When it comes to tests, most people have to study and prepare before you take it. For senior Alexis Guffey, this was the case whereas all the hard work was put into preparing for HOSA Internationals Convention.

It took a full year for Guffey just to prepare for the Healthy Lifestyle event for HOSA Internationals, on June 20-24 in Orlando, Florida, that she was competing in.

“I started preparing for it (HOSA Internationals) two years ago in June, I was preparing for an entire school year,” Guffey said. “Basically, I just studied a lot and then there’s a project that went with my event so I also worked on that.”

Guffey did all the work on her own outside of school, along with all the other homework she had to do. One of the projects consisted of a one hour test, then you picked a goal to achieve and later you state of Healthy Living affects your life.

“She really did most of it on her own I will give her complete credit for that. She did a lot of work outside of school, I was more of a support for her,” Liberty’s HOSA sponsor Mrs. Strathman said.

In the spring of last year many HOSA students placed at the state convention, which allowed them to advance to the HOSA International Competition. In order to go to the International Convention, you had to place in the top three of your event that you had chosen. Guffey placed second and was one of the students that advanced to the International Convention for the Healthy Lifestyle event.

This wasn’t the first time that Guffey competed in the Healthy Lifestyle event.

“I’ve competed in three conventions. I’ve done it every year and I’ve competed in Healthy Lifestyle twice,” Guffey said.

Since she competed in the event the year before, She had an idea of what to expect.

Alexis went into the convention knowing that she had prepared so hard for this moment. When the competition was over they call each event and who ever placed top 10 would come up on stage to receive their award, but Guffey was surprised when she heard she have placed second in her category.

“I was a little shocked because I didn’t think it went as well as I wanted it to, especially the test, so I didn’t even think I was going to make it into the top 10, so I was definitely surprised but it was exciting,” Guffey said.

She wasn’t the only one who was excited to receive the award, but HOSA club sponsor Mrs. Strathman was as well.

“I was ecstatic and I was proud of her,” Mrs. Strathman said. “She worked really hard all year long on that event so I was glad that her hard work paid off.”

HOSA does a lot more than just competitions. They organize events that help the community as well. Guffey was in charge of the “Falling for HOSA 5K” and lock-in’s and STEM nights as well.

“HOSA is my favorite club at Liberty. Last year I was treasurer and this year I’m the vice president,” Guffey said.

She plans to continue to thrive at HOSA and place again at State and Internationals again next year by putting in hard work months before the competition.