On March 11, PDS students had the opportunity to compete alongside 4,300 students across New Jersey in the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Conference. Despite waking up early in the morning to travel to Atlantic City, the 17 students were engaged and ready to compete in a wide variety of subjects, ranging from broadcast journalism to pitching sales presentations. The conference is a great opportunity for students to be in a competitive atmosphere while deepening their knowledge of business-related subjects. This year’s competition was a particular success for PDS, with three teams qualifying for state finals.
Entrepreneurship Club Faculty Advisor Mr. Paul Brewer explicitly noted the increase of participation over the years. Three years ago, when PDS first started participating in FBLA, there were only three students, whereas this year 17 students took part in the competition. Mr. Brewer particularly credited the co-heads of the club for this success, expressing how they were “very active in encouraging participation around the school.” The leaders of the Entrepreneurship Club took deliberate efforts to recruit more members, setting the program up for potential growth.
When getting ready for the competition, freshman Ahana Subbaraman emphasized the importance of collaboration and practice and not leaving preparation until the last minute. In her particular event, Subbaraman and her team researched money management strategies for high school students. This experience deepened her personal understanding of how to effectively handle money, which is a crucial skill to develop at a young age. When it came to advancing to the finals, she remarked, “It’s the way we answered our questions and presented ourselves to the judges.” Speaking confidently and in-depth demonstrated their understanding of the topic, as their thorough responses reflected thoughtful research and preparation. During her experience, Subbaraman explained how she was not only able to learn valuable lessons on business, but also vital presentation skills such as projection, body language, and time management.
The FBLA competition is an amazing learning experience for students, allowing them to build essential skills in all areas. Whether it be just relaxing in the hotel room with teammates or celebrating the exciting moment of finding out that you made it to the finals, the conference is an amazing opportunity to get a glimpse of the business world and be exposed to competitive environments.
