DECA, the well recognized business club at EPHS has been around for some time now. In 2002, Elmwood Park High School started their affiliation with DECA, a national group that was designed to prepare emerging leaders and entrepreneurs that are interested in future careers revolving around marketing, finance, hospitality, and management in high schools and colleges around the globe. With 258,082 high school members, and 4,671 collegiate members, it’s certainly not up for debate that this organization gets lots of attention around the nation. Through involvement in training, entrepreneurship, competitions and working with real world business leaders, students are able to get experience in the business world. DECA focuses on preparing the next generation to be academically prepared, community oriented, professionally responsible and experienced leaders. 

What does DECA do at EPHS?

EPHS’ very own DECA participates in area and state leadership and career conferences, as well as area, state and international competitions. For 20 out of the last 21 years, EPHS has qualified for Internationals. This year’s International Competition will be held in Orlando, FL. DECA participates in sports marketing seminars, fun community projects, such as the Daddy-Daughter Dance, and lastly service projects, such as Spike for a Cause, which raised $9,000 for the Alzheimer’s Foundation last year.

Interview with current DECA member

Natalia Ciura, senior and vice-president of public relations for DECA at EPHS, was kind enough to sit down for an interview with me. In her interview, I asked her about her perspective on DECA, why she joined, and why others should join.

Why did you join DECA?

Ciura says, “The competition for me was the big thing, I’m a very competitive person. Being able to compete in all the competitions is something I enjoy doing.” I then asked her what she liked most about DECA. Ciura says, “DECA taught me how to communicate on the spot. I was able to meet new people, and persuade them immediately with a solution I had.” 

How has DECA affected your life?

Ciura says, “DECA has given me lots of opportunities, especially at competitions where I am able to meet a variety of different people. At competitions, I have been offered business cards, which has given me lots of connections that are useful in the business world. I’ve been able to meet new people from all over the world, including Hong Kong and the Dominican Republic, through networking. DECA people love to network. Networking is being able to find connections with others, it allows you to learn from others and showcase your own talents.”

Why should people join DECA?

According to Ciura, “DECA teaches you life skills that aren’t applicable to only business. However, it teaches you things that could be used in other opportunities. DECA lets you become comfortable with yourself and others. Being able to speak in front of others may not be something you are able to do. However, DECA allows you to find things about yourself you didn’t know you had in you. For example, it can help you become a sociable person while also enhancing your life skills that you didn’t know you were capable of. An example of using your social skills in DECA is during role-plays.”

Role-Plays

What are role-plays? Role-plays are where you’re given a specific scenario and then role-play a position in the business world. You are presented with a prompt or problem. Then you are given 10-30 minutes to gather all your thoughts. Finally, you present your ideas to a judge. Role-plays are a great way for students to get practice in the business world. Being able to think on the spot and solve problems with little preparation takes a lot of effort. 

What does DECA look for in a member?

Ciura explains, “There isn’t a baseline for what we are looking for. DECA takes everyone. If you are interested in business, competitions, traveling, having fun, hanging out with your friends, and if you’re interested in leadership, DECA is the place for you. One misconception we hear about DECA is that you need to be academically smart. Bad grades don’t immediately mean you’re not cut out for DECA. Our biggest thing is being able to communicate well. You could have excellent grades, however, not be able to communicate well. You could also have terrible grades, but excel at DECA. Your grades don’t define who you are at DECA and your performance. DECA is a much better way to experience the business world. Although our school may be small and not have the same resources as bigger schools, our determination is shown through our results. I believe that compared to a business class, DECA is a much better way to experience the business world.” 

Conclusion

DECA is a successful club. With members ranging from freshmen to seniors, DECA is a place for everybody. However, putting in your time and effort will show results. You won’t see the same results as others who put in as much time and effort as they do. As Natalia Ciura says, “You get what you take.”  Lastly, don’t be afraid of trying DECA. It’s a club that can help you in many ways and lead you to lots of different pathways.

Work Cited:

• DECA. (2024). DECA. Retrieved September 5, 2024 from https://www.deca.org/ 
• (N. Ciura, personal communication, September 10, 2024).