This year for Spring break my family and I decided to just relax and spend our money in our home state of Michigan. I’m not sure how the plans came about, but we all agreed that a short trip to Frankenmuth would be great. We headed up Saturday morning and stayed in a cute hotel right across the street from a huge outlet mall in Burch Run. I’m not much of a shopper, but I have to admit I had a blast! I ended up buying a purse, wallet, a bunch of clothes and the best purchase of the day were a pair of Moccasins! (Which I’m currently wearing).
After a tiring day of shopping we were about to head home when we decided that we  wanted to spend one more night in Frankenmuth and then head up to the thumb.

By the thumb I mean the great state of Michigan’s thumb area. We drove along Lake Huron and stopped by Port Sanilac, Port Austin and Bad Axe (which has some pretty funny sayings to do with it’s name). Although there wasn’t much to do up there, it was great to spend some time with my family since I’ll be heading away to college in a few months.Below are a few pictures of my sister and me at Lake Huron, hope you enjoy.

By the way there are only 8 days until the State Conference and I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone!

Your turn: Tell me about your Spring Break vacation!

Today at the career center I attend we had guest speakers come in to tell us a little about the organization called Gift of Life. Gift of Life deals with organ donation and how to sign up to be on the registry. The first woman shared how she and her family were driving home from a Thanksgiving holiday at relatives house when they were involved in a car accident. Their 7 year old son was seriously injured and died soon after. At the hospital they were asked if they wanted to donate his organs and after thinking about it the generous parents gave the “Gift of Life”. Since then the woman has been able to meet with the recipients of her sons organs (heart, liver and kidneys) and now volunteers to go around telling young people like my class about how they can save lives.

The other explained how he found out that he needed a heart transplant in his early 40’s. The doctors didn’t know what caused it since he didn’t smoke, drink or do drugs but they did know that he was in dire need of a transplant or he would die. He waited a year and a half to find a donor and eventually received a heart from a 28 year old man who had been killed in a boating accident. Their family went through tremendous obstacles over the years following the transplant and they now devote their time and lives to sharing how great of a gift he was given and how it’s such a heroic thing to do!

Without a doubt I now am convinced that donating my organs when I die so I can save someones life is the right thing to do.I also made sure to tell my parents that if anything were to happen to me they can have the peace of mind knowing that donating my organs is what I would want done.

There are 100,000 people in need of a transplant right now why not take a few minutes and fill out the application online. Check out the information today at: http://donatelife.net and get on the registry today.

~Val Carr

For this week’s blog I’m going to describe my journey of becoming a State Officer for MI HOSA as well as answer some questions you may have about the election process and being a State Officer… (Sorry it’s Really Long!)

Last year at about this time of the year, I was attending my first Regional conference.I didn’t know what HOSA was all about except that I was a “chapter officer” and it was my job to make a little newsletter about what my chapter had done. Past State Officer Bradley Bell made the announcement about how being a State Officer was a great thing to do and he encouraged everyone to run. Well I was/am a pretty quiet person so of course the idea of having to speak in front of hundreds of students my own age scared the pants off me. I thought there is no way on earth that anyone could ever get me up there by that podium and make me where that ugly suit!

About a month later my teacher called me over and told me that she thought I would make a great State Officer and asked if I would be willing to run for the position. My first response was a definite “NO” but I was honored for being recommended so I decided why not. I sent in my application and waited for a response.

What do you write about for the speech? I had no idea, I decided that since I really appreciate humor in speeches, I’d try it out. I found this hilarious video on YouTube of a candid camera video where they set up a CPR demo with a manikin.Each person (one at a time) came in the room to test off but instead of the manikin they had changed it and put a real person in it’s place. The poor unsuspecting people went up to give it CPR and the guy jumped up and scared them half to death!

So really to answer the question about what to talk about in your speech… Be yourself! show the voting delegates what kind of person you really are, make the speech interesting for everyone(no one wants to hear a super long drawn out speech) And let them know what makes you unique and what you would “bring to the table” as a State officer.

What do I do for the campaigning? Personally I thought of this campaign like running for the U.S. presidency. I mean I had bright orange pins that said “Vote 4 Val”, a bunch of posters to parade around the hotel with, way too many suckers to hand out to fellow HOSA members, and I can’t forget the ultimate campaigning tool I used: The Banana Suit!

It really comes down to how much effort you want to put into it, and how willing you are to go up to total strangers and ask them to vote for you. Not only is it worth getting your name out there to the students, but it is a lot of fun getting your fellow classmates to help you campaign around the hotel!

Do I really have to be interviewed by the current State Officers & take an exam? Yes you do! I remember getting my interview time during registration and completely dreading having signed up to run for being a State officer. I headed to the elevator and rode for what seemed like an eternity until I reached the floor where I saw a chair and a note. I followed the note’s directions which plainly said to knock on the door and then take a seat on the chair. My hands were shaking so bad I could hardly control them and I just remember the chair seeming so tall and hard to get onto that I probably looked really awkward trying to get onto it. An officer opened the door and escorted me into the suite where all the Officers were waiting… Later I was taken into a testing room where I wished with all my might that I had studied harder and read up on more material, but I made it through it and felt much more relaxed the rest of the day.

The truth is that it was no big deal and I actually like being able to meet the amazing officers that had made my first year of HOSA so amazing! So don’t fear the interview, my fellow Officers and I don’t bite and we just want to get to know you as an individual and team player. Also study every little bit of info that they tell you to study on the Review form (It helps a lot!)

Does HOSA take up a lot of time during the school year? Yes and No. It all really depends of how much you put into your time with HOSA and how much time you’re willing to devote to your role as a State Officer.

My advice is to go to as many conferences you can, by going to different regions I was able to meet different people and go to different places around Michigan that I had never been to or even heard about! Every time you’re with your fellow officers is a treat. There aren’t that many times you get to see each other so make those few time count and work as a team no matter what!

Is becoming a State Officer worth it? YES! I truly believe that my decision to become a State Officer was the best decision that I have made in my whole high school career! Being a HOSA State Officer has made me a much more confident and outgoing person as well as let me meet the most amazing people. All the times I had to miss something else to be at a HOSA event was totally worth it and there is nothing that can replace all the great times I’ve spent helping with HOSA!

Comments: What do you think of Mr. B’s shirt?

Growing up I was definitely the kind of person who hated the sight of blood. I locked my eyes shut the minute a movie got a little gory,I fainted at the sight of my own blood when I cut my finger open with a jackknife. And I definitely hated getting shots!

Being in HOSA has done the impossible. By getting exposure to medical procedures and such, I not only have no fear of seeing blood, but I’m a week away from attending the Career Center full time so I can complete a Phlebotomy (drawing blood) unit for certification!

~Val Carr

Comment: What was your biggest fear growing up?

At the age of 7 my parents decided that they needed to face the fact that I had very crooked teeth and that the cost of braces was inevitable. I was first given “spacers” to separate my back molars then an “expander”to expand the roof and palate of my mouth(It was painfully turned daily with a tiny key) then came the awful “headgear”(picture above) that I was forced to wear not only to bed but to school. Finally I was given braces with rubber bands.

After six years of having my mouth tortured I was finally finished and when I was given a hand held mirror at the orthodontist’s office and starred at my straight teeth it was all worth it!.

66 % of people surveyed in a recent poll said that they were scared or highly disliked going to the dentist. Fortunately I’m not one of those people. Today was my dentist appointment for my regular teeth cleaning and I was actually excited! My dentist and dental hygienist are close friends of my family (I’ve grown up calling them my Aunt and Uncle). So going to the dentist has always been something to look forward to.I mean come on, they give you new floss, a sweet looking toothbrush, toothpaste and if you’re lucky a sweet sticker. Unfortunately, today they found a small cavity in my back molar so I guess there’s no more candy for Val anytime soon.

My first year of HOSA I thought that dentistry was definitely the career for me, I figured that since I was fascinated with teeth and found looking into people’s mouths super interesting I might as well be a dentist. The great thing is that though HOSA I was able to job shadow a dentist and dental hygienist for a few months. If it weren’t for HOSA I wouldn’t have found out that I’m not a person who likes doing the same thing over and over everyday like dentist do! HOSA introduced me to the nursing field and I was hooked I found that I love helping people and that as a nurse you encounter different scenarios everyday. Thanks HOSA!

Also this week on Valentines day I was able to meet with the HOSA members of Region 2 at their Regional conference. Going thought the hallways lined with students waiting for their events I was able to capture some HOSA spirit and get to learn more about what HOSA means to students.(I think that’s great!) I’m looking forward to seeing familiar faces at the State conference in April.

The one thing that really stood out for me at the conference was seeing two students who I had met at the fall officer conference. They had been in in the group I had given my speech to.I gave each of the group members a HOSA bill I made and promised that if they showed it to me at Regionals and at the State conference I’d give them a prize. Out of all the student I gave a bills to, those two girls had managed to keep track of their bill and had the initiative to follow through with their challenge!

Congratulations to all of the participants in Region II., I’m proud of you guys!

While at the Regional conference I met up with a student that I juggled with at the fall conference… He hadn’t seen the video of himself on here yet, so I’m reposting it for you Josh. Hope you enjoy.

Saturday night my parents and I went to see the new movie The Bucket List. Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman star in it and I have to add they did a great job. The basic plot (not giving anything important away) is about these two men who learn they have cancer and create a “Bucket List”. A Bucket List is a list of things that they want to do before they die. The movie brings up the fact that everyone has to die eventually and why not live your life without regrets.

So here’s my Bucket List, and I want everyone (yes that means you) that reads this blog to leave me a comment and give me your Bucket List too(who knows I may have to add some of your ideas to my own list).

1. Go skydiving
2. See how I’ve made a difference in someone’s life.
3. Be a lacrosse coach
4. Be a great wife and mom
5. Ride or own a Mustang Shelby Cobra
6. Write a song and be able to play it with my guitar
7. Own a sphinx (Hairless cat-Yes I’m strange :))
8. Be a youth group leader
9. Ride all the roller coasters in the United States!
10. Go to Australia
11. Own a cottage in Vitoria Spain for during the winter months.
12. Set a world record (I’m not sure what my skill could be… )

~Val Carr

Below is a sample of some random music I’ve found over the years. They always make me smile and I wanted to share them with you.

1. Here’s to the Night-My classes graduation song
2. Hakinamatata- Who doesn’t love this song?
3. Valerie- I chose this for obvious reasons
4. Jedi Knight-For all you Star Wars fans out there.
5. Theme from Magnificent Seven- Since we have 7 HOSA state officers I find this very fitting, plus it’s an amazing movie!

FYI: Lacrosse is Val’s favorite topic(except for HOSA) so she’ll try to keep this blog to a reasonable length.

The sport of lacrosse is a combination of basketball, soccer and hockey. It actually came from a pre-war game that the Native American Indians played to get “pumped up” for battle. Legend says that they played with 1,000 players per side,and they played on a field up to15 miles long.The games sometimes lasted for days! In the mid-1930s men’s lacrosse began evolving dramatically(aggressive/contact allowed), while women’s lacrosse continued to remain true to the game’s original rules.

I got involved in lacrosse my freshman year of high school when my best friend’s sister wanted both of us to tryout for the team. I asked my parents and without batting an eyelash they said…NO!  We looked up the sport online and saw all the equipment the guys had to wear, not knowing anything about lacrosse my parents assumed it was way too rough for me to play(I still disagree). I kept insisting that we get information about lacrosse and soon I had proven to my parents that lacrosse wasn’t half bad.

I tried out for the team that spring and actually thought about quitting after the first few weeks. The basics of lacrosse weren’t as easy to learn as I had found in the sports of basketball and tennis. But as my parents had taught me every day of my life “NEVER GIVE UP”, I kept practicing and later that year I was moved up to the Varsity team to play with the “intimidating” seniors. This year with my last season of high school lacrosse ahead of me, and a scholarship to play in college and I’m amazed with how close I was to quitting and giving up all these opportunities I’ve been given.

Lacrosse has really helped me make good choices in the people I hang out with and what kind of attitude it takes to be a “winner” on and off the field. I encourage all of you to go and check out a girls lacrosse game in your area this spring and if you’re ever in the Lansing area let me know and I’ll tell you where I’m playing.

~Val Carr

As promised, here is the hilarious video of former officer Alan Dore, his sister and current Vice President Jen Dore and a great guy named Stu that Mr. Burley brought along for our Officer planning weekend…

Hope you all enjoy!

Coming soon to a blog near you…”How to Juggle”…

Toasted bread, warm ooey gooey cheese basically what I call heaven. Every time my family goes out to a nice restaurant to have dinner together, I take one fast glance at the menu and then close it. After about a hundred times of eating grilled cheese at almost every restaurant in my area and basically everywhere I go… I decided that I should start rating how well restaurant make grilled cheese. “Girled Cheese” as I used to call it has popped up in life in so many ways… It’s a great topic starter for one, I mean who do you know that rates grilled cheese sandwiches? Second it’s the first thing that I learned how to cook when I was young. Third, a woman staying at the hospice I work at wanted something to eat and out of all the things she could have and of all the people to ask, she picked me to make her a grilled cheese sandwich. And fourth I hear Mr. Burley makes a spectacular grilled cheese so I’m definitely excited to find out.

So now for what you’ve all been waiting for…here’s the countdown of the best Grilled Cheese Sandwiches according to ValCarr:

#7 Cracker Barrel

#6 Big Boy

#5 Max & Irma’s

#4 Dons (Near Grand Traverse Resort)

#3 My mom’s

#2 Finley’s

#1 Steak N Shake!!!

As I said in my last blog my fellow state officers and I were heading off to the Grand Traverse Resort to get some work done…. Boy did we ever! Upon arriving at the hotel we rushed down to the pool and tried out there new water slide and play area.(HOSA members I have to warn you the slide is crazy, just pure thrill and I’m positive you’ll love it!) We played an intense game of water basketball, and then got on with business.

Jen Dore and her brother Alan (two of the funniest people I know) came up with a hilarious idea for the rules video this year(you guys will love it!) and most importantly we all were able to bond with each other and work as a team for HOSA.

So for now I’ll leave you with some pictures from the weekend, but don’t forget to come back and check out the blog tomorrow because I will be posting a hilarious video I took of Jen Dore, her brother Alan and Mr. Burley’s friend Stu while they were “Picking grapes & Shopping”.

“Gangster Picture” Yet everyone knows I couldn’t be a gangster to save my life! Oh well I tried.

A group of us outside the hotel.