and the hands-on opportunities to assist as athletic training student aides—helping athletes and shadowing games alongside the school’s athletic trainer.

The trip to the national conference turned out to be a success on both personal and professional levels for the five students. One wrote, “It was incredibly inspiring to meet people who share the same passion for health care and to exchange ideas, experiences and goals.”

The conference also gave them a deeper understanding of the wide range of career paths within the medical field, from clinical roles to public health and research, helping to broaden their perspectives and immerse them in the environment. Students believed it helped push them out of their comfort zone and gave them even more passion to pursue the health care careers.

While their journey to nationals concluded without medals, they said the true value of attending was more than just awards; it was about connecting with people you otherwise wouldn’t have met and exploring those connections with strength and courage. With that, they walked away with something greater—a chance to make their school proud and show what PALM is truly about: resilience.

Gonzalez is a senior in the PALM Academy. For more information on the valley’s medical health academies and how businesses and individuals can support students, visit www.onefuturecv.org.