Name
Ashley Miedema

When were you in HOSA?
All 4 years of high school (2018-2022)
Current USD HOSA member (2022-present)

What chapter?
Mitchell

Where did you go to college?
I am currently a junior at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion.

What was your major?
Nursing

What advice would you give HS students in HOSA today?
Take every opportunity to shadow or intern and see or do different skills. You can read about or ask people about different careers as much as you want, but until you see it firsthand, you really have no idea what you are getting into. It is also okay to not know what you want to do. I changed my mind so many times and I decided on nursing in February of my senior year of high school after an amazing internship on a surgical floor. Your drive to simply help your fellow humans will open many doors for you, just keep looking.

How did HOSA help you get to where you are today?
HOSA provided me with so many different opportunities to learn new things, volunteer, and give back. During my time in HOSA, I learned so many different things during breakout sessions and visit days that really sparked and kept my interest in healthcare. There were also many volunteer opportunities that
made me love giving back. Thanks to HOSA, I pride myself on loving to learn and help as much as possible which I think will be extremely helpful in my future nursing career.

What are you doing now?
I am in my 3rd semester (out of 4) of nursing school, and I will graduate in December of 2025 with my BSN. I am also the current USD HOSA president. We try to focus on volunteer opportunities, guest speakers, and being leaders for current high school students. After graduation, I plan on working in
critical care as a nurse.