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Sariah Thomas

Prosper Career Independent Study

Evidence of Learning (2)

30 November 2023

HOSA Area Competition: Epidemiology

For the past two months, I have had the opportunity to compete in the Epidemiology

event for HOSA (Future Health Professionals) for area. This is the first year where I have

competed in the subject, and I would say this experience has taught me more about epidemiology

and the expectations of my future field than anything else in my high school experience. For the

epidemiology competition, I had to read a multitude of clinical studies over diseases, learn how

to calculate different health informatics, learn how to problem solve in the field of pathogenic

threats, and continue research on emerging infectious diseases. This event pushed me to dedicate

a lot of time towards learning about epidemiology. I completed thorough notes over

epidemiology’s history and pivotal accomplishments, methods of health measurements, different

types of studies, disaster epidemiology, and health surveillance. On Wednesday, my effort

culminated when I took a seventy-five question exam over the topic.

This has been the most helpful experience for my future career path. Even though I do

not yet know the outcome of my results, I believe the process of studying and learning about

epidemiology through this competition has been a very rewarding experience. I know so much

more vocabulary and research methods now. I can better understand case studies and how to

make interpretations from health data. I have trained my mind on how to develop plans for
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preventing disease on a large scale. All of these skills are crucial for both Global Health and

Epidemiology. I now feel like I am a foot forward moving into the future; while many will learn

these methods years down the line, I am already exposed to what the field requires. I was

nervous before studying for the competition at first, because I was worried that if I ended up not

enjoying my time studying for the exam it would mean I had wasted the past couple of years on a

career I was not passionate about. However, this experience has further solidified that I love

Epidemiology. I also learned how much of the field was based on statistics. I took AP Statistics

last year, and while I did well in the class, I did not believe the class would apply heavily to my

future field.

This test will be very valuable in terms of the rest of the PCIS program. I now feel as

though I have the tools and knowledge to carry out more goals or jobs for my mentorship and my

project as a whole. Before, if my mentor asked me to analyze a case study or solve for the

Disability-Adjusted Life Years, I would not know what to do. Now, I could confidently take the

task in stride. I feel like I have a lot more options for my future project now that I have more

skills under my belt, and this deeply excites me. Another great thing about this process is that I

now know so much more epidemiology vocabulary. I hope knowing a myriad of terms will allow

me to appear more knowledgeable and sophisticated to professionals within my field and those

who I communicate with in PCIS. Overall, I am so pleased with my journey studying for my

HOSA competition, and it has further solidified my competency and passion for the field.