In 2008, Graham Broome was severely injured in a golf cart-rollover accident. To recover, he endured multiple surgeries and procedures and hours upon hours of therapy. He emerged on the other side of that experience with a new philosophy to guide his life: “You never know when your last moment will be, so work toward your goals while you have the opportunity.”
Broome has embraced his own words wholeheartedly. His goal? “I want to help other people. ... I want to give back as much as [has] been given to me.” For Broome, that means pursuing a health care occupation: the care he received and the conversations he shared with his caregivers while undergoing months of healing inspired him to pursue health services as a profession. Thanks to his impressive involvement in the health sciences program at Oak Grove High School and the Lamar County Center for Technical Education, he is well on his way. At OGHS in Hattiesburg, Miss., he served as president of Health Occupations Students of America, earned the sports medicine award (as the only junior in the senior-level class), and with partner Katie Myers placed fourth out of 82 teams in First Aid and CPR at the national HOSA competition. Broome was also selected to be the assistant athletic trainer for OGHS sports teams, working under athletic trainer Kevin Maudlin and alongside former NFL quarterback-turned-assistant coach Brett Favre. In addition to his academic pursuits and in further support of his mission to give back, Broome volunteers with several local charitable organizations, including Homes of Hope for Children, Windam House, and the Upward sports and special needs children's programs at a local church.
In recognition of his determination and achievements, Broome was awarded the LCCTE Student of the Year award. Then, one of four nominees, he was selected as the 2012 Mississippi Association of Career and Technical Education Student of the Year. Mary Taylor, Broome’s health sciences teacher for the last two years at OGHS, said, “Of all of our students, he just stood out the most.” She added, “He appreciates things that most teenagers don’t.” The MS ACTE annually recognizes students, teachers, administrators and ACTE members throughout the state for their accomplishments in CTE programs. For his award, Broome received a plaque and a $500 college scholarship.
After graduation from high school, Broome is considering nursing school in preparation for medical school, where he would like to pursue anesthesiology, orthopedic surgery or sports medicine. He will be able to use his MS ACTE award and other CTE scholarship money to cover full tuition at the University of Southern Mississippi.