Farewell Michigan DECA…

Hey Michigan DECA! As you know, last weekend was our state conference. I have written a farewell and thank you, as well as a toast, to close my two year term and show my appreciation for all of the amazing people in my life. Here it is…

This state conference was my last state conference as a high school member and also my last time of being state president. I’m not sure if you can even imagine how incredibly difficult it is to just stop being something that has been of the biggest parts of your life for the last two years. I don’t think it has really hit me yet that I’m not president anymore (even though I think the new one, Kyle, is great!). But DECA…I can’t even describe how much it means to me. I have gained everything and lost nothing (except a lot of sleep =]). I hate it when people make fun of it or call it nerdy, because it has changed my life in amazing ways. I have no idea who I would even be today without DECA… probably still shy, having about 5 friends in the world, wanting to stay at home all the time, and having a very low self-confidence. First, I would like to thank my parents for all of your support…I am glad to be a “DECA baby” and love you so much. You have made so many sacrifices that made all of this possible. Also thanks to Rob and Faith for being my cheerleaders and smiles when I need it. Of course, I couldn’t have done this without Dave Wait, Katie Kelly, or any of the other Michigan DECA staff. DECA has led me to some people I consider to be some of my best or very good friends… Eric Anderson, Kellie Morrison, Brook Stubelt, Kyle Hagan, Charmaine Williams, Mike Helmus, Kailee Boik, my former officer team- Steph, Darren, Tim, Michael, Jonathan and countless other people who I love and are great friends… especially the Jenison Chapter Officers. This group of students is so inspiring and never fails to amaze me… Kyle, Callie, Kelsey, Lauren, Laura, Nate, Jake.. thanks for everything. And Michigan DECA members… talk about being the most fun and incredible group of students to get to know and help lead over the past two years. Thanks for all of the memories and support. I hope I have done a good job as your president. I had an amazing time this weekend and have made memories I will never forget. Thank you to the California officers and especially the Ontario officers for making WROTC one of the best conferences ever and a highlight of my year. Also, I am so glad to have gotten to know the national officers, especially Kelly VanWoerkom, who has taught me so much. Thank you to Professor Jackson for believing in me and helping me get to ICDC with my Ad Campaign and for looking out for me as I deal with the increasingly difficult task of choosing a college. I love all of the DECA advisors, especially my own- Mrs. Hunt and Mrs. Sailors. To the other advisors — you have watched me grow up at DECA conferences ever since I attended my first state conference in 1994, and throughout the years your support has been invaluable. I now have four years of experience meeting with business people, receiving professional leadership training, developing advertising campaigns for competition, running fundraisers and community service events, helping to run conferences, speaking in front of thousands of people, and learning how to network and make valuable contacts that I would never have had without the opportunity of DECA. That is a humbling thought. I feel like I have had a great preparation and jumpstart to a career in the marketing and business world that will help me go far. I am looking forward to ICDC in Atlanta even more than graduation, but I can’t believe it will be my last conference ever as a member. I will miss everything about it, but I know DECA has given me everything I need to reach my goals and has helped me grow from a confused kid to a confident and driven adult (well, almost adult). I love you all! (And this isn’t really good-bye…I am joining Alumni for sure).

I decided to add a toast, too, to all of the memories…
Here’s to competing in Nashville in 8th grade, dreaming of being an officer since I was 5, ad campaigns, Soulja Boy, and scantrons. Here’s to learning from mistakes, missing curfew, riding that pony, CTSO, shooting hoops, and Seasons of Love. Here’s to late nights, early mornings, the ever glamourous DECA blazer, flight attendant scarves, and high heels that make pointe feel like a massage. This is definitely to amazing friends, DEE-Troit Basketball, FOCUS, dancing and singing our hearts out backstage, and DECA ducks that fly together forever. Here’s to shady taxi drivers and outlet malls, Olive Garden, Maggiano’s, and the Grand Canyon. Here’s to smores made over a grill, the Henry Ford suite, Monty Python, Voss, and surprise birthday dinners. This is to “bumping and grinding”…, DECA LEADS, running through sprinklers, and rock slides. Here’s to vespers, “Candle on the Water”, Miracle Minutes, and “incest”. This is for sure to being left in the middle of the Grand Canyon, overcoming fears, upside down zip lines, and dancing in Central Park. Here’s to the seven malls where we tried to find uniforms, purse vans in Chinatown, rodeos, Emerson Drive, Billy Gilman, and Cirque de Soleil. This is to dinner cruises, revolving dance floors, and the Super Dance. Here’s to the tears and the laughter, the good times and the bad, friends and memories made, and the love shared.

Courtney Clark