Being the Youngest on the Team

Most of my life, I have constantly been told that I was too old or that I needed to be a “big kid”. Being the older sister to my brother and the oldest cousin I always knew that I needed to set an example—I needed to be a “grown up”.

So for me being the youngest on my team is a little awkward, because I am normally the oldest. My team consists of four college freshman, two high school seniors, and of course, me—one high school junior. You wouldn’t be able to tell that I’m younger compared to my team unless we told you. I’ve learned that being the youngest isn’t a bad thing, but an opportunity to learn from those with more experience.

While talking and bonding with my team they’ve given me tips for high school, pointed me in the right direction, and shared their experiences in and outside of HOSA. I realize that I have expectations to meet and I have every intention to give it my all. My older teammates have allowed me to ask questions and have been kind enough to point me down the right path.

So, if you’re young, old, or somewhere in between, I encourage you to just go for it and if it doesn’t work out, try it again.

After all, age is just a number and I wouldn’t let it hold you back. You might not always be the youngest or the oldest in age, but you can always be an adult in your maturity. Don’t let something like age have an impact on what you want to do. Shoot for the stars and dream your biggest dreams.