Many of the most self-motivated high school students are those pursuing careers in healthcare-related fields. From nurses to anesthesiologists, these students choose their career not just for monetary reasons, but to help others and make a difference in the world.
Izzy Martin, senior and current HOSA president, has been a vital part of Tumwater’s HOSA club and is pursuing a career in healthcare.
Even as an underclassman, Izzy knew she wanted a career in healthcare.
“I heard that HOSA was a club for high schoolers who were interested in possibly going into any health or medical-related fields. At the time, I knew I wanted to be a doctor of some sort, but I wasn’t sure of the specialty. I was hoping by joining, I could gain experience and insight into what specialty to choose.”
Walking into her very first HOSA meeting, she felt a mix of nerves and anticipation. “It was the first club at Tumwater I was interested in joining, so I didn’t know the club members that well yet. But I knew I wanted to be a part of the club.”
As a club member, Izzy helped fundraise, plan club activities, organize monthly awareness posters, and “attended almost every club fair to help people join our club!”
According to Izzy, HOSA taught her clear communication and patience; two skills she will carry into college.
“Working in a team where we all rely on each other for different tasks requires clear communication and expectations. It also requires empathy and understanding. You have to be able to see things from other people’s point of view to understand them and what they do best at.”
Izzy’s favorite HOSA memory was her first trip to the State Leadership Conference.
“At the time, it was just myself and the two other officers in the club. It was such a fun experience because we were able to get so close to each other while competing.”
Throughout her high school career, Izzy’s passion for healthcare and activism drove her to do more than just participate in the HOSA club.
“I volunteered at two hospitals and was part of a summer internship to partner with a doctoral student from Carnegie Mellon. I am currently part of a youth-led organization for women empowerment and involvement in the medical field; worked as an intern for an academic undergraduate journal with a focus on the mind, behavior, and the brain; and currently co-run my own research project at SPSCC. My favorite memories all encompass meeting new people and learning about new fields. I was able to get to know my close mentor through the summer internship and she’s been amazing!”
When asked how she manages her schoolwork and extracurriculars, Izzy replied, “Planners and being creative and realistic with my time! I love using my Notion planner and setting an agenda for the day. This helps me plan out my week while also looking into the future for the next month. I had to be very realistic with my time and priorities and decide what I could and couldn’t take on. I learned to ask for help and how to say no!”
From a relatively young age, Izzy knew what she wanted her career to be.
“College was definitely something I focused on during high school, and honestly before high school. I really planned out what I wanted to do as my career and as I continued through high school, the focus started narrowing specifically which colleges would be best for my career field.”
Next fall, Izzy will be attending the University of Washington, an exceptionally strong premed school that consistently ranks in the top 10 universities in terms of research output.
“I’m attending the University of Washington Seattle (Go Huskies!). I considered a lot of factors like credit transfer, cost, post graduate opportunities, medical school, research opportunities and funding. The University of Washington fit all of those criteria really well.”
When asked what she’s most excited and nervous about, Izzy replied, “I’m actually most excited about living in the dorms and getting involved in campus life. But I’m most nervous about getting lost on my first day for sure.”
Looking ahead, Izzy has a clear picture of the impact she wants to make.
“I plan on becoming a doctor and pursuing academic research. I want to leave a positive impact on people through my work. The impact through research I want to do is to make people’s time with their families valuable and help them have more time with them.”
Reflecting on everything she has accomplished outside the classroom, Izzy’s advice to her freshman self is simple.
“If I had to go back and tell my freshman self one thing about getting involved, it would definitely be to not be scared. I wish I could’ve done so many other extracurriculars!”
