DECA Nationals 2016 Experience

     Although I am opening my eyes into FBLA and other marketing aspects of high school, DECA has my heart. This past week, I competed at nationals with my partner, Reed Reynolds. After getting third place at DECA state, Reed and I improved our presentation and boards with the hope of winning at nationals.
     This years nationals was held in Nashville, and while it was very close to home, it was still exciting to see 18,000 high school students in our city. Practicing is always a must when it comes to the presentation aspect of DECA, and at the national level, there is a new desire to win. Reed and I competed on Monday at 2:20. Up until that specific time, we were rehearsing lines, tone, and facial expressions. When walking into the new Music City Center and seeing your opponents, your adrenaline rises to an all time high.
     The first presentation when well. There was little stuttering, and no lines missed. It could not have gone better. After that, Reed and I were hoping to make it to finals. The way the competition works is simple. The community service project category was divided in sections A-J with 17 groups in each section. Top 2 teams from each letter section advance to finals. Knowing this, Reed and I were very anxious to find out if we continues on in the competition.
     Tuesday morning we attended the mini awards session, where students discover who advances onto the final round. That is when we were called on stage-Reed and I advanced onto the next round!
     After that, we headed straight back into the competition, presenting our project to 2 new judges. This presentation we gave it our all, and came out feeling confident and nervous.
     That night, the final awards were announced. Top 10 teams made it on stage, and top 3 get the glass. Sitting and waiting for 2 hours for our event to be called was the most nerve racking experience of my life. When community service was called, Reed and I were the LAST team called, making us have a mini heart attack.
     We ran to the stage, only to discover that we won 3rd place in the entire competition. We were so excited and proud to discover that all of our hard work had paid off.
     We could not have achieved this goal without the help of our marketing teachers, and everyone who donated to Inspiring to Include. DECA ICDC was one for the books.

Creating a Lesson Plan

     Getting ready for my final presentation, I brainstormed with Coach Yarbrough on what topic I should teach about. We discussed what topics would be easiest for students to grasp and learn the lesson effectively. Our final decision was to present the class with the topic of a sales pitch.
     No matter how old you are, or how much business experience you have, everyone needs to have a basic background on how to sell an idea to an audience. A basic sales pitch can be achieved through a simple process, but you have to know how to SELL your information.
     For the rest of our lives, students are going to run into people that disagree with them. Knowing how to respectively fight back their ideas by using the correct method and process, winning over an audience will become easier.
     For my final presentation, I am planning on creating a list of tips and tricks on how to create the best sales pitch possible. Through a PowerPoint presentation and a handout, Mr. Dittes's class will become efficient in learning how to become a 'sales person'.
     Although many students will not become sales people, learning how to give a sales pitch and tell others your facts and opinions will help everyone in life.

Cost of Living as a Marketing Teacher

    When discussing a career path, the salary is among the top decision making factors. How much will I make? Will it be a comfortable living? Studies show that the United States is the 6th highest paying country for teachers. Making an average of $53,758 a year (The Countries).

Knowing this, becoming a business teacher is still appealing. In the future, with my husband making a similar wage, we will be able to live a comfortable life.

It is also a proven fact that teachers will further degrees get paid substantially more per year. As I have talked to teachers with a masters and doctorate degree, they say that they are able to provide their family with $4,000 to $7,500 more every year.

Knowing this fact, I will start looking into firther business degrees after a simple bachelor's in college. By starting off my career later, but with a deeper education background, that would make me more competitive in the teaching and marketing industry when I am older.


    

 "High School Business Teacher: Salary and Career Facts." U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2003. Web. 14 Apr. 2016. <http://learn.org/articles/High_School_Business_Teacher_Your_Salary_and_Career_Questions_Answered.html

"The Countries Where Teachers Get Paid The Most." Satista. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 16.
            <https://www.statista.com/chart/4087/the-countries-where-teachers-get-paid-the-most/

DECA State 2016 Experience

 

     One of the most exciting parts in my marketing world is competing at DECA state every year. After a full semester of preparations, it makes or breaks your project. This year, I competed in the Community Service Project with my partner Reed Reynolds. Together we raised $10,909.37 for special needs playground equipment at two local elementary schools.
     For our competition, we wrote a 30 page paper, and took part in a 15 minute presentation at the event. In total, we created 14 events with our start up non-profit titled "Inspiring to Include". We partnered with Burrus and Station Camp Elementary to raise over $5,000 as our biggest source of income. Besides our events, we received generous donations from community members and local businesses.
     The actual competition factor went great. Reed and I rehearsed our presentation multiple times to prepare ourselves for the nerve racking event. In front of the judge, we kept our emotions under control and executed a performance better than our practices. It is personally one of the most exciting parts of being involved with high school DECA. Being able to be in charge of your own outcome makes it put all the pressure on yourself, but determination can make a huge difference. Being driven to make it to nationals is what kept me going through all of the frustrations that came along with the project.
     In the end, Inspiring to Include placed 3rd in the state, losing 1st by 2 points. Reed and I will compete on April 22nd at the National DECA level, hoping to place top 20 in the world.
    I hope hearing about the excitement of the DECA state competition makes more people join the amazing club.