In the fall of 2019, senior Grace McClure was elected to be the North Carolina DECA Blue Ridge Vice President, a leadership position on the state level. Now, more than a year later, McClure reflects on her role and the experiences she gained from DECA throughout high school.
The journey has lended McClure the opportunity to grow as an individual outside of school, especially in the higher leadership position in which she has served. McClure was not just selected for the role of state officer, either. She campaigned for her role and practiced marketing strategies in selling her own platform to student voters. But the challenges facing McClure certainly did not end once she made the team.
“This year did come with its fair share of struggles. With this year being mostly online we had to learn how to adapt and overcome that challenge. It was very difficult to find ways to engage our members online when traditionally most of our activities are in person,” McClure says. “We were able to work together to come up with some ideas that many of the members seemed to greatly enjoy. While this year was very different we were still able to provide an engaging year.”
However, McClure also says, “Being a state officer was one of the greatest experiences for me and an honor to represent Watauga High and the Blue Ridge Region. This role allowed me to expand on my leadership skills and grow in that area. I was able to make some amazing friendships and interact with others in the organization all over the United States.”
McClure specifically confirms that leadership opportunities and other DECA events increased her confidence, improved her public speaking skills and taught her how to step out of her comfort zone. She says, “DECA has taught me so much about leadership. Through being a Watauga officer to being a NC state officer, I was able to greatly expand my leadership skills. I was able to expand my skills when working on a higher level and with more students.”
Senior Savannah Grizzard, the current DECA Vice President of Hospitality, says, “DECA has taught me that people talking to people is the most important and helpful way to get further in life. Preparing for competitions, learning professional development skills, actually competing, and interacting with the amazing members of this club prepared me to use my voice more in social settings. Not being scared of public speaking is one thing, but learning to use your voice to your advantage is another entirely.”
Grizzard and McClure have also had the opportunity to make lasting memories through their friendships, travels and events in DECA. Grizzard specifically remembers a trip to the Sports and Entertainment Conference in Orlando, Florida when, despite issues with rooming and packing and more, she and her friends were able to find the fun in their unfortunate circumstances.
“The four of us just had a great time other than that at the parks and it was a great trip, but laughing until our stomachs hurt in the hallway of a hotel at midnight is definitely a stand-out moment,” Grizzard recalls.
Travel of this scale has unfortunately not been an option for the last year, but DECA continues to offer experiences that, even with the challenges posed by COVID-19, have not been removed from the club’s program.
Club advisor and marketing teacher Mrs. Olivia Tarnowski says, “DECA has been able to compete in all of our competitions this year but everything has been held virtually. We competed at our District level competition in the fall, State level competition in February, and International level competition in April. The expectations and requirements for our competitions did not change other than everything moved to a virtual platform for each competition.”
Even though the club has not been able to travel for these events, DECA members have still found ways to stay engaged and reflect upon their experiences.
As the students involved in DECA find opportunities to explore their own interests and future pursuits, Mrs. Tarnowski also finds that guiding members through this process of self-discovery is a fulfilling part of her job. Mrs. Tarowski says, “The most rewarding part about being the WHS DECA advisor is building relationships with our members to help them succeed throughout high school and after graduation. I absolutely love being able to encourage our members to find what they are passionate about and cheer them on along the way.”
In just a few short weeks, McClure and many of her peers in DECA will graduate and move on to new educational goals and career opportunities. McClure plans to pursue education, and DECA has influenced her future occupation goals.
“I definitely think that I will be using the skills DECA has taught me in the future. I have already started using these skills I have gained. I have used these skills to help me better interact with people, be more comfortable in social and professional situations and become a better and stronger leader. I know that the skills taught in DECA will be beneficial for many different aspects of my future whether it is in my college experience, future career, or just life in general,” McClure says.
Grizzard agrees, saying, “I recommend DECA to anyone who wants to improve at problem-solving, at being creative, or just wants to learn about real-world dynamics. I feel far better prepared to enter college and the rest of my career with the practice and knowledge I received from being involved in DECA.”
McClure also encourages all high school students to get plugged into a club built to grow students as individuals and as a part of a community. McClure states, “I believe that students should get involved in organizations like DECA because they provide them with skills that can be useful in many different aspects of their lives. DECA and other organizations allow students to learn more about themselves, how to become more comfortable in speaking to others, and gain amazing friendships.”
Written by: Bethany Hicks
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