By Kate Parisi | Butler University, IN
College organizations often help students get connected on campus, but leadership within those organizations fosters a level of growth difficult to find anywhere else. The moment others begin depending on you, your mindset shifts. You stop thinking only about your own involvement and start focusing on the experience of the entire group. Leadership teaches you how to carry responsibility, remain dependable and step forward even when challenges arise.
Collegiate DECA has been the space where this transformation happened for me. From the outside, many people see competitions and conferences, but what they do not always see is the preparation and structure required to make those experiences successful. Leaders help create that foundation, and being part of that process reshaped how I view both teamwork and responsibility.
For the past three years, I have served on the executive board, an experience that steadily pushed me outside my comfort zone. Each year brought new expectations and a stronger sense that others were counting on me.
Most recently, in my role as Vice President of Career Development, my priority was helping members feel ready before they ever walked into a competitive setting. Holding office hours became one of the most impactful parts of that role. It created a consistent space where members could ask questions, talk through ideas or gain reassurance. Those conversations taught me that leadership often shows itself in quiet moments. Sometimes people need detailed feedback. Other times, they need someone willing to listen and guide them forward.
I also worked closely on preparation, including mock competitions. Watching members walk in, unsure of themselves and gradually grow more confident, was a reminder that preparation shapes performance. It reinforced the idea that leadership is not about visibility or recognition. Much of it happens behind the scenes through steady effort. Serving on the board year after year also changed how I approach commitment.
Leadership is not defined by a single event or one strong semester. It is built through consistency. People learn to trust you when you keep showing up and handle what needs to be done. There were times when plans shifted unexpectedly, or extra support was required, and those moments strengthened my ability to stay composed and make thoughtful decisions.
Looking back, DECA gave me more than involvement. It gave me real leadership experience while I was still in college. I learned how to support others without being asked, create stability within a team and lead in a way that makes people feel prepared rather than pressured. Student organizations have the potential to shape a person far beyond their college years, but that growth looks different when you choose to lead.
For me, Collegiate DECA became the environment where leadership stopped feeling intimidating and started feeling natural. It is an experience that has prepared me to step confidently into future academic and professional spaces, knowing I can handle responsibility and guide others when it matters most.
