From Mar. 7-10, Amador Valley DECA attended the annual State Career Development Conference in Anaheim, California.
At the annual statewide conference, 6,000 students attended from all over California. Students were able to immerse themselves in various activities, from business simulations to role-playing and written exams. The event also offered students an opportunity to make connections with other students who share their passion for business.
“Joining DECA was one of the best decisions I made in high school. I met so many amazing people and grew into a leader,” said DECA member Anya Kashiramka (‘26).
DECA is a program that provides student-led, student-based opportunities to develop practical business skills and network with industry professionals. AV DECA students have a strong track record of success at regional, state, and international levels where many students from the program consistently place in the top ten.
“I felt really nervous during the competition because for roleplays, you have to do it on the spot. There isn’t much that you can do beforehand except for practicing, so I was hoping that I would get an easy prompt,” said Chloe Fan (‘26).
Beyond competitions and workshops, DECA offers a unique opportunity for students to connect and make new friends. Students are able to work together, share ideas, and simply chat between events. DECA fosters an environment where students can bond over shared interests and make lasting connections that extend beyond the conference room.
“I’ve met a lot of interesting people, and exchanged Instagrams with them. They’re not super close friends. but they’re people that I might be able to contact later in future competitions and ask them questions,” said Kashiramka.
Students prepare for the annual summit with by studying, practicing role-plays, and refining business plans. This work paid off as many students placed on the podium in their respective events.
“I worked a lot on the presentation of our written project to make sure we had our scripts memorized and also had the actual report submitted on time. For my individual event, I spent time reviewing the different possible prompts. That way I can get familiar with what may appear in competition,” said DECA Chief Financial officer Kacie Hu (‘24).
At the competition, students put their skills to the test, and the results varied. Some students excelled, impressing judges with their innovative ideas and polished presentations. All the students interviewed highlighted that the memories made and experiences gained were what mattered most to them.
“I got 4th place this year in an event I got 2nd in last year so I was initially a little disappointed. But I also knew that I hadn’t put in as much work as I did in the past years just because I’m a senior now. There won’t be a next time for me which is really bittersweet but I think I’m satisfied with my performance. I’m just happy that I got to experience the conference one last time,” said Hu.
