by Eileen Bailey

Created on: October 28, 2009

DECA, strictly speaking, is an "association of marketing students." Founded in 1947, DECA is now the second-largest student-run organization in the country, and is also international, with chapters in Guam, Germany, Mexico, Canada, and elsewhere. But really, this is the bare bones of the issue. DECA is much more than just marketing: it is an opportunity to grow as a person and to discover your own identity. As a heavily-involved member of DECA, and now a Washington DECA state officer, I am deeply appreciative to the organization for making me into the person I am today.

The activities of DECA are focused on four fields, which are the four corners of the DECA diamond:

Leadership Development

Civic Consciousness

Social Intelligence

Vocational Understanding

For leadership development, there are workshops and various opportunities, such as being a state officer.

For civic consciousness, members are encouraged to volunteer in the community and various levels of the organization also conduct their own charitable drives (for example, national DECA heavily supports the MDA and Washington DECA works with the Ronald McDonald Houses.)

For social intelligence, there is networking with peers and business professionals, as well as seminars about associating both professionally and informally with others.

For vocational understanding, there are simulated roleplays and chances to job shadow.

But even with this evaluation, we are only scratching the bare surface of what DECA is. There is so much to do in DECA - conferences, competition, workshops, community service, individual chapter activities, etc. - that it would be impossible to describe all of it wholly through the use of mere words. Each member gains from the organization in some way; a person who competes by writing and presenting a 30-page manual for an Internet Marketing Plan might be able to take the knowledge of their plan and develop it into a real business, and a student who is able to speak in front of thousands of peers as a state officer may henceforth develop public speaking skills that will help them in a variety of positions.

For a student interested in marketing or business, DECA is an invaluable resource; there is so much to gain from DECA, that, even if there is a cost, the reward far outweighs it. Besides, DECA is able to offer great financial aid because they are involved actively with other businesses. Last year, I went from Washington state to Anaheim, California for nationals and, because of scholarships, it only cost me $40 total for the flights, a fancy hotel room for 6 days, and all other amenities besides food; some DECA chapters even pay for food as well.

Even for those not interested specifically in marketing or business, DECA is still accessible and worthwhile. The skills obtained through DECA - such as public speaking, interviewing, general leadership, community service, etc. - can be applicable to almost any situation. DECA's members include those who want to go into nursing, teaching, sports, journalism, and a wide variety of other occupations. It is in no way restricted to only marketing students, and members can gain vast amounts of information relevant to their lives and their futures regardless of their specific field of interest.

If you or your child are in high school currently, it is definitely recommended to join DECA. No matter what the interest, DECA is rewarding for its members. Like all activities, you get out of it what you put into it. If you put in a lot, and take advantage of all of the opportunities DECA provides, I promise that you or your child will be positively impacted and will gain auspicious insight for the future.

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