DECA Direct | March-April 2018

MARCH-APRIL 2018

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

THE END OF THE YEAR, BUT NOT THE END OF DECA

DECA INC. ANNOUNCES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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7

WHERE WILL COLLEGIATE DECA TAKE YOU THIS SUMMER?

5 WAYS DECA PREPARED ME FOR COLLEGE

5

9

11

JUST BECAUSE SCHOOL IS OVER DOESN’T MEAN DECA IS TOO!

BEHIND-THESCENES WITH JOSEPH ABBOUD AT NEW YORK FASHION WEEK

HOW TO TRY ON COLLEGE & MAKE SURE IT FITS

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14

BEST PRACTICES FOR PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL MEDIA USAGE

DEVELOPING A CHAPTER STRATEGY THAT WORKS

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16

EDITORIAL

Publisher Mary Peres Managing Editor Janelle Arrighi Editorial Committee Jeff Collins, Sarah Williams, Christopher Young Advertising Cindy Allen Design Shawna Hession, Frank Peterson

DECA EXECUTIVE OFFICERS President Jaron May North Atlantic Region Vice President Mason Smith Central Region Vice President Leah Hoffman Southern Region Vice President Marjorie Sproul Western Region Vice President Hayley Haas

COLLEGIATE EXECUTIVE OFFICERS President Jake Jardine Vice President Paul Averhart Vice President Joe Esposito Vice President Darcie Hill Vice President Joshua Koshy

BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Mary Peres President-Elect Jacklyn Schiller Secretary Ginger Hill Treasurer Olga Plagianakos Members Curtis Haley, Ed Trang, Dave Wait National Advisory Board Chair Andy Chaves Ex-Officio Members Richard Faulkner, Frank Peterson

EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE DECA Direct Magazine 1908 Association Drive Reston, Virginia 20191-1594 communications@deca.org

DECA Direct (ISSN 1080-0476) is published four times each year—September/ October, November/December, January/ February and March/April. Copyright ©2018 by the Distributive Education Clubs of America, Inc., 1908 Association Drive, Reston, Virginia 20191-1594. All rights reserved. Annual non-member subscription rate is $5.00. Periodicals postage paid at Herndon, Virginia and additional mailing offices. $1.00 of membership fee goes toward subscription to DECA Direct, a publication of DECA, (USPS 566-200), Volume 6, Number 4.

Postmaster—Send form 3579 for change of address to: DECA Direct, 1908 Association Drive, Reston, Virginia 20191-1594.

HOW MY DECA EXPERIENCE TRANSITIONED INTO THE WORKPLACE

18

WHAT AN INTERNSHIP IN NEW YORK CITY IS REALLY LIKE

CHAPTER BUZZ

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26

CLASSROOM CONNECTION

MARCH-APRIL | 2018

DECA DIRECT

This issue of DECA Direct includes instructional content focused on the following performance indicators from National Curriculum Standards: •

Describe the impact of a person’s social media brand on the achievement of organizational objectives

•

Assess personal interests and skills needed for success in business

•

Identify sources of career information

•

Use networking techniques to identify employment opportunities

•

Describe techniques for obtaining work experience (e.g., volunteer activities, internships)

•

Demonstrate initiative

1

You are

the future of business.

From direct admission to 30+ business degree programs, there are thousands of reasons to get excited about ASU’s top-ranked W. P. Carey School of Business. wpcarey.asu.edu/yourfuture

2

THE END OF THE YEAR, BUT NOT THE END OF DECA HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION PRESIDENT

@DECA_Jaron

MAR 1

Advocacy Campaign due Association Administrator of the Year Award recipients due Association Chapter Advisor of the Year Award recipients due ICDC competitors’ final membership eligibility

5

Advisor scholarship applications postmark deadline Executive Officer Candidate applications due

20

ICDC registration and hotel rooming list/ deposit due from chartered associations

29

Piper Jaffray Taking Stock with Teens Spring Survey ends

APR 21-24

DECA International Career Development Conference Atlanta, GA

And just like that, another amazing DECA year is almost over. It’s hard to believe that soon we will all gather in Atlanta, Ga., for the 2018 International Career Development Conference (ICDC).

Although this #Limitless year is almost up, this does not mean the end of DECA. Even after ICDC, members and advisors can continue to learn, grow and become even more immersed in the DECA world. Here are a few ways you can stay connected to DECA after April 24, 2018: DECA DIRECT Just because competition season is over and school is almost out doesn’t mean DECA Direct is taking a break too. Throughout the summer, our hard working DECA Direct Online Social Media Correspondents are furiously typing to produce quality articles for your enjoyment. The articles range from leadership and personal experiences, to what you can look forward to next year. Don’t forget to check out the newest articles each week on decadirect.org! #SummerofDECA DECA members are the best, aren’t they? They are so dedicated and love this organization so much that they take pictures with their DECA diamonds held high in the sky and post them using #SummerofDECA all summer long. You can join in too! Just snap those pictures, log in to Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or whatever your social media of choice is, and post away. Your picture could even make it on the @DECAInc page for thousands to see!

EMERGING LEADER SUMMIT I get it - nothing compares to a DECA conference. So if you can’t handle the post-ICDC depression for an entire year, I highly suggest attending the 2018 Emerging Leader Summit from July 7-9, in Chicago, Ill. You will be able to enjoy a classic DECA conference while learning leadership skills and making lasting friendships. I cannot think of a better way to kick off the 2018-2019 DECA year than with #DECAELS!

MARCH-APRIL | 2018

JARON MAY

I am right there with you - I do not want this year to end, but unfortunately it is. With this sorrow comes an even brighter horizon.

DECA continues to grow and become an even better organization each and every year. So get ready for a great #DECAICDC and another incredible DECA year!

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WHERE WILL COLLEGIATE DECA TAKE YOU THIS SUMMER? COLLEGIATE DECA PRESIDENT

@JakeJardineDECA

MAR

26

1

29

Association Administrator of the Year Award recipients due Association Chapter Advisor of the Year Award recipients due

5

Advisor scholarship applications postmark deadline

7

Collegiate DECA Academic Honor Award applications due Leadership Passport Award submission deadline Community Service Award submission deadline Chapter Leadership Award submission deadline Advocacy Campaign submission deadline Executive Officer Candidate applications due

14

Collegiate DECA ICDC registration due (to DECA Inc.) Collegiate DECA ICDC hotel reservations due to Crystal Gateway Marriott

Online testing for Collegiate ICDC begins

Recipients of student, advisor and chapter recognition announced

APR 3

Online testing for Collegiate ICDC ends

11-14

Collegiate DECA International Career Development Conference, Washington, D.C.

13

Stock Market Game ends

30

Stock Market Game winners announced

The International Career Development Conference (ICDC) is always bittersweet for DECA members. It is simultaneously the pinnacle of a year of practice and dedication, and the beginning of a break before the next DECA season begins. The question remains: where will Collegiate DECA take you this summer?

Regardless if you’re working or travelling, Collegiate DECA has something to improve your summer. Ranging from serious to fun, there are many ways to continue your DECA journey beyond ICDC. DECA helps to prepare emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for future careers; it can also help jumpstart those careers as well.

DECA conferences provide a perfect opportunity to network and create connections that may lead to a summer internship. This is possibly the most valuable way to use Collegiate DECA, and I highly recommend exchanging business cards with people you meet at conferences and following up immediately afterwards to build a relationship. Many people I know have landed jobs through DECA, and I believe you can too!

Next is the most fun place Collegiate DECA can take you over the summer. As we know, Collegiate DECA chapters are all across the United States and Canada. When you’re at #CDECAICDC, think back to all of the friends you’ve made and stayed in touch with from across North America. If you’re close to these friends, why not visit them? If you’ve built your network vast enough, this can even turn into a DECA road trip!

Finally, you can always stay in touch with DECA members, and see what they’re up to through social media. The hashtag #SummerofDECA is a great way to engage with the DECA community throughout the summer. Participating is easy - whether you’re at home or travelling, find an ‘insta-worthy’ place, throw up the DECA diamond with your hands and snap a picture. Caption it with #SummerofDECA to engage with the community, and there’s even a chance @decainc will repost and share your picture!

MARCH-APRIL | 2018

JAKE JARDINE

DECA is all about community, and even when the DECA season is over, the community still thrives. Whether you’re visiting DECA friends, working with or for a DECA connection, or engaging remotely with DECA through the hashtag #SummerofDECA, there are #Limitless places that Collegiate DECA can take you this summer.

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DECA INC. ANNOUNCES

NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

LOU DIGIOIA MBA, CAE

The DECA Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Lou DiGioia, MBA, CAE has been named the new Executive Director of DECA Inc. DiGioia is scheduled to start as Executive Director on April 1, 2018.

DiGioia comes to DECA after spending over 20 years working at organizations that focus on extracurricular education.

For the past 11 years, he has served as Executive Director of the MATHCOUNTS Foundation. During his tenure, DiGioia led the organization through a period of transformational change and growth. He spearheaded the creation of The National Math Club and the Math Video Challenge, two programs which helped make MATHCOUNTS more inclusive and helped it shatter participation records multiple years in a row. He also led the Board of Directors through an overhaul of its governance model, which earned the organization the Prudential Leadership Award for Outstanding Nonprofit Boards from BoardSource in 2012.

Prior to his work as Executive Director of MATHCOUNTS, he served as its director of operations and oversaw the transition of the organization’s National Competition to internal operational control. Before joining MATHCOUNTS, DiGioia served as the Program Director for Presidential Classroom, a civic education program that brought top high school juniors and seniors to Washington, D.C., to learn about the federal government and meet with its leaders. Prior to that role, he served as director of graduate programs for the Washington office of the Princeton Review.

“We are excited to have Lou join DECA as Executive Director.

Lou’s significant experience and expertise, along with his enthusiastic commitment to our mission, will be instrumental in DECA’s ability to meet the challenges and growth opportunities of the future. I look forward to working with Lou,” said DECA Board President, Mary Peres.

DiGioia holds an MBA in accounting and finance from George Mason University, based in Fairfax, Va., and a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University, based in Washington, D.C. An active member of the American Society of Association Executives, DiGioia earned the Certified Association Executive credential in 2008. He volunteers on several nonprofit boards and was recently selected to serve as a member of the advisory group for the digitalNow conference.

As someone with a passion for extracurricular education, I recognize what a special honor it is to lead an organization like DECA,” DiGioia said. “I look forward to working with the Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers to grow and strengthen DECA while focusing on our vital mission of preparing emerging student leaders for careers in management, finance, marketing and hospitality.”

GET MORE DECA DIRECT ONLINE

SNAPCHAT TIPS FOR MEMBERS & CHAPTERS bit.ly/decasnap

HOW TO FIND A JOB THAT YOU LOVE bit.ly/decajoblove

7 STEPS TO LANDING YOUR DREAM INTERNSHIP bit.ly/7intnership

DECADirect.org

HOW TO STAY ON TOP OF YOUR SCHOOLWORK DURING A DECA COMPETITION bit.ly/decatop

5 THINGS TO HELP YOUR PREPARE FOR YOUR PREPARED EVENT bit.ly/preparedevent

BE SURE TO SHARE YOUR #DECAICDC PHOTOS WHILE IN ATLANTA THIS APRIL WITH @DECAINC.

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5 WAYS DECA PREPARED ME FOR COLLEGE

Writing this article proved more difficult than I expected it to be, because there are so many aspects to my college experience (as in, almost every one of them) that have been shaped by my time in DECA. DECA has completely changed my view of the world, so picking only five ways it has prepared me for college seems to undercut the vital role this organization has played—and still plays—in my life.

So without further ado, here are the (top) five ways DECA has prepared me for my time at Vanderbilt University.

01

PEOPLE ARE JUST PEOPLE

Through DECA, we all have opportunities to network with people from all corners of the world, with amazing accomplishments. Be it judges who are experts in their own sectors, or members and competitors with the next big idea, everyone in this organization brings something unique, noteworthy and maybe even a little intimidating to the table.

Being exposed to such incredible, raw talent throughout my high school career taught me how to stay cool and collected when I walk into a professor’s office, or when I go to lunch with the president of an on-campus organization. DECA taught me what it means to respect and learn from everyone around me and create an atmosphere of mutual respect and admiration.

02

HOW TO GET THE A

Within DECA, we have a strong focus on being academically prepared, and this has undoubtedly propelled my own college success. Classes with presentations and long papers seem completely manageable from my competition experiences, and interviews (even on technical components of management or marketing) are a breeze from my studies for DECA exams.

Moral of the story? Studying for your competitive events won’t just land you with a piece of DECA glass and time on stage, they’ll also prepare you for what comes AFTER high school.

03

FINDING BALANCE— AND KEEPING IT

You might be able to guess…I was pretty into DECA in high school, and between my time with this organization, balancing a full course load, a varsity sport, a social life and sleep, I learned quickly how to beat stress and manage my time when there seemed to be too few hours in the day.

My days here at Vandy are certainly noless booked, but they seem manageable because DECA taught me how to make every minute count during the busiest of times.

04

myself, or calming down before a big presentation, or getting a stain out of my blazer at the last minute, DECA never just meant learning “business” to me.

It meant a lot of learning about the things I didn’t even know I was learning until I got to college, and had to start doing a lot more taking care of myself.

I don’t think that transition would have been nearly as easy without my experiences in DECA before I got here.

05

ALL OF THE LITTLE THINGS I CAN’T QUITE PUT INTO WORDS

This is my way of saying there are way more aspects to what I learned in DECA than I can ever vocalize in a single article. DECA taught me to be flexible and to live in the moment and how to make friends who are so vastly different from who I am but also so amazing.

DECA prepared me for college, but it also inspired me to make the most of my time here—because most of all, DECA prepared me with the knowledge that when you give anything your all, it gives back to you.

MARCH-APRIL | 2018

O

ne, two, three, four…how can I pick only five ways, when there are so many more?

LEARNING TO ADULT (AT LEAST A LITTLE)

As a DECA member, association officer and now as an executive officer, DECA has always meant a lot of traveling.

Whether it was figuring out how to feed

HAYLEY HAAS

Western Region Vice President @decavphayley

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BE SURE TO SHARE YOUR #CDECAICDC PHOTOS WHILE IN D.C. THIS APRIL WITH @DECAINC. 10

HOW MY DECA EXPERIENCE TRANSITIONED INTO THE WORKPLACE

F

or years I have preached that DECA is a valuable organization for students to partake in because it equips you with resources that the classroom cannot. I have seen firsthand how this organization changes lives. My DECA journey began in high school and this experience was so positively impactful that I not only changed my degree choice to business, but also continued onward into Collegiate DECA. Over the years, I have improved my public speaking, networking and communication skills thanks to this organization. I have also had the opportunity to visit places and meet people I would have never thought I would.

Anyways, that’s not what I am trying to tell you. Rather, I want to share a story with you.

Your last year of college is TERRIFYING. It is the time to truly start figuring out your life and getting things together. Entering into my last year, I was finishing up two bachelor’s degrees and starting my certificate. I had worked a variety of jobs, interned and held leadership positions in several organizations, but still did not know where I was headed after graduation.

Rachel, you will come across people that have the ability to change your life for the better if you let them.

Keep that door open for when opportunity knocks. Two of my all-time favorite quotes are:

It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.

Your network is your net worth.

I love these quotes because they motivate me to go out, meet new people and seek out opportunities.

Being a DECA member is something to take pride in. The organization is so widely known internationally, so don’t be afraid to brag about your experience! We DECA students have a reputation of being great workers in our careers. Best of luck in your future careers.

MARCH-APRIL | 2018

Over the past five years, DECA had been throwing opportunities at me and I was not present to catch them. Little did I know that one person I met through DECA would mean so much. A girl named Rachel Van West volunteers her time to give Collegiate DECA members the best experience possible and the time I spent networking with her turned into a really extraordinary opportunity. She became my mentor in more ways than one. Rachel helped me run for Collegiate DECA executive office and then hired me as her intern at Insight Enterprises.

Think back to all of those awkward networking moments and encounters with judges. The more you did them, the easier it got, correct? Cherish all of those moments where you thought something along the lines of, “Wow I can’t believe I just said that,” or, “Why did I just do that?”

In the working world, you are constantly meeting new people and engaging in business ventures. Those awkward moments are going to come again, but this time you will be better prepared to handle them. Similar to my experience with

DARCIE HILL

Collegiate Vice President @cdecavpdarcie

11

JUST BECAUSE SCHOOL IS OVER

DOESN’T MEAN DECA IS TOO!

12

How can you stay connected to everything DECA while on summer vacation? With #SummerofDECA!

in Chicago, Ill., this July. Even if you’re just hanging out at the pool, DECA wants to stay connected with you.

No matter what you’re doing this summer, DECA wants you to bring us along for the ride. Tag all your summer photos with #SummerofDECA on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to show us how you’re spending your break.

Be sure to follow @DECAInc on all its social media platforms, tag us in your photos and use #SummerofDECA whenever you post. You never know where your photo might end up – maybe on the DECA Inc. Instagram or Facebook page!

Maybe you’re vacationing with family or working a part-time job? Maybe you’re interning with an incredible company, building your résumé and expanding your network. Or maybe you’re working with your association officer team preparing for an incredible new year at DECA’s Emerging Leader Summit

We can’t wait to see what incredible adventures you take this summer, and we can’t wait for you to take DECA with you.

@DECAInc

BEST PRACTICES FOR PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL MEDIA USAGE FASHION INSTITUTE OF DESIGN & MERCHANDISING (FIDM)

Did you know that 90% of employers check social media before making hiring decisions, and that one in 10 young people are rejected from a job because of their social media presence?!

To make sure this doesn’t happen to you, avoid showing the following items on your social media platforms:

You know your social media presence may harm your job search efforts, but did you know that if you craft your professional social media presence carefully, it can actually help you land a job?

Follow some of these tips to curate your professional social media profiles:

Inappropriate pictures Profanity Politically divisive posts Long rants on any topic Any complaints about your current job/boss or any previous employers

Use your real name. This will make it easier for employers to find you, and it’s more professional than using a nickname.

Keep your image professional and consistent across all platforms.

Showcase your creativity by sharing projects or papers you have written.

Keep your LinkedIn profile up-to-date and check it daily.

It is never too early to start curating your social media platforms for your job search. Take some time today to work on one or more of these tips and keep it up until you’ve completed all ten.

Responding to the industry’s need for skilled workers to fill the ever-growing positions, FIDM launched a Social Media major, offering both an associates and a bachelor’s degree.

Additionally, always remember the golden rule of the Internet: once it is posted, it is forever findable and forever trackable.

If you are a good listener, have strong skills in pattern recognition, writing, statistical analysis, improvisation, and public speaking, this may be a career field that is right for you.

Visit fidm.edu to find out more about FIDM’s Social Media degree programs.

Think twice before you post something and make sure that you are comfortable with anyone finding your posts.

While social media is a powerful tool in your job search, did you know that it can also be a career path? In the past three years, LinkedIn saw social media job postings grow 1300%!

MARCH-APRIL | 2018

Follow and connect with companies that you’re interested in working for.

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BEHIND-THE-SCENES WITH

JOSEPH ABBOUD AT

NEW YORK FASHION WEEK

D

ECA has always been known for opening doors for its members, and Rachel Lynch, a New Jersey DECA association officer, experienced the power of DECA firsthand this past winter.

with Mrs. Passe’s throughout the fall to see if there were any times they needed me leading up to Fashion Week,” Rachel said. “I was pretty persistent with emailing her, but I was just so excited about the possibility of helping them!”

Rachel was invited to participate in a special project in August 2017 to help promote the 2018 DECA International Career Development Conference keynote speaker, Mr. Joseph Abboud.

Rachel spent a day in Mr. Abboud’s flagship store on Madison Avenue in New York City, interviewing the fashion designer about his career for a series of videos DECA Inc. was producing.

Rachel’s persistence paid off, and in early January, she took the train into New York City to spend the day at 1400 Broadway assisting Joseph Abboud’s team prepare for Fashion Week.

“Once we wrapped up filming, I asked Mr. Abboud’s public relations and marketing manager, Caroline Passe, if there were any opportunities to intern with Mr. Abboud for Fashion Week,” Rachel, who’s had an interest in the fashion industry for years, explained. “At first, Mrs. Passe said that Tailored Brands [the umbrella company that oversees Joseph Abboud’s brand] doesn’t take interns, but that there could be some job-shadowing opportunities available instead.”

Rachel took Mrs. Passe’s information and stayed persistent through the next few months.

“That same day I followed up with an email, and then I just kept checking in 14

When I first got there, I was given a desk and a folder with all the inspiration boards and the back story of this collection so I could have a better idea of the theme Mr. Abboud was going for,” Rachel said. “Then I spent a lot of time going through shoes from past seasons and finding ones that would work for the models in this show.”

“I got to help [Mrs. Passe] put together a presentation that would be shown to Tailored Brands after Mr. Abboud’s show was over, and would show [Tailored Brands] who was invited to the show, which editors were there and who wrote about the show.”

On the actual show day, Rachel got to watch the models run through their dress rehearsal, as well as escort guests to their seats before the show began.

The entire experience was something Rachel will never forget, and changed her idea of what the fashion industry is really like.

“I always had a Devil Wears Prada idea about the fashion industry, and thought everyone was very intense and high strung, especially before Fashion Week, but my own experience couldn’t have been more of the opposite,” Rachel shared. “Everyone was working together, no one had a negative attitude and it was just a really warm and friendly environment.”

Rachel’s favorite moment of her experience however was on show day.

“I couldn’t believe that Mr. Abboud remembered me and he told me that he was so happy I was able to be there that day,” Rachel said. “We were able to take a photo together before the show started and we just had a great, really casual conversation together. Mr. Abboud talked to me about the importance of staying true to your brand, but also taking risks, which this collection definitely had some big risks in it with color combinations, so that was a really neat experience to have with him.”

For someone who had always thought they wanted to pursue a career in the fashion industry, Rachel said this Fashion Week experience only solidified her dreams.

You never know going into a job or major if you’re going to love it, but having this experience under my belt has helped me realize that I will love working in this industry and I feel like now I can just focus on my studies instead of wondering if this is the right path. The day dreams I’ve had seem more real now.”

While not every DECA member can be randomly selected to spend a day interviewing a fashion designer like Rachel did, there are still plenty of ways you can get your foot in the door of the fashion industry too!

“Being in close proximity to New York City is definitely helpful, but there are so many programs and colleges with opportunities for students. Don’t let your location limit you and be open to any opportunity you come across,” Rachel advised. “You never know who you’re going to meet or how any experience will benefit you in the long run.”

DECA is so excited to have Mr. Abboud at this year’s #DECAICDC in Atlanta, Ga.! Be sure to check out the #DECAICDC Video Series to get a better idea of who Mr. Abboud is and discover his top tips on entrepreneurship, leadership and more!

Follow DECA on Twitter @DECAInc.

MARCH-APRIL | 2018

Another big task was moving boxes and materials from Mr. Abboud’s main office space to a much larger area in the building where all the pre-show styling and modeling would take place.

And although there were some typical “intern” tasks like getting coffee and picking up lunch for the team, Rachel also was able to help Mrs. Passe with some interesting, PR-related projects too.

15

DEVELOPING A CHAPTER STRATEGY THAT WORKS

@FLOWERANNEFAYE

Successful business strategy is about actively shaping the game you play, not just playing the game you find.”

- Adam Brandenburg & Barry Nalebuff HARKER DECA

D

ECA’s Chapter Strategy is just the tool you need to pave a smooth road for the year ahead. Strategy is essential to any successful enterprise and entrepreneurial leader. How people, ideas and resources come together to achieve results for your local chapter members is the key job of a DECA leader. DECA’s Chapter Strategy provides the framework and resources to develop a chapter in a businesslike context, helping members apply learning. Realize the full potential of your chapter by understanding the core elements of a successful DECA Chapter Strategy. Much like driving a car, success is about focusing on moving forward to where you want to go, and DECA’s Chapter Strategy will serve as your vehicle towards the destination.

LEADERSHIP TEAM

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Who is driving your chapter? Utilize DECA’s mission-based chapter officer positions to reflect a corporate leadership structure and set your chapter apart from other organizations or student clubs. DECA officer positions are aligned with each aspect of DECA’s mission and represent great leadership.

APPLETON EAST DECA

GET READY, GET SET…

Use DECA’s Elevate resources to create an organizational chart to fit the unique needs, size and goals of your DECA chapter.

Start with your elected officer positions, which make up the local executive leadership team. Below each elected position, identify directors, teams and/or committees to guide, support and execute activities.

IDEAS

We all have big dreams of what we want to achieve in our lives and in our DECA chapters. Setting measurable goals helps bring definition to those dreams. This definition allows you to better explain what you want to accomplish, coordinate your team efforts, track your progress, inspire your team members and continue refining your action plans to increase chances of success. Ask yourselves: are we running as efficiently and effectively as possible? With DECA Goals, you will reflect a corporate style of goals setting by assigning a goal range that everyone strives to achieve.

REV YOUR ENGINES

Meet with your local executive leadership team to set SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound) goals for the year and develop your chapter’s program of leadership. This is the time to get those gears working and ready for action. Utilize your chapter’s directors, teams and/or committees to engage DECA members in achieving

the chapter’s goals. Be sure to plan times to evaluate your chapter’s program of leadership throughout the year to see where you are currently, define your ultimate destination and highlight milestones achieved along the way.

RESOURCES

You are not in this alone! Connect with other local chapters, your association and the executive officer team to share ideas, wins and lessons learned as you work to the finish line to accomplish your chapter's goals.

GO! •

Use the DECA Elevate Leadership Tools to plan chapter events and fundraisers. deca.org/elevate

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Plan your social media engagement with DECA’s Social Media Guide, Content Calendar and Social Media Audit tools. deca.org/communications

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Learn and share with your peers through DECA Direct Online and the Social Media Correspondent Program. decadirect.org

•

Take photos of your activities; this will not only show your progress but create a portfolio of resources to use for future communications and social media postings.

HOW TO TRY ON COLLEGE & MAKE SURE IT FITS

C

hoosing a college is a big deal. It can feel like a blind date - except when you’ve moved halfway across the country you can’t just disappear during a trip to the bathroom if it’s not a good match.

Committing to something sight unseen can feel daunting, just like you wouldn’t want to buy a prom dress or suit without trying it on. It will be a worthwhile investment of your time to make sure that a college is the right culture fit.

Summer Immersion Programs, like Babson Summer Study for High School Students, make it possible for you to get a taste of what college life is like at a certain school, and even decide if a field of study is right for you. If you attend a program and it turns out that you don’t like either the institution or the major you imagined pursuing since you were ten, you just saved yourself time, frustration, and money.

Instead, why not sample college and an insider perspective and leave with new experiences and connections under your belt?

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EXPLORE NEW ACADEMIC FRONTIERS Academics are not micromanaged in college. There are no 7 AM wake up times (unless you’re just an early bird.) Professors might ask you to call them by their first name, and you get to choose your classes. The diversity of the curriculum is truly one of the highlights of the college experience that can be explored in a summer program.

Nicholas Di, Summer Study '17, expressed that this was one of his favorite parts of his immersion experience: “Summer Study offers a bunch of perspectives. For example, today we learned about business law and the other day we had a class on sustainability…it was really interesting to have such a high number of diverse classes within a four-week program.”

EXPERIENCE A DAY IN THE LIFE The siren call of social life in college is a big draw for many teenagers eager to move out of the house. When it comes to college culture, no two institutions are quite the same. Are you looking for a small campus where you can always find a friendly face to nod at when you walk to class or do you yearn to navigate a large campus pulsing with city life? Summer Immersion Programs bring people from all over the world together on one campus for a short period of time and they can allow you to get a feel of the type of people that could potentially be your classmates. Every campus has

Summer Immersion Programs offer an opportunity for students to try on certain career paths, especially if that field of study isn’t offered in high school. For Rachel Stoia ‘17, it was an opportunity to see if business, and specifically entrepreneurship, could be a good fit for her future.

"I’ve been exposed to what it means to be an entrepreneur,” shares Rachel. “Now, I’m always thinking about different opportunities— different problems that could be solved through entrepreneurship and could potentially become businesses.”

Whichever subject you choose to pursue, working through a college course by completing assignments, working on team dynamics, and completing final projects without reminders from mom and dad will help you be more successful in the future, even if it’s only to determine that maybe accounting isn’t right for you.

a unique community which attracts certain types of people.

For many, summer programs are the first time they get to interact with a diverse and often international background. Charlie McLaughlin, Summer Study '17, told us about how he found sharing global perspectives particularly rewarding, especially when learning about business.

“Everyone here comes from different parts of the world, different walks of life,” says Charlie, “and we were able to come together and think of ideas that I could never think of solely on my own. Meeting so many people with completely different mindsets, and bringing the ideas together is great.”

INVEST IN YOURSELF

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Summer Immersion Programs often have a transformative effect on students. Navigating your own educational and social experience often leads to introspection, as Theo Meta Hilb, Summer Study '17, explains. “I always knew that I wanted to do something that helps others, but also create a profitable business venture,” says Theo. “Babson provided me with the knowledge of social entrepreneurship and also gave me a global perspective. One of my favorite parts was meeting people from around the world and working together to improve each other's ideas.”

Going back to the chaos that is high school senior year after getting used to living life as a college student can feel weird. One second you become used to living on your own, taking classes you’re actually interested in, having fascinating intellectual discussions in class.

Then the next week you’re asking for permission to go to the bathroom, falling asleep in art history, and listening to friends talk about inside jokes you missed while away for the summer. However, at the same time you’re filled with a certainty about the future. While your friends are saying how they have no idea what they want to pursue or what college they even want apply to, you know all the answers to these questions.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FINANCIAL AID

even application fee waivers, so don’t be shy about asking questions if a website is unclear when outlining financial aid opportunities.

Don’t let cost deter you from applying to your dream Summer Immersion Program. Many college programs for high school students are committed to creating access for all qualified applicants by offering needbased financial aid and scholarships. Last year 30% of all of Babson College’s Summer Study participants received full or partial financial aid, including fulltuition scholarships with travel expenses. There are

Educating yourself on how to pursue financial aid opportunities can give you a leg up. Going through this process before your senior year will ensure that you don’t freak out when colleges ask you for things like W-2’s and tax returns. While your friends are scrambling to figure these things out you’ll be calm, collected, and done.

TRY BEFORE YOU BUY

Choosing a college is a big deal, so make your choice with confidence. Attending a Summer Immersion Program is an investment in yourself, your education and your greater social networks. Not to mention it’s a whole lot more impressive on a college application than burning through two seasons of Stranger Things.

To learn more about Babson College’s Summer Study for High School Students and discover what it means to live like a college student and learn like an entrepreneur visit:

www.babson.edu/summerstudy Applications are open until

March 15, 2018.

MARCH-APRIL | 2018

Summer Immersion Programs provide students with the opportunity to experience the college life and dip their feet in a field of study without committing to 4+ years at a specific institution. You’ll go through the actual college application process knowing what you want instead of having to guess about if you want a big state school or a private institution, west coast or east coast, among many other factors. You’ll be surprised by the effect that four weeks living away from home, doing your own laundry, and “adulting’ in general will have on you.

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D

oors will open when you are courageous enough to walk through them. That has been my motto since I joined DECA back when I was a freshman in high school. From the day I paid my membership fee, got my nickname “DECA Becca” and went to my first meeting, I have been exposed to amazing opportunities. You never know when you wake up in the morning what great chances will come your way until you walk out your front door and make them happen!

During a Senator Meet & Greet in May 2017, a group of fellow Berkeley College students, representatives and myself were given the chance to speak about each of our Berkeley College journeys and experiences. That day, I simply thought I was going to meet a few new people and go back to class. I ended up meeting a lovely woman named Andra Horsch.

Andra felt a strong connection to my Berkeley story and wanted me to be a part of the company she worked for. I was shocked and surprised when she handed me her business card after the meeting and said, “I am going to reach out to our internship coordinator, because I want you!”

Fast forward to September 2017 when I became the Public Relations Intern for Nicholas & Lence Communications in New York, NY. While interviewing for the position, I was able to really focus on what I learned through DECA in high school. I spoke about my Arkansas DECA President position, how DECA prepares leaders for their careers, and so much more.

Fast forward to September 2017 when I became the Public Relations Intern for Nicholas & Lence Communications in New York, NY. While interviewing for the position, I was able to really focus on what I learned through DECA in high school. I spoke about my Arkansas DECA President position, how DECA prepares leaders for their careers, and so much more.

This opportunity came to me at the perfect time in my college career and I couldn’t be happier to be a part of the NLC family. From my first day walking through the office doors, I knew I was going to learn so much and be a part of a company that truly cares about their clients. I have always had the DECA love for marketing communications, but I never knew just how much I would love public relations.

I am always excited to see what the day will hold when I get into work. The first task is always a “Daily Roundup.”

Everyone in the office is assigned a newspaper or magazine for the week to look for stories to send to the team regarding our over 40 clients, competitors or information that you feel everyone in the office should be aware of. As a student from Arkansas, I find this very interesting.

Although I love to follow politics, I never really have time to watch the news, so reading for my Daily Roundup has helped me gain useful knowledge of what is happening in New York every day.

One of my favorite duties that I perform as an intern at NLC is gathering clips from online sources and making them

look perfect to send to our clients. If any of our clients have been featured online, it is passed to me to pull off the outlet and put into a PowerPoint presentation to send out to them.

Another one of my favorite tasks is doing research on reporters and editors that the staff sends out pitches and press releases to. Among my many other responsibilities, I am asked throughout the week to do such things as post calendar listings, scan newspapers and attend press releases or client events.

I have been able to work on various clients in the food & beverage, hospitality, travel & tourism and political realms, providing me with a glimpse into what really happens behind the scenes of forming a cohesive message to send to the public.

Public relations is all about forming that bond between the company, client and the people you are trying to reach with the client’s story. Although PR is such a big and competitive field to be a part of, at Nicholas & Lence, I get the chance to work with some of the most dedicated PR professionals in New York City. It is very evident that this team wants the best for their clients, and this experience

so far has given me a great outlook on the field. Thanks to my internship, I recently decided that I want to continue to pursue a future in public relations after college.

From the CEO and President both saying good morning to me at my desk, to fellow office buddies asking me how my weekend was, it has truly been an amazing experience working for Nicholas & Lence Communications! I was so honored when they asked me to stay for another semester. I have to credit my college, Berkeley College, as well as DECA for preparing me as a student to enter into this internship with strong professionalism and dedicated work ethic. There are so many students out there looking for an opportunity like this, and I am so grateful that this opportunity opened up for me.

This article was written by former Alma DECA member and Arkansas DECA President, Rebecca Aguilera. Rebecca is currently studying at Berkeley College in New York City. You can follow Rebecca on Twitter @Itsdecabecca and follow Berkeley College @BerkeleyCollege.

REBECCA AGUILERA

former Alma DECA member & Arkansas DECA president

@Itsdecabecca

MARCH-APRIL | 2018

I have to credit my college, Berkeley College, as well as DECA for preparing me as a student to enter into this internship with strong professionalism and dedicated work ethic. There are so many students out there looking for an opportunity like this, and I am so grateful that this opportunity opened up for me.

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CHAPTER BUZZ

▲ SALINE COUNTY CAREER CENTER DECA MISSOURI

Members of Saline County Career Center DECA chapter posed in a DECA diamond to proudly proclaim, “United we stand!”

▲ NORTHWOOD UNIVERSITY COLLEGIATE DECA | MICHIGAN

Northwood University Collegiate DECA ended the Michigan Collegiate DECA Career Development Conference with 22 finalists and 14 members placing top three!

▲ BROOKFIELD CENTRAL DECA | WISCONSIN

Brookfield Central DECA members opened a new school-based enterprise this year, the Lancer Lounge, a full-service coffee shop!

▲ ALMA DECA | ARKANSAS

Arkansas DECA President and Alma DECA member, Grace Murphy, posed with Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson while accepting the 2018 Career & Technical Education Month Proclamation.

▲ RAYMOND S. KELLIS DECA ARIZONA

DECA members from Raymond S. Kellis High School had a great time at DECA Day at Disney during the 2018 DECA Sports & Entertainment Marketing Conference in Orlando, Fla., this past January.

◀ COPPERAS COVE DECA TEXAS

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Competition winners from Copperas Cove DECA proudly showed off their medallions and trophies after a successful day at the 2018 Texas DECA District 5 Career Development Conference.

▲ COON RAPIDS DECA | MINNESOTA

Coon Rapids DECA took on the NFL’s Financial Football Challenge during Super Bowl Week with former Super Bowl champion and two-time Pro Bowl Wide Receiver, Greg Jennings.

▲ NANSEMOND RIVER DECA VIRGINIA

◀ THUNDERRIDGE DECA COLORADO ThunderRidge DECA held its annual Unified Grizzlies basketball game to showcases its school’s special education program. At halftime this year, teachers that raised more than $600 total for the Make-A-Wish Foundation were pied in the face by Unified students.

MARCH-APRIL | 2018

Nansemond River DECA has became actively involved with the Y Street Program, which focuses on helping teens achieve healthy lifestyles, this year. Recently, 47 chapter members attended a training that included the members surveying students during their lunch shifts about the Breakfast Challenge, an initiative to bring awareness to the importance of eating a healthy breakfast every day and encourage teens to do so.

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CHAPTER BUZZ

▲ FEDERAL WAY DECA | WASHINGTON

Federal Way DECA members had a blast at the 2018 DECA Pro Sports Portland Trailblazers Career Day in Portland, Oregon.

▲ MILLARD NORTH DECA NEBRASKA

Millard North DECA members gave back to the community by volunteering at the Omaha Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

◀ MAYVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGIATE DECA | NORTH DAKOTA

Mayville State University Collegiate DECA had a great time at the 2018 North Dakota Collegiate DECA conference, where eight of its 10 chapter members qualified to compete at the upcoming Collegiate DECA International Career Development Conference!

▲ RAMÓN POWER Y GIRALT DECA PUERTO RICO

DECA members from Ramón Power Y Giralt High School in Las Piedras, Puerto Rico, said hello during a DECA holiday celebration.

▲ MOUNT HOREB DECA | WISCONSIN

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Mount Horeb DECA organized charitable events for the Make A Wish Foundation and so far has raised $2,000 of its $3,000 goal. The DECA chapter plans to donate the money raised to Caleb, an 11-year old boy who has a rare form of cancer.

Study in New York

Apply now for DECA Participant Scholarships “Growing up in Arkansas, I was so excited to win a DECA Scholarship to Berkeley College in New York! DECA is a great organization that exposed us to the fundamentals of business.

Berkeley takes it to the next level with great relationships with many corporations and networking opportunities that can be a great career advantage.”

Rebecca Aguilera Marketing Communications Former DECA State President - Arkansas

Apply Today: • Download and complete the DECA Participation Scholarship Application (BerkeleyCollege.edu/LP/DECA).

• Scholarships are renewable yearly based on GPA and consecutive full-time enrollment.* For more information, call 800-446-5400 ext. GDF or email info@BerkeleyCollege.edu

Find us @BerkeleyCollege • #BerkeleyCollege

Programs offered in New York, New Jersey, and Online Schedule an in-person visit, or arrange an online virtual tour with an Admissions Associate Berkeley College reserves the right to add, discontinue, or modify its programs and policies at any time. Modifications subsequent to the original publication of this document may not be reflected here.

For the most up-to-date information, please visit BerkeleyCollege.edu. For more information about Berkeley College graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed programs, and other important disclosures, please visit BerkeleyCollege.edu/disclosures. *Award amounts applied after all other federal and state grants and scholarships are calculated, and will not exceed the remaining cost of tuition and fees. Cost of books and supplies not included.

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