The sound of jazz filled the cafeteria after school on Friday, Jan. 31, as Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) members gathered for a Squid Game-inspired social event. Organized by HOSA officers, the event was designed to foster teamwork before the official competition season kicked off later this semester.

“As event coordinators, we wanted an activity that would interest a lot of members and also encourage teamwork,” Event Coordinator Emily Zhang ’27 said. “Since Squid Game is such a popular trend right now, we thought it would be a good way for engagement and friendly competition.

The event featured four games, with members split into teams by grade level. Beginning with the classic game on the show, Red Light, Green Light, officers took turns acting as the motion-detecting doll while members raced to the other side of the cafeteria. Officers marked down anyone who was caught moving after “Red Light” for elimination, which added to the suspense and fun. With a twist on the classic game, sophomores had to crawl instead of run, while upperclassmen were limited to hopping on one foot.

“My friends and I definitely had a lot of fun,” Mahati Geetla ‘27 said. “It was a fun way to relieve stress and also hang out with friends. I think the reference to the actual TV show made it more relatable and engaging..”

After the tension of Red Light, Green Light, survivors paired up for the classic three-legged race. Partners tied their legs together and worked in sync to cross the cafeteria and back before the other teams. Synchronization and teamwork was essential for this game, as moving too fast risked the cloth tying attendees’ feet together getting loose, while moving too slow meant elimination.

“I think the games were a good way to bond together,” Lulu Szeto ‘26 said. “My favorite part was definitely the three legged race because I got to collaborate with my partner, even though we did get eliminated at the end.”

The third round of the event introduced a new game that wasn’t a reference to the show. Instead of teamwork, this game tested quick reflexes to catch a cup placed in between each pair of members. Following a series of instructions such as step back, spin around, sit down, participants had to grab a cup as soon as the signal was given. A difference for this game compared to the others was that only one person per pair could win. 

The top 10 winners from the cup game advanced to the final round, which was a game of  musical chairs, inspired by the show’s game of Mingle. With two fewer chairs than participants, the competition was intense, with members hesitating to move too fast. To add onto the intensity, officers played the Squid Game soundtrack,  making it more realistic and engaging as if they were in a real-life version of the show’s final challenge. Members endlessly cheered for each other even when faced with elimination, enjoying snacks and drinks while watching other survivors.

“It was really rewarding to see how every member had a genuinely fun time with each other and I hope that we can host more fun socials like this later on,” Zhang said.