The countdown is on for the State Leadership Conference (SLC)! Held between February 27 through March 2 at Virginia Beach, SLC is attended by our Titan DECA members and advisors. Distributive Education Clubs of America, more commonly known as DECA, is a nonprofit organization that prepares students for a career in business. DECA is available in high school and colleges all around the globe. SLC is a state competition that members must compete in order to advance to ICDC, the organization’s international competition in the Spring. With the countdown on, many preparations are taking place: from advancing work on projects to practicing role-plays, Hidden Valley participants are DECA glass ready. Maya Ghobrial (12) says, “Preparing for SLC has definitely been changing and a lot of work, but I’m excited to see it pay off once we place!”
At SLC, there are a multitude of categories students can compete in. If members previously qualified at DLC, the district competition, they can compete their role-play; however, if they did not, there are still so many ways to attend SLC. Those who did not qualify at DLC can still compete at SLC if they are a part of a team role-play – in which they and a partner role-play – or if they chose to complete one of the many projects available to them. Many of our Titans did qualify at DLC, but those who did not or rather do not want to perform their role-play at SLC, are still attending to present a project.
With preparations underway, stress can build up since normal life doesn’t stop for DECA. Adding a project, test prep, or practice role-plays into a student’s everyday schedule can be overwhelming with sports, school, work and a social life; however, for some students this stress manifests as an anticipatory excitement. “SLC preparations don’t really stress me out because I enjoy doing it!” says Carlie Plunkett (12). The entire Hidden Valley High School community is wishing its competing Titans the best of luck at SLC coming up this month and looks forward to all their hard work paying off!
