If there is one thing I have learned throughout my DECA experience, it is important to say yes.
Not every opportunity I have been given through DECA was something I immediately felt comfortable doing. Oftentimes, I was nervous, unsure of myself, or had no idea what I was actually getting myself into. But looking back, some of the best moments of my life and my DECA journey started with a simple yes.
My DECA story originally started in high school, when I was encouraged to help start a chapter at my school. At the time, I had no idea that saying yes would eventually lead me to this moment. I didn't think it would lead me to competitions, ICDC, leadership opportunities, and a career interest in marketing. I certainly did not expect that years later I would be serving as one of your International Collegiate DECA Vice Presidents.
When I got to college, I had another decision to make: Would I continue my DECA journey?
That yes led me to start a Collegiate DECA chapter at my university. It introduced me to a completely new side of DECA and allowed me to build something from the ground up. I met people who became some of my closest friends, learned how to lead a chapter, and discovered that I enjoyed the behind-the-scenes side of DECA just as much as being in the spotlight.
One of the biggest examples of saying yes happened when I traveled to Tampa, Florida, for Collegiate DECA Engage 2025. I went completely by myself.
I remember being incredibly nervous about traveling to a new place and walking into a room of people, alone.
Looking back, going to Tampa alone was one of the best decisions I have made through DECA.
I met some of my best friends on that trip, people I still talk to and keep in contact with today. What started as a trip where I barely knew anyone turned into an experience filled with new friendships, conversations and memories that I never could have planned. It reminded me that sometimes the best part of saying yes is the people and communities you meet along the way.
Then came another yes: running for Executive Office.
I am not going to sugarcoat it; running for executive office was incredibly intimidating. Many crash-outs happened, late-night phone calls, and moments where I didn't even believe in myself. Running for a position like this meant putting myself out there, meeting new people, speaking in front of big crowds, and simply being willing to take a chance on myself. I did not know what the outcome would be, but I knew I would regret it if I never tried.
That experience taught me something important: saying yes does not mean you know exactly what will happen next. However, it means you are willing to find out.
Since then, I have continued saying yes to opportunities I never expected. I have traveled, written way too many DECA Direct Articles, spoken in front of crowds I would never have said yes to, worked with chapters from across the country, and helped create new opportunities for Collegiate DECA members. Each experience has taught me something different. But some of my favorite “yes” moments have not been the biggest ones. They have been saying yes to meeting someone new at a conference, working with a member, helping a new chapter grow, or taking a chance on an opportunity that initially felt outside of my comfort zone.
DECA has taught me that growth does not always come from the opportunities we plan for. Sometimes, it comes from the opportunities we almost say no to.
So, the next time you are presented with a DECA opportunity, take a second before you say no. Maybe it is a competition you are nervous about, a leadership position you do not think you are qualified for, a conference you are unsure about attending, or simply an opportunity to meet someone new.
You do not have to know exactly where it will lead.
Sometimes, all you have to say is yes.
