Friday, August 30, 2024
Last year identical twin sisters, Nuha and Reya Khatri were elected to serve as the State Presidents of their respective career and technical student organizations (CTSOs). Reya is serving as the 2024-2025 Wisconsin HOSA-FHP State President, and Nuha is serving as the 2024-2025 Wisconsin DECA State President. Both sisters are honored to have been elected to serve their members at the state level and are elated when looking at what this year has brought. Let’s dive a bit deeper into how each became involved in their CTSOs and why they feel CTSO involvement is so crucial, especially in high school.
Nuha’s DECA Journey
Nuha was first exposed to DECA during her freshman year. She began her DECA journey as an eager member, attending every early morning meeting and taking advantage of every competition study session. As a first-year member, she had no idea what to expect from DECA yet she found facing the unknown motivating.
Nuha attended her first district competition, placed, and moved on to compete at Wisconsin DECA’s State Career Development Conference. At the state conference, although she did finalize, she did not qualify to compete at the International Career Development Conference (ICDC). Nuha returned home, discouraged yet even more determined to succeed.
Her sophomore year, she applied for Wisconsin DECA’s Leadership Council program and soon became extremely involved. She created content for WI DECA’s social media platforms, advocated for diversity, equity, and inclusion through interviews with the State Officer Team, and networked with like-minded members. That year, Nuha immersed herself in her local DECA chapter and succeeded in competition at the district and state levels, qualifying her to compete at ICDC for the very first time.
Now aware of the thrill and opportunities available to DECA members, Nuha wanted to make an even bigger difference. She applied and was elected to serve as the Middleton DECA’s Chapter President and, after an additional application, was selected to serve twice on the Leadership Council and as a District 3 Ambassador.
Nuha’s junior year solidified her passion for DECA and her desire to lead at the state level. Experiencing the impact of her involvement and leadership skills at the local level fed into her wish to aim even higher. She ran for state office during the end of her junior year and, after months of hard work and preparation, Nuha is now proudly serving as the State President of Wisconsin DECA’s Team 59.
Nuha’s biggest piece of advice for incoming and current members is to always push yourself to do things that would make you nervous otherwise and to take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way.
Reya’s HOSA Journey
Reya first joined HOSA her freshman year. She’d been looking for more ways to explore potential career pathways. As a freshman, Reya knew what she wanted to pursue, but HOSA played an integral role in pushing her to realize she wanted a career in healthcare.
Throughout high school, Reya has competed in leadership events and was first elected to serve on her local board during her sophomore year. That year, Reya took on more leadership roles within her chapter and was selected to help grow state membership as a Wisconsin HOSA State Ambassador. She found joy and built confidence through it all.
Like her sister, Reya wanted to make an impact on the state level by running for state office. Reya was proudly elected to serve as the State Vice President of Service for the 2023-2024 year. She was also elected by her chapter to serve as their local President.
After an incredible year advocating for Wisconsin HOSA’s Service Project and connecting with members from around the state and nation, Reya decided her HOSA journey was not over quite yet. After running for reelection, Reya is honored to have been elected as State President for the 2024-2025 year and has continued as Co-President of her chapter.
Reya said that one of the most important things she took away from her HOSA journey is the power of connections and being a down-to-earth, dedicated person. By forming connections within her local chapter, she made incredible friendships and received the guidance she needed to pursue opportunities she may not have considered before. Reya shares how it is important to find a community you value as they truly become a second family.
Ultimately, both Nuha and Reya credit both DECA and HOSA in helping them find a community in which to grow and become stronger, more confident leaders. The support they have found through their involvement has been absolutely life-changing, and they are grateful for the role these CTSOs have played in their life. Both Nuha and Reya are looking forward to seeing WI DECA and WI HOSA collaborate on projects and initiatives throughout the next year!
—Article submitted by Christina Patrin, Health Science Ed Consultant and State HOSA Advisor, and Tim Fandek, Marketing, Management, and Entrepreneurship Ed Consultant and State DECA Advisor, both with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction