For years, Ms. Dennigman and the Student Council have orchestrated our school’s annual blood drive, But due to Ms. Dennigman’s retirement plan, STUCO, set the stage for HOSA to take the lead. The thorough planning kicks off about a year ahead, with the event consistently slated for the second week of November. They begin. recruiting volunteers and donors 4 weeks before the scheduled event. 

Ms Rowe is the sponsor of HOSA and had a crucial part of planning the event. “The commitment of our volunteers is the backbone of the blood drive,” notes Ms. Rowe as volunteers, including dedicated HOSA and Student Council leaders, commit to one or two hours during the event. One standout HOSA leader, Palladium Liang, plays a pivotal role. Liang is a very dedicated member and put in a lot of hard work getting things ready for the blood drive. “If i would’ve done anything differently i would’ve  advertised it more, we had a lot of volunteers and reached our goal but we definitely would’ve  gotten more.” On a more positive note, Liang put a lot of work into organizing the event. He organized students’ shift schedules, recruited donors, kept track of appointments and was on top of managing consent forms. Liang’s big effort not only highlighted his dedication but also his skill in handling the details of making the blood drive a success. Safe to say that in the end everyone was extremely happy with how things turned out. 

While donating blood there are risk factors to consider. That’s why it was crucial for students to take precautions before donating anything. A few students ended up fainting but other than that no students were harmed at all. Although this is not ideal it was to be expected .Donors were instructed to sleep well, eat enough and stay hydrated before any donations. After donating  they were instructed to sit on mats in the canteen. Here they were able to  replenish with snacks and drinks. Any dizziness or concerning signs were monitored by volunteers.  Despite the expected blips,  the supportive environment in the canteen ensures a swift recovery. “The students who stepped  up to donate also deserve immense recognition for overcoming fears and contributing to a cause larger than themselves. The best part of the event itself was seeing the donors content with themselves knowing they’re making a difference ” said Ms Rowe. Taylor Reinhardt was one of the donors who had a very noble reason as to why she decided to take part in the donations. “I’ve never donated blood before, but after seeing all the war in the world and people in need I knew I wanted to help and this was one way I could.” The donors that decided to help people in need had no other motives but compassion and that is something that deserves praise.

 In closing,  the commitment to continue the blood drive tradition, helped bring students together to unite for a heartwarming cause. With 58 full pints collected, surpassing the goal of 54, the event was undoubtedly a success, leaving an indelible mark on our school community. the seamless tradition marks a new spirit of community and compassion in the school and in the heart of HOSA