Fair at Goldsboro High encourages health education and future planning
By Brandon Davis
Published in News on April 8, 2017 11:30 PM
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Celita Graham teaches Malachi Johnson, 15, and Kenyatta Sutton, 14, about making healthier drink options during the HOSA health fair at Goldsboro High School Friday.
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Donavon Jones, 16, and Kelon Lassiter, 16, fill out information at the Air Force booth Friday during the Goldsboro High School HOSA health fair.
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Adiamond Best, Tierra Williamson, Kelisia Darden, Shaquabia Rose and Shamay Floyd look at a book about pregnancy during the health fair organized by HOSA students at Goldsboro High School Friday. The 16-year-olds learned several things from the book that they did not know.
Though students asked more about jobs and colleges, organizations still shared some healthy tips Friday at Goldsboro High School's annual health and career fair.
Students walked through the gym to speak with law enforcement, military personnel, educators and health professionals for the school's Health Occupations Students of America program.
Vandora Barrett, health educator for the Wayne Action Team for Community Health or WATCH program, said 10 students with HOSA set up tables for the nearly 30 organizations to inform students of healthier choices, possible career fields and opportunities to attend a college or university.
"We felt, as a school, we should make people aware that these opportunities will help impact their community," Barrett said.
The University of Mount Olive, Wayne Community College, the Goldsboro Police Department, Wayne Memorial Hospital and other organizations, handed out cups, bags, pencils and candy.
Sophomore Francisco Zapata, 16, went to different tables to learn about taking classes to become a paramedic, but Franisco said he did not ask about healthy living.
"I didn't ask," he said. "I'm looking for a college because I want to be a general surgeon."
Sixteen-year-old freshman Steven Hawkins has some time to think about college, but Steven said he likes the opportunity to explore options for his future education and employment.
Steven said he wants to become an engineer with magnets and Wi-Fi.
As students left the gym and more arrived, Linda Newsome and Retha Ginn gave students diabetes risk tests. Newsome and Ginn are both registered nurses at Wayne Memorial, and they both are clinical diabetes educators.
Newsome said most students scored between two and three points on a test that encourages people to see a doctor if they score above five points. The test asked students their age, gender, family history of diabetes, physical activity and weight.
She said no student asked her about a career in nursing but only how to be healthy.
"You want to get the word out about diabetes," Newsome said. "We want you to make the changes now."
Junior Brooklyn Vaughn, 17, volunteered through HOSA at the fair to assist students with talking to the United States Army, Air Force and the National Guard. She also steered them to East Carolina University and Fayetteville State University.
Brooklyn said she attended her first fair as a freshman, and though she asked about careers in the health field, she said she showed interest in a table displaying sugary drinks.
Celita Graham set up her table three years later to show students the dangers of too much sugar.
A health education supervisor for the Wayne County Health Department, Graham covered her table with bottles holding nothing but the amount of sugar placed in them by soft drink companies.
She showed the students a cup with an infuser mechanism that carries fruit or vegetables inside the cup for a person to drink flavored water.
Graham said a student picked up a sugary drink and asked which college Graham represents. She said she understands students are interested in furthering their education and finding a future job, but Graham said she thanks health fairs for providing a way for organizations like the health department to get the word out to young people about healthy living.
"When you think of health fairs, the younger generations and this age group are healthy," she said. "We never get the opportunity to talk to this age group."