Ten minutes to analyze a problem, craft a solution, and present it to a panel of judges with unwavering confidence. That is the problem that DECA students face every time they walk into a competition, and this year, several of our Howell Highlanders were ready for the challenge, making it all the way to states after a stellar performance at districts.
DECA is a student-led, business-oriented club with a primary focus on marketing, hospitality, and leadership skills. This focus places students in real-world competitions that test both their knowledge and presentation skills.
Matt Pashak, DECA club sponsor and coach, said, “…it’s really hard to describe what DECA is to students, it’s amazing. My biggest job is to get them to put their foot in the door, the first time, because I have a tough time describing it. But, what happens is, on competition day, we get thee and the students get divided into the category they’ll be competing in… they either work in pairs or singles, then compete against a number of other students…”
Students can compete in a wide range of events, from sports marketing and business law to hospitality and tourism. DECA student, Abigail Harrison, participates in Hospitality and Travel Services, one of DECA’s many offerings.
Harrison said, “They really have everything you can think of. From business law and ethics to sports marketing and hospitality. This year, we even had a Pistons Day in Detroit where we met the marketing team, watched them work, and explored Wayne State University. It was super awesome.”
In addition to the competition results, DECA teaches its students skills that can be used long after high school graduation, like building confidence and quick thinking
Pashak said, “It teaches them to think on their feet, because they have ten minutes to decide how to solve their problem, and that’s a big [ask]. Because a lot of times they have much more time to prepare for whatever they are doing in school… there’s no redos, no retests, you get one shot at it.”
For DECA student Mia Romo, DECA helped her move past public speaking anxiety and step outside her comfort zone.
Romo said, “I thought it was a really good opportunity, because usually I’m not very good at presenting in front of people, so I thought that this would be a really good opportunity in improving that…helping with that anxiety that I got before I presented.”
All of Romo’s hard work paid off at the district competition, where she and her team qualified for the state competition, a moment that came as a big surprise.
“I was really not expecting to, but when I got called up [on stage] I was really excited…There is this website called DECA+ that helps prepare you for your roleplays, and I just used that a lot.”
Now that the Howell DECA students have qualified for states, the expectations and pressures have changed for Coach Pashak and the team.
Pashak said, “We didn’t come this far to just come to states, put in a little more effort…if they can work on their testing…it increases their chances of moving on. Don’t just show up for that weekend, show up to increase our chances of going to Atlanta.”
With those words, Harrison and her partner have shifted their approach to a more rigorous study schedule.
Harrison said, “It definitely has changed a bit. We now have to take a 100-question exam, so my partner and I are gonna study a lot more for that than we already did, because your score correlates with what you get in your roleplay…we walked into Districts with the bare minimum of what you need. So a lot more on how to be more creative, practicing with the rope plays, and then studying for the test.”
Even with the intense schedules, DECA students still manage to form a balance between school and their extracurricular activities.
Harrison said, “My schoolwork always comes first, that’s my priority, and then after I’m done with schoolwork, if I have free time, I’ll just go to DECA… and kind of quiz myself…so when it comes down to it, you know what to do.”
As the state competition in Huntington Place approaches, our students are focused on improving their skills, performing at their best, and potentially advancing to nationals in Atlanta. Regardless of the outcome, many said that DECA has already helped them grow in confidence, communication, and problem-solving skills that extend far beyond competition day.
