As the season approaches for seniors to submit their college applications, 8th graders are also deciding on where to attend high school. Parents and students alike have many questions to ask about the different magnet programs offered and want to see a more personal perspective from students who are already in these programs. 

Health Academy Ambassadors are responsible for representing the Academy of Health Careers in a positive manner as well as answering questions that others have. Ambassadors are responsible for being present during events in which prospective students and their parents can come out to ask questions and concerns to find out whether or not this is the right program or school for them. They market the Health Academy to allow others to understand the program and what it offers.

The Ambassador program was designed by Michael Hennessy, whose goal was to get students to see the positive aspects Academy of Health Careers.

“The Health Academy offers a lot of great things to students interested in careers in healthcare, but I wanted the students to be able to market the great things going on in our program to the students coming in,” said Hennessy. “It’s great for an adult to explain the things we have to offer, but I’d much rather have students already in the program to relay the mission, vision, and benefits of the Health Academy.”

Since the Ambassadors are responsible for appearing at important events for prospective students, parents and future students have the opportunity to talk to the Ambassadors and ask questions about the Health Academy. While students are able to hear about the benefits of the program, parents can also see and talk to Ambassadors about the work, curriculum, activities, and student life on campus as a Health Academy student.

Parent Mozhgan Ahmadi said, “I was at the Expo night with my son and I was able to see all the things that the Health Academy offered while having all of my questions answered by the Ambassadors that were showing us around. It was definitely really helpful having questions answered through the perspective of a Health Academy student instead of an administrator or teacher, because they were able to share their experiences within the program and connect with incoming students.”

Students entering into new programs like to hear a different perspective on daily student life, especially considering it will be a completely new setting.

“I really like being able to represent the Academy of Health Careers because it helps me be a part of something that can show what the Health Academy stands for and what we do,” said junior Ambassador Amir Serajzadeh. “I think it’s really important to have a student perspective when answering questions because I feel like we are all so used to administrators and teachers talking to us about student life. Hearing a student makes it a lot more realistic.”

Sanford Middle School student Arash Afshari said that it was really interesting to get a perspective on Health Academy.

“I’m not really sure if I want to go into medicine, but when I got my questions answered I was able to really think about the different programs offered at Seminole,” said Afshari. “Being able to go talk to someone was super helpful because they told me about how I can benefit from being in the Health Academy.”