“When we seek to discover the best in others, we somehow bring out the best in ourselves.” – William Arthur Ward

From the advisor who offered a warm smile, to the member who waved from across a crowded conference hall, to the friend who ran across a hotel lobby to greet her with a tight hug years after they first met – these are the moments Ria cherishes most. HOSA transformed her not only as a future healthcare professional, but as a person. It taught her that real leadership is about seeing people – really seeing them – and creating space for their strengths to shine.

As a high school freshman, Ria walked into her first HOSA meeting hoping to find belonging. What she found was a family. She still remembers sitting in the audience at her first State Leadership Conference, watching as state officers wiped away tears during their farewell speeches, and wondering what it must feel like to care that deeply. Seven years later, she knows the feeling all too well.

Fueled by that same feeling, Ria has made it her mission to connect with HOSA members wherever she goes. Her most treasured memories are captured in handwritten notes, snapshots from conferences, and keepsakes taped into a scrapbook that’s traveled the world with her – from her home in Washington state to China, to Puerto Rico, and back again. Since joining the International Executive Council, that scrapbook has become a living archive of the powerful moments that have shaped her journey and the journeys of countless HOSA members: the proud smile of an advisor, the laughter of teammates, the joy in a reunion hug.

Now a junior in the Guaranteed Admission Program for Medicine (BS/MD) at Virginia Commonwealth University, Ria majors in Forensics with minors in Biology, Chemistry, and Health Services. She founded VCU’s HOSA chapter to create a home for future leaders and to continue gathering the stories that remind her why she serves. Beyond HOSA, she serves on the National Board of Directors for Student Organ Donation Advocates (SODA) and is the lead intern for Stop TB USA – roles grounded in advocacy, heart, and equity.

Each page of her scrapbook reminds her: behind every HOSA blazer is a changemaker. A student with a story. A future professional ready to leave their mark on the world. As part of this year’s International Executive Council, Ria is proud to represent Champions of Change – and to help every member discover that the most powerful kind of change often begins in the quiet, in-between moments.