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Earlier this month, I was fortunate enough to attend the New Jersey FBLA State Leadership Conference in Atlantic City.
Last December, members of our high school’s FBLA club took tests covering a wide range of topics relating to business. I took the test for journalism, preparing for it by studying terms related to subjects such as broadcasting and news coverage. I ended up placing seventh in the northern region, which allowed me to attend the conference.
In February, I took another test, not thinking it would matter. If I’m being honest, I wasn’t even aware I was going to be taking this test when I did until my friend told me on our way to school. Going to Atlantic City for three days was probably one of my favorite and most memorable high school experiences. Being in a space where there are thousands of other people my age who are passionate about the same club brought a sense of community, despite me not knowing a single person there.
The workshops we attended were led by people who made it their goal to help students going into a business field, reminding me that people who want others to succeed do exist. The trip also taught me independence, as this was the longest I’d been away from my family. I was responsible for my own meals, showing up to events on time, and for myself.
On the second night of the trip, we attended an awards ceremony where I ended up placing in the Top 10 in New Jersey for the journalism category, much to my surprise, considering how unprepared I was for the second test.
Something I noticed a few days later was that, although having a major accomplishment, hearing my name called and going up on stage is the only thing I can’t remember about the trip. I vividly remember going to a restaurant before the awards ceremony and how tired I was after, but the time between is a blur. I believe this is because I was alone during those few minutes.
Leading up to the ceremony, I was surrounded by people eating dinner, and afterwards I was talking to my friend about how tired we were and how excited we were to go home.
If I remember anything about the ceremony itself, it was asking one of my friends to go up to the stage with me because I didn’t want to go by myself. The thing that stands out most in my mind is the time I spend with people who are experiencing the same thing as me, whether it is eating a meal or being quiet because we are all so tired.
Although placing in the Top 10 is one of the accomplishments I am most proud of, it is probably the most faded memory of those three days. What really resonated with me was the shared experience I had with thousands of other teenagers.
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