One of the most selfish things a person can do is help someone else, because of the happy emotions and gratification that comes along doing such actions. It gives a keen reminder of the good that there still exists in the world and a purpose that is rich and will never be poor in doing so. Donating blood is one of the many opportunities that sets itself as an example of helping others in need and saving lives and those that people care about. Present-day time, there are many donation blood centers that can be found around the world, and even some that com- mute to different towns and cities worldwide.

The Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center is one of the many independent, nonprofit blood centers that gathers blood through donations and provides blood to help sustain lives in the Gulf Coast region.

On January 24, the blood center had paid a visit to Houston, Texas at Hastings High School. Students were given an opportunity of donating blood to be able to save a life and garner the experience of engaging volunteer work.

“Well, we first have the student donors come up to one of the trailers stationed outside at the back of the school and have them sit in a screening room where we ask their demo- graphics, address, and other patient knowledge,’’ said Laphadra Myers, a blood bank nurse for the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center. “We would always advise and ask the students to drink plenty of water and have a nice meal before donating, so there would be snacks available for the student as they wait for their turn to donate. When it finally is their turn, they would lie down on a donor bed, have their vitals examined, and would be asked Gulf history questions whether it’s their first time donating or not, as well as their experience in doing so, all while receiving their blood”.

As part of the HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America Organization), the Gulf Coast Regional center collaborated with other fellow HOSA member volunteers who were fellow students that attend Hastings in part of their journey towards their career in the medical field.

“This blood drive was not as packed as the first two blood drives but I thought the blood drive was a smooth experience and every- one that participated had a chance to donate blood,’’ said HOSA student member Abbass Qureshi. “It significantly opened my eyes to various points of views from the different medical people that were there for where I can learn in my process of becoming an awesome health care worker”.

Being a part of the blood drive process, the Hastings HOSA members had arranged the food and beverages that the student donors would have after they had donated. For every blood drive that Hastings has done, HOSA has been apart of the team and working together with the center.

“Not many people know about HOSA being a club and it’s a national one that invites people to explore experiences of what you may want to be later on, or if you’re curious to just have a fun time with fellow members that are also participating,’’said Abbass.

Although the blood drive has been going on, there are always new people who have never donated blood before. “Since it’s my first time doing a red blood cell donation, I wanted to just experience it,’’ said Hai Hoang. “I thought it was scary, but not anymore”.