Reluctant to Join DECA? Why Not Give it a Try?

Last week, the DECA Event and Shark Tank Experience class took off to Quincy for the yearly DECA competition. Scituate High School has always excelled at the event, and this year was no exception. The teams and individual participators ranked highly in their categories, and a few students even qualified for the state competition in Orlando, Florida, this March.

The DECA competition isn’t complicated, but it requires people to think quickly on the spot. First, the competitors are given a schedule and assigned two roles to play during the day. Each role embodies a different scenario in which each participator has to use their prior business knowledge to create a presentation about their assigned business. The teams have 30 minutes to prepare a presentation in prep rooms; then they present their business proposal to a judge and answer logistical questions.

This may seem daunting for people who fear public speaking, but the DECA class urges everyone to participate, as they have found it to be extremely beneficial. Three members of the class who went to DECA shared their experiences, and they gave excellent advice.

Senior Caroline James claimed, “Do at least one business class because if you don’t know what you want to do, business could be that one class where you decide what you want to do with your life.” James said if students are struggling to apply their talents to a career choice, why not give DECA a try?

Senior Lauren Fishman also suggested, “Regardless of any experience, I would go for DECA because I had no experience. You don’t know your own strengths.” Sometimes students discover that business management is truly their calling.

If you’re reluctant to attend DECA as a newcomer, junior Emily O’Connor has a few words of wisdom for you: “It’s not incredibly hard, but it still challenges you, and you can apply these skills later in life.” Participants have nothing to lose, and they gain public speaking experience, general business skills, and confidence.