Getting a 36 on the ACT, winning first at state in Extemporaneous Speaking, and becoming the state officer for HOSA may all seem like impossible tasks. However, junior Gary Hao succeeded at all these tasks in just one year. It hasn’t just been his golden year because Hao has been pushing himself throughout his whole high school career.
Whether he is winning or trying his best, Hao has always been one to push himself in the various activities he is involved in. In forensic, Hao has specialized in Extemporaneous Speaking, which is where you are given 30 minutes to write and memorize a speech on a random political topic and then perform it in under seven minutes. He also does Original Oratory and Entertainment Speaking. He often collaborates with his friends and teammates to perfect his different speeches, allowing him to get to know some of his oldest friends and inspire his passions.
“Gary can get a little stressed sometimes, but he’s able to work on that,” junior Gideon Fox said. “Gary has always been an overachiever; he is very driven, I would say.”
Hao joined many clubs as high school went on, whether the club included his friends’ interests or not. Clubs like Forensics and HOSA are very time-consuming, whether it is traveling to Lincoln weekly or going to D.C. for a leadership conference. Also, practice requires much time, as Hao normally spends multiple days a week in the speech room prepping and editing.
Although pushing themselves to join this many clubs and excel in school may seem impossible or a waste of time to some students, Hao believes in the important opportunities high school provides, like leadership skills and standing out to colleges.
“I pick clubs based on future career ideas and also how legit it seems,” Hao said. “High school is the last opportunity to explore for free. Getting to explore your interests is nice because college is very expensive.”
One of these clubs Hao became interested in was HOSA, as the club is centered around medicine and helping others with medical situations. As a child, he looked up to pediatricians because of their drive to improve the lives of others. On March 10, 2025, Hao was announced as the Nebraska state officer for HOSA. Hao had to apply with his resume, a written essay and a teacher recommendation. Then, he had to take a test regarding the history and purpose of HOSA. Eventually, 1/4th of applicants get called back and have to give a speech to the delegates, partake in a team building activity and get an interview.
“I know Gary as a HOSA member and officer, and his work ethic is excellent,” HOSA leader Amy McIver said. “If he says he’ll do something, he follows through. If something has to be done, he often volunteers. I have no worries if Gary is responsible for something.
The heavy load of school work and extracurriculars can be challenging for young students however, it’s important to remember it’s not impossible. With enough determination and confidence, anything is possible, whether you want to be the best or just learn something new. In the case of Hao, as long as you are trying your best, that’s just enough.
