Fresh off her second consecutive first-place win at the New York State HOSA Spring Leadership Conference, Nahiely Dones Rodriguez, a senior in the Health Dimensions program at the Batavia CTE Center, set her sights on a new goal: representing Genesee Valley BOCES and School of the Blind at the HOSA International Leadership Conference.
This time, the stakes were higher, the crowd bigger, and the experience unlike anything she’d ever encountered. As the only student from her school to attend, Nahiely stood proudly on her own, yet carried with her the encouragement and support of her teachers, classmates, and community. “It was really fun being the only student going from my school,” Nahiely said. “It was really special to be able to represent Genesee Valley BOCES, and it meant a lot to me that I was able to do that.”
Competing in the "Personal Care" event, Nahiely performed a randomly assigned nursing assistant skill—something she had prepared extensively for during class time and clinical practice. “Luckily, it directly paired up with what we do at clinical on a weekly basis,” said Colleen Garner, RN, her instructor and the Health Dimensions Program Coordinator. Colleen made sure Nahiely had time and support to go over each skill thoroughly, blending classroom learning with hands-on repetition.
In the weeks leading up to the conference, Nahiely studied her guidelines and practiced again and again. “I studied all the skills several times,” she said. “I really wanted to be ready.” She arrived at the international competition with determination and high hopes. “Nahiely came to win first place,” said Colleen. “She had her mind made up that she was going to place first.”
But when the top ten winners were announced at the awards ceremony, Nahiely’s name wasn’t called. It was a moment that could have felt like a loss—but instead, it became something much more powerful. “I think she realized at that moment that sometimes success looks different than she envisioned,” said Colleen. “But that does not mean that she failed. Going to the conference and trying her best was the biggest win.”
For Nahiely, the experience went far beyond the competition. “I think the biggest difference between the New York conference and the international conference is the amount of kids. It also can get a bit overwhelming,” she said. But in that sea of thousands—over 13,000 attendees from across the world—she found moments of connection and joy. “I met with some other students,” she said. “I connected a lot with Puerto Rico. That was my favorite group and it was really, really fun.”
For Nahiely, the most meaningful part of going to nationals wasn’t a trophy or a title—it was the fact that she got there at all. “It was really hard to get there, but I still did it and that was the most special thing,” she said. “Competing in HOSA has helped me in so many different ways. It gave me the confidence and the reassurance that nothing is impossible—that whatever I put my mind to, I can do.”
Her journey from the halls of Batavia CTE Center to the international stage is a reminder that true victory lies not only in placing first, but in showing up, pushing through, and growing stronger with every step. Through her courage, resilience, and heart, Nahiely Dones Rodriguez has already won in all the ways that matter most.