Author: Janci Spoo

Strong is Beautiful

(2 Minute Read)

When we think of a high school weight room, we traditionally and stereotypically think of football players utilizing the weight room. In 2016 Hermiston High School (HHS) introduced an all-female athlete lifting class, which started with less than 30 athletes. Fast forward four years, there are now two all-female athlete lifting classes with more than 60 girls.

The belief that lifting and being strong was only for the boys quickly changed when Coach Emilee Strot was promoted to Strength Coach and Head Track Coach at Hermiston High School. Coach Strot has been teaching Health and Physical Education at Hermiston High School for seven years and currently is in her second year as the strength and conditioning coach. Her motto for all athletes (but aimed towards females is) “Strong is Beautiful” (E. Strot, Personal Interview, February 1, 2020).  This motto comes from a change of perspective that lifting weights makes girls bulky; with this change, girls see themselves as athletic, strong, and tough.

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Preparing High School Students for a Career in Health

As health professionals, our goal is to educate and help others strive for physical, mental/emotional, social, or environmental health. Between 2016 and 2026 there is an expected 18 percent growth in jobs for healthcare (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2019). At Hermiston High School (OR) we offer two Health Services Courses (Health Services I and Health Services II) to help high school students build knowledge and prepare for a career in health.

Health Sevices Course I
A semester course, Health Services I covers basic concepts in health occupations, beginning with medical terminology, to provide an understanding of the common language used in the field. Students then conduct extensive research on the five different pathways of health: a) diagnostic, b) therapeutic, c) health informatics, d) support and e) biotechnology research and development. Students spend time researching colleges and the different routes available to them. In addition, students will also study laws, ethics, safety, insurance, and facilities as they relate to health careers. Each student will finish the course by sharing a career presentation.

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