While many students have promising ideas for the future as leaders, freshman Vidhisha Paleti used her position as 2023-24 National Junior Honor Society president at Coppell Middle School West to implement the Period Project, which makes menstrual products more accessible in the womens’ bathrooms.
Paleti then ran for and was elected as CHS9 HOSA president in the 2024-25 school year, where she reimplemented her passion project.
To jump start this project, Paleti created a presentation and speech on the subject to appeal to counselor Amy Blasingame. Upon receiving approval, Blasingame presented it to school counselors and administrators in their weekly meeting.
“I was very proud of [Paleti] for wanting to advocate for young women and reduce the stigma behind periods,” Blasingame said.
With experience from prior implementation at CMSW and financial backing from HOSA, Paleti’s presentation was met with widespread approval.
“I thought it was a really cool idea,” HOSA adviser Amber Fragosa-Deck said. “I know that it would be convenient for all the girls on campus to have supplies in the bathroom.”
Paleti began distributing menstrual products in campus girls restrooms, donated by HOSA members. Female HOSA volunteers then started restocking weekly to maintain a stable inventory, creating more accessibility than visiting the nurse’s clinic.
Other volunteers, including HOSA vice president Tapasya Shah, contributed additional ideas such as stocking restrooms with hygiene products.
“[Paleti] did a lot of the work, and it’s a great thing she did,” Shah said. “We all just pitched our own ideas as well.”
Furthering her initiative to destigmatize periods, Paleti also seeks to post infographics about menstrual health in the restrooms.
Beyond the Period Project, she is working to expand volunteering and competition opportunities in HOSA. By doubling participation in mock competitions, Paleti hopes organizations such as hers can open new volunteering avenues for HOSA members.
“I hope the Period Project stays in place so people can have more opportunities for service hours,” Paleti said.
CHS9 HOSA members often struggle to find volunteering opportunities due to age requirements for medical volunteering. Donating menstrual products allows students to gain volunteer hours within the campus itself.
Paleti does not plan to stop at CHS9. To achieve accessibility to menstrual products for all women, she wants to reach further and provide them in restrooms in all locations.
“I want to implement it at more schools and maybe in an organization where it is implemented in less-developed countries,” Paleti said. “I am also going to start putting infographics on what to do with various menstrual issues.”
Blasingame hopes to see Paleti’s potential impact on CISD to promote community initiatives.
“I hope this inspires other young women to pursue passion projects, do their research, share their information and just advocate for each other,” Blasingame said.
Follow @CHSCampusNews on X.
