"...that's not what ships are for."

2012-03-27

Opportunities of a lifetime don’t come around very often. It isn’t every day that you are offered an amazing internship, the lead in a play, or even the chance to run for national office. It can be scary to take advantage of these moments, but from experience I can tell you that no matter the outcome, you will always look back and see how much one moment changed your life.

This year hasn’t just provided me with an opportunity to meet and work with some pretty amazing people (you!), but it has challenged me to work on time management, it has shown me that I can find support anywhere, and it has taught me not to give up on myself. None of us are perfect at everything we do but I believe it’s the experience that really counts. The feeling that this year has left me with is indescribable. There are so many people who I crossed paths with that have shown me what it means to be passionate and dedicated about something that inspires me.

There are only a few who get the chance to experience DECA in the way Team 66, the past national officers and I did, but I hope that all DECA members can get the chance to create their own amazing experiences. Your teachers may constantly nag you to attend workshops. They are there for a reason: to expand your abilities. Competitive events are a perfect way to get a look into a possible future career, so put some thought into which event you choose! Officer positions are amazing ways to experience DECA differently. Whether it is on chapter, state, or national level, just running for a position may give you a different outlook on our organization and inspire you to get more involved. All it requires is for you to step outside of your comfort zone. DECA shows us how to become EXPERIENCED LEADERS. So instead of sitting back and letting your DECA memories slide on by, take initiative and get involved. You may inspire your friend or someone you don’t even know. Imagine how amazing our DECA experiences could be if we all put in effort to do something we had never imagined.

“A ship is safe in harbor, but that’s not what ships are for.” – William Shedd